Richard L. Burch, 83, former Grace Brethren pastor, died March 10, 2010, in Dayton, Ohio. He was preceded in death by his parents, Bessie and Raymond Burch and grandson, Conner.
He is survived by Marilyn Burch, his wife of 30 years; children; Kathy (Bill) Armstrong, Judy Burch, Cindy Fowler, Christopher (Rachel) Gulden, Claudine (Kirk) Waymire, Carlotte (Jeff) Gebhart and Cynthia (John) Shaw; grandchildren; Katelyn, Brandon, Jesse, Jacob, Jarrett, Justin, Ash, Brittany, Jeffrey, Johnny, and Lillian; loving mother-in-law and father-in-law, Dorothy and Shelby King; brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law and many other beloved family and friends.
Burch was a Grace Theological Seminary graduate (B.D., 1951), formerly senior pastor of the Brethren Church in Cuyahoga Falls and North Riverdale Brethren in Dayton; associate pastor at Salem Church of God; interim pastor for Ohio Church of God Ministries; outdoorsman, avid hiker, biblical scholar, outstanding teacher of the gospel, marriage counselor, loving and fun father and grandfather.
Funeral services were March 15 at Morris Sons Funeral Home in Kettering with Pastor Paul Strozier officiating. Interment at David’s Cemetery.
Ray I. Feather, 63, pastor of Grace Community Chapel in Mukilteo, Wash., died on July 23.
Pastor Feather was born March 26, 1947 in Martinsburg, Pa. He attended Washington Bible College in Washington, D.C. where he met his wife of 41 years, Sharon Mae Benyack.
He had a passion for studying and preaching God’s Word. He served as a beloved pastor to many in his 45 years of Christian service. And he shared his love for his Savior with everyone he met.
Pastor Feather is survived by his wife Sharon; children, Scott (Jodi) Feather, Doni (Jason) Weimer, Athena (Matthew) Grady; grandchildren, Asia, Coleman, Raylee, Camden, Addison, Lucas and Dawson; sister, Peggy (Walt) Bell; nieces; Melissa and Elise and brother Rob Gordon.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Virgil and Betty Feather.
A memorial service was held Saturday, July 31 at Alderwood Manor Community Church, 3403 Alderwood Mall Blvd., Lynnwood, Wash.
Memorials can be made to Grace Community Chapel, 9800 Harbour Place, Mukilteo, WA 98275, designated for the Weimer Thailand Ministry. His daughter and her family will be serving in Thailand as missionaries.
Herman H. Hein Jr., 92, Union, Mich., died Sunday, June 6, 2010, at Center for Hospice in Elkhart, Indiana. Hein was born April 7, 1918, in Bellaire, Ohio, to Herman H. Sr. and Anna L. (Bowen) Hein.
Living in Niles, Mich., and Union, Mich., since 1990, coming from Yakima, Wash., he was a WWII veteran, serving in the Pacific Theater with the U.S. Army Company B 637th Tank Destroyer Battalion.
He received a bachelor’s degree in theology from Grace College and Seminary in 1954. After his graduation, he served with Grace Brethren Home Mission ministries, establishing and pastoring churches in Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and Alaska.
He was a member of Grace Brethren Church in New Troy, Mich., CGBC Ministerial Association, and Senior Bowling League in Niles, Mich. He was also a life member of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV).
He was married July 14, 1945, in Washington, D.C., to Luella B. Whitmill. She survives.
Also surviving are two daughters and one son-in-law, Linda Clements, Boynton Beach, Fla., and Beverly and James Welborn, Ninilchik, Alaska; one son, Raymond Hein, LaGrange; nine grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; one sister, Carolyn Hein, Shadyside, Ohio; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by one son, Arthur McCrum, one brother, Jack Hein, and two sisters, Ruth A. Whitmill and Wilma Sommer.
Services were held Saturday, June 12, at the Mottville Bible Church.
Leland S. Larmon, 87, Davidsville, Pa., died June 28, 2010. Born Feb. 24, 1923, in Windber, Pa. Preceded in death by parents. Survived by wife of 63 years, the former Margaret Engle.
He was a graduate of Somerset Area High School, Class of 1940, and an Army veteran of World War II, where he served with the 82nd Engineering Combat Battalion, and was at the European Theater and the Battle of the Bulge.
