Remembering our friends

Eunice U. (McClure) Dreger ’41 of Anderson, Ind., died July 22, 2008. She was born Jan. 10, 1919, in Eaton, Ohio, and had lived in Anderson since 1980. She and her husband pastored Church of God congregations in Indiana and Ohio. In addition, they served as interim pastors in 21 congregations after retirement. She was a gifted musician who played the organ and piano. She attended East Side Church of God for many years. Survivors include three children, the Rev. Rebecca (Dreger) Fauntleroy ’63, the Rev. Paul Dreger BA ’75, MMin ’79, and Keren Snyder ’80; six grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; two sisters, Wilma Sosbe ’66 and Naomi Linsea; a brother, Glenn McClure BS ’64; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, the Rev. A.F. Dreger BTh ’43, whom she married Dec. 27, 1941, and who died Feb. 21, 2003.

Ethel Mae “Beth” (Farrar) Hause ’43 died July 7, 2008. She was born on Aug., 24, 1922, in Arkansas City, Kan., to Samuel and Viola Farrar. At a Sunday school convention, Beth met her husband Henry Hause ’43. They married in 1940. While at AU, Beth majored in music and Christian education. Henry, ordained by the Church of God, and Beth served their first pastorates in McDonald and Chanute, Kan. In 1946, they moved their young family to Bakersfield, Calif., where they pastored the Oildale Church of God for 14 years and returned later for another 6 years. They pastored other California churches in Laton and Morro Bay. They owned a Bible bookstore in Morro Bay, which Beth managed and operated. Beth directed choirs, served as the organist, and taught Bible classes in the churches. She was state president of Women of the Church of God in 1970 and was elected for three terms as national secretary and board member of the WCG. She was preceded in death by Henry, her husband of 62 years; her parents; two brothers, Wesley and Eugene Farrar; and, a sister, Pauline Caton. She is survived by her sister, Maxine Barrigan ’44; three daughters, Marlene Sharp, Kay Johnson, and Carol Hendrix Deppen; eight grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Edison C. White BA ’54 died July 5, 2008. He was born Aug. 27, 1922, to the late Andrew and Myrtie (Woodcox) White in Akron, Ind. He served in the U.S. Army in the 1st Cavalry Division during World War II. He was the chaplain at the Indiana Boys School in Plainfield for 26 years, retiring in 1987. He attended the Avon Community Church of God and was a member of the Plainfield Kiwanis Club, of which he was a charter member and served as past president, and the Plainfield Church Federation. He was a recipient of the Sagamore of the Wabash Award. He is survived by a son, Dean E. White; a daughter, Diane R. White; a brother, Charles (Kris) Pletcher; a granddaughter, Stephanie I. (Josh) Nelson; and a special family friend, Don Penrod. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mable I. (Mitschelen) White; and a daughter, Donna I. Bowen ’70.

Betty (Gobble) Grubbs BS ’55 of Anderson, Ind., died July 20, 2008, following an extended illness with Alzheimer’s Disease. She was born in Cape Girardeau, Mo., and grew up in San Francisco, Calif. While at AU, she was a member of the Camarada Club. Survivors include her husband of 55 years, Dale Grubbs BA ’54, MDiv ’57, whom she married in Anderson on June 7, 1953; and one child, Cheryl (Grubbs) Lyon ’82. She was preceded in death by her parents, Orval and Ruby (Winston) Gobble; and brother, Bill Gobble.

Dr. Jerry L. Whalen BA ’65 of New Martinsville, W.Va., died Aug. 3, 2008. He was born July 1, 1943, in Anderson, Ind., the son of the late Emmitt BTh ’46 and Dorothy D. McNees Whalen.
 He was a self-employed dentist and a member of the First Church of God in New Martinsville.
 In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Ronnie Dean Whalen.
 Survivors include his wife, Mary Beth Phelps Whalen BS ’65; a daughter, Patricia D. Whalen BA ’92; and a son, Benjamin P. Whalen.

Birdie F. Noffsinger BA ’78 died July 18, 2008, in Mattawan, Mich. Born Dec. 30, 1927, in Parker, Ariz., she was the daughter of Neely and Myrtle George, the third of five children. She married Clyde B. Smith in 1946. As a mother of three young sons, she experienced one of life’s unexpected challenges as Clyde died of cancer in 1953. She moved to Defiance, Ohio, with her three sons, to live with Clyde’s parents, and it was there while attending the Church of God that she met Don Noffsinger LLD ’80. Birdie and Don were married May 21, 1955, and enjoyed 53 years of marriage. She had anotherl son with Don, prior to suffering a later miscarriage. Aside from her joy as a mother, while Birdie and Don were living in San Diego, Calif., she attended San Diego Junior College, earning her degree in nursing. She worked as a medical LPN at Community Hospital in Anderson, Ind. She left nursing in 1973 to devote more time with Don as he served as president of Warner Press Inc. in Anderson. She then returned to college to pursue her talents in art, receiving her Bachelor of Arts degree from Anderson University, the same year her youngest son, Mark graduated from college. She then served as director of the art gallery for Anderson University. Birdie and Don moved to Kalamazoo, Mich., in 1993 for retirement near their son, Mark, and his family. She taught Sunday school at Westwood Church of God, was a leader in Bible Study Fellowship, and was founder and leader of the Stephen Ministry Program, both in Anderson and at Westwood. Birdie fought a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s disease over the past 10 years. Birdie leaves behind her husband, Don; four sons, Gregory L. Smith, Ronald D. Smith, Randall G. Smith, and Dr. Mark A. Noffsinger; nine grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Ave Manke and Mary Williams.

Christopher Seelbach BA ’02 died July 15, 2008, in Moline, Ill. Born Dec. 10, 1978, in State College, Pa., he had lived in Anderson since 2000, moving from Alma, Mich., where he lived from 1985 to 2000. He was employed by MediaCom for five years and was assistant coach of men’s basketball at Anderson University. He attended Madison Park Church of God. Survivors include his fiancée, Lauren Beth Logan of Fishers, to whom he was to be married on Aug. 9, 2008; parents, Doug BA ’75 and Diann (Benson) BA ’76 Seelbach; sister, Sara Seelbach BA ’05; foster brother, Patrick Collins; foster sister, Dana Peterson; paternal grandparents, Betty and Calvin Gourley; maternal grandparents, Howard BA ’52 and Martha Benson, Springfield, Ohio; and three nieces and two nephews. He was preceded in death by a grandfather, Roy V. Seelbach, and a grandmother, Eunice (Moore) Benson.