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Obituaries – January 2014
Published Date: December 11, 2013
BELL-Reverend Earl H., (BD, 1955), 83, of Medina, NY, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, October, 10, 2013, at his home, with his loving family at his side. Born on November 7, 1929 in Niagara Falls, NY, he was the son of the late Ira and Edna (Brown) Bell. Reverend Bell was called into the ministry during his high school years while attending the St. James Methodist Church of Niagara Falls and began his secondary education at Houghton College, graduating in 1952 with a Bachelors of Science degree. Three months later he married his college sweetheart, Marilyn Anne Engstrom, and they remained inseparable for over 61 years. They began their married life while he attended Asbury Theological Seminary earning a Master of Divinity degree in 1955. After seminary they returned to New York State and was ordained by the Methodist Church. He first served at the Friendship Methodist Church followed by the Cuba and Hinsdale Methodist Churches. In 1963 Rev. Bell was called to Trinity Methodist Church in Olean ministering for six years, followed by three years in Albion Methodist Church and six years in Faith United Methodist Church in Barker. In 1978 he started his six year ministry in the Medina United Methodist Church until transferring to the Maine United Methodist Conference. In Maine they converted their summer cottage into a year-round residence and served at Deering Memorial United Methodist Church in South Paris, until retiring in 1991. In 1997 Rev. Bell returned to the ministry as an interim pastor for one year at the West Baldwin United Methodist Church. In 2000 he began seven years of pastoring at the Sweden Community Church (UCC). During his ministry in Sweden, ME, he also ministered at the West Bethel Union Church (UCC) in West Bethel, ME, and returned to live in Medina in 2007. Rev. Bells 50 years in the ministry were people centered years, as he always took great personal interest in the lives of his congregation and his local community. He continuously went out of his way making all who attended church services and church functions to feel welcome, appreciated and loved by God. He visited and prayed with all of his hospitalized parishioners and was committed to supporting families as they dedicated their children to the Lord during infant baptism. He rejoiced with couples as they were joined together in marriage and grieved with families during their times of loss. His personal style of ministry was to be fully engaged, such as participating in all church committees, functions and building projects, and he would often be one of the first to pick up a hammer or a paint brush. He enjoyed cooking and he personally prepared countless church and local community dinners. Hymn singing and telling the stories behind the writing of the hymns was a favorite. Rev. Bell also served on several United Methodist conference finance and missions committees. While ministering, he also participated in local community groups such as Rotary Club, Lions Club, Boy Scouts and several ecumenical church associations. He enjoyed sailing, cooking, collecting cookbooks, and he compiled a cookbook from recipes submitted from his 11 churches. His contagious sense of humor will always be remembered, as he routinely joked with all he came in contact with. Rev. Bell is survived by his wife, Marilyn of Medina and their three children, David (Katherine) of Greenland, NH, Lois (Bob) of Medina, and Paul of Lewiston, ME; by six grandchildren, Katie, Lisa, Laura, Avary, Daisy and Joyce; by three great-grandchildren, Jonathan, Benjamin and Collin, and by his sister, Lyn Leary Stark of Manitowoc, WI and her two sons, Peter and Craig. He was predeceased by his twin brother, Alan.
BENNETT-The Rev. Warren Wilbert, (MDiv, 2005), 67, went home to the Lord on Thursday, November 7, 2013. He was born on August 16, 1946 in Jamaica, New York to the late Wessell C. and E. Virginia Bennett. He is survived by his beloved wife of 31 years, Bonnie; step children, Lynda (Tommy) Gregg of Palm Bay and William (Billy) Hammel of Northport, Florida; grandchildren, Matthew and Brandon Gregg; sister, Barbara (CHB) Leonard of Winston-Salem, North Carolina; and his niece, Leslie S. Reddick of Chesapeake, Virginia. Rev. Bennett graduated from Catholic University, obtained a Masters of Social Work from the University of Maryland, then a Masters of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary. In his career he has served as Director of Easter Seal in Washington DC, Director of the Kidney Foundation in Jacksonville, Florida, and Administrator of Country Acres Children’s Home in Titusville, Florida. He entered the Methodist ministry and has served White City UMC, Lake Panesoffkee UMC and Emmanuel UMC in Melbourne.
ERNY-Dr. Edward, (BD, 1962), 77, died Saturday, Oct. 19, 2013, at his home in Greenwood. Ed was born April 14, 1936, in Beijing to missionary parents, Eugene and Esther Erny. He served as a missionary with One Mission Society for 42 years. Survivors include his wife, Rachel (Bright) Erny; three children, Sharon (Kraig) Binkerd, Scott (Linda) Erny and Stuart (Christine) Erny; and eight grandchildren. Also surviving are a brother, Robert (Norma Jean) Erny of Wilmore, Ky.; and a sister, Evangeline (David) Billing of Springfield, Ohio.