He was a former printer for Somerset Daily American, The Tribune-Democrat, and Brethren Missonary Herald. He retired at the age of 75 from the Government Printing Office as a proof reader for the Congressional Record.
Ada Florence Kessler, mother of Grace College basketball coach Jim Kessler, died June 14 in Winona Lake, Ind.
She was born Feb. 9, 1924, in Sangamon County, Ill., to Gussie Earl and Emma Ruth (Danks) Edwards. On Aug. 21, 1943, she married Robert L. Kessler.
Mrs. Kessler is survived by her husband: Rev.Robert Kessler, Winona Lake; by her two sons: James (Susanne) Kessler, Winona Lake; and Timothy (Paula) Kessler, Kansas City, Mo.; six grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren: Kimberly (Chris) Dawson and children Lynae, Kyle, Whitney, and Wyatt, Warsaw; Sarah (Christian) McCray and children Claudia, Kendall, and Cohen, Winona Lake; Jennifer (Jarrod) Lovette and daughter Jada, Winona Lake; Janelle (Doug) Meyer, Winona Lake; Travis (Jennifer) Kessler and children Isabella and Daniel, Liberty, Mo.; Heath (Carolyn) McCurdy and son Caiden, Aiken, S.C.; a sister: Gladys Shipman, Loami, Ill.; two brothers: Dean Edwards, Rochester, Ill., and Franklin (Celeste) Edwards, Rantoul, Ill.; and brother-in-law: Loren (Bud) Dodd, Loami, Ill.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her three brothers: John, Adrian and Earl Charles Edwards; and by four sisters: Thelma Funderburk, Elsie Grant, Beulah Edwards and Fern Dodd.
A memorial service was held on Saturday, June 19, at Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church, Winona Lake.
Mary Elizabeth “Betty” Miller, 82, of Flintstone, Ga., and wife of longtime Grace Brethren pastor Carl Miller, died July 20, 2010. She was a native of Saskatchewan, Canada, born an identical twin to the late Virgil and Mary Bingaman on December 19, 1927.
During her teenage years, Betty and her sister sang regularly on the Sunday School of the Air radio show in Canada. Betty graduated from Bob Jones University in 1950. She was a school teacher and principal for 25 years, and served as a minister’s wife from 1951-1996. She lived in Flintstone since 1997 where she was a member of the Chattanooga Valley Baptist Church and the Young at Heart Seniors Group. She was a prayer warrior, seamstress, baker, and known for her notes of encouragement.
She was preceded in death by her son, Larry Carl; two half brothers, Harold and Kenneth; and stepmother, Adeline Semrau.
Survivors include her husband of 59 years, Carl Miller (married July 25, 1951); two daughters, Linda (David) Kephart of Harrisonburg, Va., and Marianne (Daniel) LeVan of Chickamauga, Ga.; twin sister, Elsie (Lester) Smitley of Pennsylvania; two grandchildren, Nathan and Lynnea LeVan; nieces, Fran Fortney, Dawn Smitley, and Vicki Slotto; and nephews, Larry Smitley and Kenneth Bingaman.
Contributions may be made to GBCanada USA, P.O. Box 836, Charlotte Hall, MD 20622.
Memorial services were held August 14, 2010 at the Chattanooga Valley Baptist Church.
The graveside service was held July 21, 2010 at Chattanooga Valley Baptist Church Cemetery.
Jeffrey Lynn “Sep” Reifsnyder went home to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on June 16, 2010. He died at home under the care of his family and hospice after battling Hepatitis C and cancer.
Jeff was born June 8, 1958, in Ephrata Pa. Jeff is survived by his loving wife, Sandi Lynn, and three cherished children, Laurel Lynn, Emelia Lynn, and Sawyer Lynn, all living at home. Jeff and Sandi would have celebrated their 22nd wedding anniversary on June 18.
Jeff loved his family and being involved in ministry. He led Bible studies, taught Sunday School, worked with youth and was a Church Plant Pastor at Cocalico Creek Fellowship.
He was always open to talk about his past drug and alcohol abuse and how, through a relationship with Jesus Christ his life was turned around. Jeff was given the nickname “Sep” early in life and is still remembered by that name by local friends and Ephrata classmates.
