Mar 21, 2014
New Members
Miami, FL
Andrew Samuels, pastor
Joined after testimony
Fefelia Gooden-Walcott
Toronto, ON
Herlitz Condison, pastor
Joined after testimony
Misha Clarke
Obituaries
Green.—Connie Lucetta (White) Green, 72, died on September 7, 2013, at the Providence Memorial Hospital, Valdez, Alaska.
Connie was born in Denver, Colo., on May 29, 1941, the daughter of Robert C. “Ralph” and Grace Eola (Burdick) White. She was baptized at age 12, by Rev. Harmon Dickinson, and joined the Denver Seventh Day Baptist Church. She graduated from West High School (Denver) in 1959 and attended Milton (Wis.) College.
Connie transferred her church membership to the Milton SDB Church in 1961, following her marriage there to Edwin H. Green. Four children were born to this union: Norman, Gordon, Andrew and Ilean. Connie and Ed were divorced in 1984. She continued to live in Wisconsin with Ilean, transferring her church membership to the Boulder (Colo.) SDB Church in 1988. In 1990, she and Ilean moved to North Dakota, and in 1993 she took a job in Valdez, Alaska and loved it so much she never left.
Living away from a church of her choice, she continued to worship God in special ways on Sabbath day. In Valdez, she found spiritual strength in God and the mountains that enfolded her and at the various churches she attended. Connie took courses at the University of Colorado (Boulder) and Prince William Sound Community College (Valdez). She was a life-long learner, always eager to learn about creation, history and life around her. Over the years, Connie inspired all of us with her fortitude, resiliency, and determination. She valiantly battled lung cancer in these latter two years, refusing radiation and chemotherapy and, for the most part using over-the-counter pain medication.
Connie is survived by her four children; seven grandchildren; her sister, Jean Jorgensen; five nieces and six nephews. Connie was predeceased by her parents and brother, Robert Charles White.
Three memorial services were offered: One by her friends and caregiver in Valdez; another by her children and Green family in Atlantic, Mich.; and a third by her son, Norman, in Salem, W.Va., with Pastor Dale Thorngate officiating. Burial of her remains will be divided—some into Prince William Sound Bay, Valdez; some on top of her favorite mountain in Valdez; and some with a memorial plaque at the Valdez Cemetery.
Maddox.—Elmer Ernest Maddox, 96, long-time member of the Seventh Day Baptist Church of Riverside, Calif., was called home by his Lord on November 5, 2013. He was living in Sequim, Wash., with his wife, Harriette, daughter, Elizabeth, and her husband, Richard Perez.
Elmer was born to Frank and Winifred Maddox on July 9, 1917 in Galvin, Wash. He along with his four brothers—Harold, Ronnie, Ralph and Bill—grew up in the Pacific Northwest living at various times in Washington, Oregon and Idaho. Elmer graduated from Auburn Adventist Academy in 1938.
Soon after graduating he met Harriette May Holgate and the two were married on May 4, 1940. In December 1941, two major events occurred in Elmer’s life: Pearl Harbor, and the birth of their eldest son, Boyd. During World War II, Elmer worked at the Naval Torpedo Station in Keyport, Wash.
After the war Elmer moved his family to Riverside, Calif., so he could attend La Sierra College. In the next few years two more children would be born: son, Jan Paul, and a daughter, Sandra Elizabeth. Many years later a fourth child, Anthony, would complete the family.
Due to their church backgrounds, Elmer (a former Adventist) and Harriette (a Baptist) could not agree on a church for many years. While visiting the family, Elmer’s brother-in-law, Byron, found that they were not attending a church. Byron made it his project to find them a church. Just a few blocks away from Elmer’s home on Lemon Street was the Riverside Seventh Day Baptist Church and he recommended it to Elmer and Harriette.
They visited the church and found it suited them both; it was a Sabbath keeping church which was important to Elmer, and a church that preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ which was important to Harriette. Elmer served in many capacities such as Sabbath School teacher, church president and deacon, as well as friend and example to many. They would both become pillars in the Riverside church until they left in 2010 to live with Elizabeth and Rick in Sequim.
Elmer is survived by his wife of 73 years, Harriette; four children: Boyd, Jan, Elizabeth and Tony; grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; as well as two of his four brothers. A memorial service was held at the Riverside SDB Church on December 7, 2013 officiated by Pastor Gabriel Bejjani and Richard Perez.
