We have received word of the deaths of the following individuals. We extend our sympathy to the families of these individuals, who have been a vital part of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches over the years.
Lowell Hoyt
Laura E. Kriegbaum
Robert K. “Bob” Rohrer
Kenneth L. Teague
Lee Burris
Lowell Hoyt, 87, of Dayton, Tenn., died on April 6. He was born May 30, 1919, in Dallas Center, Iowa, the son of the late Clarence and Anna (Dorsey) Hoyt. A brother to the late Dr. Herman Hoyt, who was one of the founders and former president of Grace College and Theological Seminary, Lowell Hoyt served on the Grace board of trustees from 1949-1982, and also taught part-time in mathematics at Grace. He was a graduate of Bryan College, Grace Theological Seminary (BD 45, ThM 61), and the University of South Carolina, and served as a pastor and college math teacher during his lifetime.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Lola (Goehring) and two sons. Lowell is survived by his wife, Rebecca (Peck) Hoyt, of Dayton; his sons, Bruce Hoyt, of New Zealand, Loren Hoyt, of Iowa, Stanley Hoyt, of Georgia, Mark Hoyt, of Texas, and Sherwood Hoyt, of Pennsylvania; his daughter, Nelda Banek, of Texas; 35 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.
Laura B. Estep Humberd, 88, of Winona Lake, Ind., died March 19 in her residence. She was born September 30, 1918, in Springfield, Ohio. On August 29, 1942, she married Jesse Humberd, who survives. Living in the Winona Lake/Warsaw area since 1951, she was a former elementary school teacher and taught at Grace College. While in Ohio she operated a kindergarten in her home for five years. She was a member of Indiana Retired Teachers Association and Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church, where she was a past primary superintendent.
Also surviving are two daughters, Lenora “Lee” Kingery, Dover, Del.; and Margaret “Meg” Damer, Howe, Ind.; five grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Laura E. Kriegbaum died on June 7 at the age of 89 years and 11 months in Fishers, Ind. The daughter of the late Rev. R. Paul Miller and Anne Alverta Myers Miller, she was a former French and English high school teacher in Warsaw, Ind. and an accomplished musician. She was a charter member of the Grace Brethren churches of Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Ocala, Fla.
She is survived by her husband of 67 years, Rev. Arnold R. Kriegbaum, 93, Fishers, Ind.; two sons, Dr. Richard A. Kriegbaum and wife, Peggi, Fresno, Calif.; Dr. Ward A. Kriegbaum and wife, Kristin, Wheaton, Ill.; and daughter, Karen Bragg, and husband, Dr. Charles F. Bragg, Fishers, Ind.; five grandchildren, 13 great-grand children and four brothers and two sisters.
Robert K. “Bob” Rohrer, 76, of Manheim, Pa., died on March 23 in Lancaster, Pa. Born in Manheim, Pa., he was the son of the Oscar O. and Edith Shue Rohrer. He was the loving husband of and his wife, Jean Wagner Rohrer, observed their 56th wedding anniversary in October. The couple helped start the Grace Brethren Church of Lancaster and the Grace Brethren Church of Manheim. They were members of the Grace Brethren Church of Lititz for 25 years. A vocal enthusiast, Bob was a member of the Gospel Four Quartet and sang at more than one hundred weddings.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons, David A., husband of Kristina B., Arcanum, Ohio, Michael A., husband of Becky L., of Princess Anne, Md.; six grandchildren; four great grandchildren; two sisters, Darlene, wife of David Creighton, Lancaster, and Janice, wife of Jay Martin, Manheim.
Kenneth L. Teague, 83, of Sanger, Texas, formerly of Roanoke, Va., died Monday, July 9. He served as pastor of the Ghent Grace Brethren Church for more than 20 years. After retiring in 1987, he moved to his hometown of Buena Vista, Va. where he became the first pastor of the Calvary Brethren Church in Buena Vista.
He was a graduate of Wheaton College, Wheaton, Ill. and Grace Theological Seminary, Winona Lake, Ind. He was predeceased by his parents, Moda and Lillian Teague and his wife, Mary Lawhorn Teague. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Rebecca and Steve Rosenthal of Sanger ,Tex.; a son, Larry Teague of Palm Bay, Fla.; four granddaughters; eight great-grandchildren; and many spiritual sons and daughters. John Ruby Terrell died on July 20. He was 74. He was a graduate of Taylor University, Upland, Ind., and Ashland Theological Seminary, Ashland, Ohio. John married his high school sweetheart, Joanne Blosser, in September 1952. They served for many years as pastor and wife at churches in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Washington State. Their 27 years of marriage ended with Joanne’s death in 1980. In 1992, John married Patricia Steffes in Mercer Island, Wash. In 1998, they moved to Port Orange, Fla., to care for John’s mother, Betty Mae Terrell.
He is survived by his wife, Patricia, his children and stepchildren, Rebecca (Donald) McIntosh, Jennifer (Rodney) Kauffman, John (Lori) Terrell, Betsy (Ruben) Hernandez, John (Kathie) Steffes, Andrew Steffes, Karin O’Hall; 23 grandchildren and great-grandchildren; his brothers Charlie (Marge), Dale (Anabelle) and Dan (Michelle) Terrell; and his sister, Betty Lou (Russell) Mills.
Lee Burris, U.S. Army Chaplain and former Grace Brethren pastor, died on August 4, 2007, passing peacefully in sleep in the Sacramento, California, area.
Burris was born January 22, 1925, in Indianola, Oklahoma, the son of a migrant farm worker. A veteran of 20 years, he served in Navy in WWII and in the Army as a Chaplain, including two tours in Viet Nam, retiring as Lieutenant Colonel. After his service in the military he served as a pastor of several churches, including Fremont (Ohio) Grace Brethren Chapel, where he pastored from 1976-1979.
Lee Burris graduated from Biola University in 1952 and Talbot Seminary in 1955 with a Bachelor of Divinity and in 1969 with a Master of Divinity. He was ordained as a minister in the Grace Brethren Church in the Northwest District in 1957.
He was married to Lois Paxton on June 10, 1950, and they had four children, Margaret, David, Robert, and Jonathan.
Burris leaves behind his wife of 57 years, four children, ten grandchildren, his brother Jack, and countless friends. He served the Lord preaching God’s Word and ministering daily to family, friends, and all those he met. He loved playing games, telling jokes, and visiting with family and friends. A memorial service was held at the Antelope Springs Community Church in Roseville, California.
He served as an enlistee in the U.S. Navy during WWII from 1943-1946, serving in the South Pacific and Australia. He served in the U.S. Army as a Grace Brethren Chaplain from 1958 to 1976, retiring as Lieutenant Colonel, followed by pastorates in Ohio and California.
He served two tours in Vietnam from 1966-1967 (Cam Ranh Bay) and 1969-1970 (Phu Bai). He received the Army Commendation Medal, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, and the Vietnam Service Medal with four campaign stars.
Burris’ sons, Bob, Jonathan, and David are setting up a memorial for their father at Talbot Seminary, 13800 Biola Ave., La Mirada, CA 90639, for the “Talbot Student Scholarship Fund.”