He enjoyed playing basketball, hiking and being outside by a campfire with friends. He also helped coach girls and boys basketball for a local basketball program.
Jeff was known for his sense of humor, athletic ability and boldness for the Lord.
Surviving in addition to his wife and children are his parents Jean and Jack Miller of Ephrata; two sisters, Amy Reifsnyder of Scotland, Connecticut; Bonnie Noll, wife of Doug Noll of Ephrata; one brother, Doug Heister of Marshville, North Carolina; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, Anthony Reifsnyder. Anthony was married to Dee Reifsnyder of Lancaster. Her children, Jeff’s step-siblings, are Tammy, George, and Wendy.
Jeff eagerly promoted organ and tissue donation. In 2008 he received a liver transplant at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Donations in Jeff”s memory may be sent to: Gift of Life Donor Program, 401 N. 3rd Street, Philadelphia PA 19123. Checks made payable to: Transplant House, Attn. Michael Ludwig. The Transplant House provides a home away from home for up to thirty transplant patients and families who need to travel to the University of Penn and other Philadelphia medical centers.
Kandice Marie Robinson of 307 14th Street, Winona Lake, Ind., died Wednesday, July 28, 2010, at 2:33 a.m. at Goshen General Hospital, Goshen, Indiana, at the age of 28.
She was born on March 17, 1982, in Akron, Ohio, to Tammie Dee (Conover) Robinson and James Ralph Robinson, who survive. She attended Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, Ill., graduating in 2003 with a degree in Evangelism and Discipleship. She was a former resident and had previously worked in Indianapolis at the Indiana School for the Deaf for five years. While residing there, she was a member of Common Ground Christian Church.
Kandice has been a resident of Kosciusko County, Indiana, for the past 13 years, and was the administrative assistant for Grace Brethren International Missions. She was a member of Community Grace Brethren Church of Warsaw, Indiana.
She will be lovingly remembered by her parents: James “Jim” and Tammie Robinson (Winona Lake, Indiana); one sister: Tara (husband Clint) Serafino (South Bend, Ind.); and her grandparents, Dick and Betty Conover (Warsaw, Ind.) and Ralph and Middy Robinson (Marysville, Ohio).
A memorial service was held Saturday, July 31, 2010 at Community Grace Brethren Church, 909 South Buffalo Street, Warsaw, Indiana, officiated by Pastor Tom Abbitt and assisted by Timothy Clothier.
Memorial donations in Kandice’s name can be made to Grace Brethren International Missions – Kandice Robinson-Team Asia, P.O. Box 80065, City of Industry, California 91716-8065.
James W. “Jim” Weimer, 86, the father of Ron Weimer of the Waterloo, Iowa, Grace Brethren Church, died at Friendship Village in Waterloo Thursday, June 3, 2010.
Jim was born August 5, 1923 in Lancaster, Pa., son of Ira J. and Maude S. Steinman Weimer.
He married Geraldine M. Brenneman on September 29, 1945 in Lancaster, Pa.
Jim graduated from high school in Lancaster and from the Drexel Institute of Technology in Philadelphia.
He worked at Rohm and Haas Chemical Company for over 40 years, retiring as Project Engineer.
He served in the U.S. Army 27th Armored Battalion in North Africa and Italy during WW II.
Jim is survived by his wife Geraldine of Waterloo; son J. Ron (Vivian) Weimer of Waterloo; son Gregory Weimer of Telford, Pa.; daughter Karen (Tom) Boross of Thousand Oaks, Calif.; seven grandchildren: Ian (Allie) Reid, Eric Weimer, Heidi Oates, Wendy (Corey) Ort, Jim (Erin) Weimer, Jason (Doni) Weimer and Amy (Scott) Blakesley; and twelve great grandchildren: Asia Weimer, Coleman Weimer, Lauren Weimer, Treyton Weimer, Eli Weimer, Noah Blakesley, Gabby Blakesley, Zachary Ort, Gavin Ort, Devon Reid, Sierra Reid and Mia Reid.
He is preceded in death by his parents and brother Everett Weimer.
Services were held June 12, 2010, at Locke Funeral Home, 1519 West Fourth Street, Waterloo, Iowa 50702.