Bunce.—Audree E. (Williams) Bunce, 99, died on February 3, 2014 at the Calhoun County Medical Care Facility in Battle Creek, Mich.
Audree was born June 4, 1914 in North Loup, Neb., to Bert and Stella (Fuller) Williams. One of 11 children, Audree went on to marry Clair Bunce and the couple raised four children of their own. Clair sadly preceded her in death on October 20, 1986.
She was a member of the Battle Creek Seventh Day Baptist Church, and enjoyed painting, playing the organ, and arts and crafts. Audree is survived by her four children, all in Michigan—Phyllis Barr of Dearborn, David Bunce of Burlington, Charles of Concord, and Gerald of Battle Creek; 10 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, and several great-great-grandchildren; one sister, Grace Rice, and two brothers, Carol and Udell Williams. Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by seven brothers and sisters.
Funeral services were held February 7, 2014 at the Farley-Estes & Dowdle Funeral Home with Pastor Tim Smothers officiating. Audree will be laid to rest next to her husband at Curlew Hills Memory Gardens in Palm Harbor, Fla.
Lindle.—Evelyn Janice (Ritter) Lindle, 80, of Carrier Mills, Ill., died on February 5, 2014 at her residence.
“Janice” was born on January 15, 1934 in Carrier Mills to Harry and Mildred (Lewis) Ritter. Her mother died when she was a few months old, and she was raised by Evelyn Romeo Todd, who also preceded Janice in death. She married George Leroy Lindle, who survives.
She was a Certified Nursing Assistant, and also was owner and operator of The Bait Shop in Harrisburg for many years. She was a member of the Seventh Day Baptist Church in Stonefort.
Janice is survived by her husband, George of Carrier Mills; two daughters—Pat Jackson of Ennis, Texas and Karen Foster of Harrisburg, Ill.; four sons—Eli McEwan, Mike McEwan and Mike Lindle, all of Harrisburg, and John Lindle of Carrier Mills; a sister, Jean Whiting of Florida; 19 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a son, Jim McEwan; two daughters, Nancy Lindle and Joyce Colborth; three brothers, Arthur, John and Harry Ritter; and a sister, Helen Blackman.
Funeral services were held February 8, 2014 at Felty Funeral Home in Carrier Mills. Burial was in Joyner Cemetery near Stonefort, with Rev. Eddie Brooks officiating.
Bond.—Leola VanHorn Bond, passed away peacefully at the age of 95 on March 8, 2014 in Winchester, Va.
Leola was born on September 21, 1918 in Lost Creek, W.Va., daughter of Harvey Oakland and Katherine (Stout) VanHorn. She spent her youth in Lost Creek, attending the Lost Creek Seventh Day Baptist Church, where she married. The family then moved to Keeneyville, Pa., for 10 years. While there, she attended and was deaconess at the Alfred Station (N.Y.) Seventh Day Baptist Church. She then spent the next 53 years with her family in Camp Hill, Pa.
In 2002, Leola went to live with her daughter in Stephenson, Va. She was a homemaker, deaconess, seamstress, gardener, mentor, provider, and nurse to her husband and several family members in their last days on this earth. Most of all she was a loving mother and supporter to her children.
She is survived by six children: Robert E. Bond, Eleanor L. Hanford, Eric L. Bond, E. Kay VanVoorhees, Jacquelin B. Wadsworth and Jessica J. Boyajian; 18 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren. Her husband, Robert L. Bond; two sons, Frederick E. Bond and Zachary O. Bond; three brothers, Edward, Harvey Jr., and Lewis VanHorn; and three sisters, Mary and Betty Lou VanHorn and Lela Gerstner, all preceded her in death. A funeral service was held in the Chapel of Davis Funeral Home, Clarksburg, W.Va., March 14, 2014 with Pastor Johnmark Camenga officiating. Committal was at the Seventh Day Baptist Church Cemetery, Lost Creek.
Death Announcement
Lowell A. Welch, 71, of Brookfield, NY died on February 18, 2012.
Cynthia (Welch) Tichnell, 63, of Middleville, NY died on January 1, 2013.
June (Babcock) Johnson, 93, of Nortonville, KS died on January 25, 2014.
Rev. Q. Eugene Smith, 80, of Sherrill, NY died on March 10, 2014.
Joyce (Vassell) Samuels, 78, of McDonough, GA died on March 18, 2014.