LEBURG-The Rev. Michael William, (MDiv, 1989), 52, passed away Friday, November 15, 2013 at Parkview Regional Medical Center in Fort Wayne. Born in Lafayette, IN, Michael worked as a Methodist Minister with various churches in North Carolina. He was a graduate of Benton Central High School, Taylor University and Asbury Theological Seminary, Ordained in 1990 in North Carolina. He was a big fan of the Cubs and Bears, and enjoyed photography and traveling, visiting family and friends.. Surviving are his parents; William and Joyce Leburg of Fowler, IN; daughters, Katherine E Leburg of Wilmington, NC and Allison Leburg of Brevard, NC; son, James M Leburg of Indianapolis, IN; brother, Dave Leburg of Fort Wayne, IN; sister, Kim Leburg of West Lafayette, IN; nephews Nathan and Steven Leburg both of Fort Wayne; girl friend, Karen Cassady and her children; Spencer and Rachel (Harber) Cassady and Aislinn, Thomas and Cherith (Cassady) Harber and Violet and Harrison all of Fort Wayne.
LOUTHAIN-The Rev. John C., (MDiv, 1962), 88, Warsaw, IN, passed away at 4:55 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, 2013, in Warsaw Meadows Care Center. He was born on March 25, 1925, near Walton in Cass County, to Ellery Arthur and Mary Evaleen (Kingery) Louthain. He graduated from Ervin High School, Howard County, in 1943, and then was inducted into the U.S. Army in January of 1945 at the age of 19. He served in Okinawa and Japan and was discharged in November of 1946. He married Blanche Burwell on Dec. 20, 1957, in Upland. He graduated from Taylor University in 1958 and Asbury Theological Seminary in 1962, and then served as pastor for the United Methodist Church in northern Indiana, retiring in 1989. Since retirement, he has lived in Ohio, Florida, Kentucky and Indiana. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Blanche (Burwell) Louthain, Warsaw; his daughter, Hilda (and spouse David) Fyock, Nampa, Idaho; two sons, Charles (and spouse Karen) Louthain, Warsaw, and Marvin Louthain, Sunbury, Ohio; three grandsons, Micah and Sean Fyock, Nampa, Idaho and Zachary Beck, Warsaw.
PETERS-Dr. Russel M., (BD, 1962), 76, Fort Myers, passed away November 1, 2013.
SMITH, JR.-Rev. Dr. Elton Orson, (MDiv, 1964), 74, went to the open arms of his Lord and Savior on Saturday, October 12, 2013 at Unity Health-Park Ridge Hospital. Rev. Smith was born the only son of the late Rev. Elton Sr. and Ruth (Gould) Smith on January 18, 1939 in Geneva, NY. He graduated from Saratoga Springs High School in 1956 then receiving his Bachelor of Arts in History from Roberts Wesleyan College in 1961 followed by his Master of Divinity in 1964 from Asbury Theological Seminary. He was ordained a deacon in 1964 and elder in 1966 in the Free Methodist Church. He served several churches in Michigan and New York including Superintendent of Susquehanna Conference from 1976 – 1991. Rev. Smith was a man of prayer and faith in his Jesus Christ for whom he dedicated his whole life to.
WHITE, James F., (BD, 1957), 85, entered eternal rest on October 15, 2013. He was born in Boise, Idaho and lived most of his life in the Northwest. He graduated from La Grande High School in La Grande, Oregon. He also attended Eastern Oregon College there. He attended several schools where he received a BA in Science, and Taylor University in Indiana. He also went to Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky where he served as Student Body President and received a BA in Divinity and a Masters Degree in Theology. He continued his education throughout his life and attended several universities on a part-time basis in California and Oregon. James served as a Pastor in several churches in Washington, Oregon and Idaho. He worked for the Oregon State Division of Forestry as a Firefighter. He taught at Finley Elementary in Holtville, Calif. He was a Child Protective Services Social Worker for the LA County Department of Social Services. During this time he attended USC. He accepted a position with the Welfare Department of Imperial County. While employed there, he attended UCLA doing research on the effects of poverty. James worked as a supervisor in the Access Program for the Office on Aging in Riverside County. He served as director of the Head Start Programs in Imperial, Lake, Mendocino, Sonoma and San Bernardino Counties. Before his retirement, he was the Executive Director for the San Bernardino County Pre-School Services and Head Start Programs. James loved the desert and mountains where he enjoyed hunting, fishing, hiking and camping. He loved to read and had an extensive personal library. He enjoyed gardening and had many flowers and fruit trees. James could carry on a conversation for long periods of time and tried to make people laugh with his jokes. He was preceded in death by his parents, Rev. Floyd and Ione White; his brother Allen. He is survived by his beloved wife, Armida of Riverside; daughter, Lisa DeBartolo of Santa Rosa; sons, Kevin and Darren White of Sonora; four brothers, John of Jacksonville, Fla.,Dale of Woodinville, Wa., Edsel of Kennewick, Wa. and Stanley of Central Point, Ore. James had six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.