Remembering our friends
The Rev. Russell A. Robold ’51 died July 12, 2006, in Anderson, Ind. He married Elizabeth Sue Staggs on Aug. 10,1944. He was ordained into the ministry by the Church of God, Anderson, in 1950. They pastored 12 congregations in Indiana, Oklahoma, Texas, Ohio, and Tennessee. He retired from active pastoral ministry in October 2005. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II as a member of the 92nd Bomb Group. He flew 30 missions over occupied Europe as a radio operator gunner 757 on B17 while stationed in Podington, England, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters. In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, the Rev. Claude Robold ’72; four daughters, Melanie Lashbrook, Deborah Fife, Rebekah (Robold) Wagster BA ’78, and the Rev. René McGuire; four brothers, Orville Robold, Virgil Robold, Earl Robold, and Forrest Robold; 18 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
The Rev. Dr. Sethard A. Beverly BTh ’54, LHD ’99 died Aug. 18, 2006. He accepted his first pastorate at a rural church in Kendleton, Texas. In 1957, he began a 21-year pastorate at Third Street Church of God in Kansas City, Kan., before serving as director of Metro Urban Ministries for the Board Extension and Home Missions in Anderson, Ind., for 14 years. The Rev. Beverly received his Doctorate of Ministry from St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Mo., in 1991, and in 1999 he received the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from Anderson University in Anderson, Ind. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Sandra Kathryn Beverly; sons, Sethard (Tony) Beverly ’79 and Steven Beverly BA ’83; a daughter, Sherilyn (Beverly) Myricks BA ’85; brothers William Beverly, Thesley Beverly, Virgil Beverly, and Weldon Beverly; and seven grandchildren.
Dr. Donald Arthur Lau BA ’55 died January 29, 2006. He received a Bachelor of Divinity and a Master of Arts degree from Butler University School of Religion in Indianapolis. He received a Doctor of Education from Syracuse University in New York. He was an ordained Methodist minister. He pastored churches in Indiana, Arkansas, New York, and Tennessee. In his teaching career, he was a full-time faculty member at Arkansas State University at Magnolia and at Middle Tennessee State University at Murfreesboro. Later he was self-employed for many years running Don Lau’s Tax and Financial Services in Murfreesboro. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Wright Lau; his daughters Robbin Cross and Cheryl Stewart; stepchildren Ken Johnson and Tara Ross; and six grandchildren.
John “Jack” Wesley Boyer ’56 died May 20, 2006. He married Reba (Hendricks) Boyer BS ’58 on Aug. 12, 1956. He was a retired product design engineer. He was also a longtime music minister at First Church of God in Benton, Ill. In addition to his wife, he is survived by sons Don Eric Boyer BA ’82 and David Wesley Boyer; a daughter, Nancy Hannebique; three grandchildren; a brother, James Boyer; a sister, Janet Shaw; and several nieces and nephews.
Donna J. Delaney BA ’78 died July 10, 2006, in Robinson, Ill. She married James A. Delaney III BA ’75, MDiv ’84 on June 1, 1980. She was a librarian at the Anderson University School of Theology. She attended the First Church of God in Linton, Ind.; was Girl Scout leader; a Boy Scout Leader, Order of the Arrow; a member of Phi Theta Kappa; and a member of KYILINDI Pipes and Drums. In addition to her husband, she is survived by a son, James Albert Delaney IV; a daughter, Heather Dondeana Delaney; and sisters Helen Olsen, Connie Karafin, and Mari Gregory.
Gloria Olive died April 17 2006. She was professor and chair of the mathematics department at Anderson University from 1952 to 1968. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Brooklyn College, a master’s from the University of Wisconsin, and a Ph.D. from Oregon State University. In addition to teaching, she was also active in the research of combinatorics. She was a senior lecturer at the University of Otago (New Zealand) from 1972 to 1989. While at Otago she was a member of the Council of the New Zealand Mathematical Society (NZMS) and the convener of the New Zealand National Committee for Mathematics. During her years at AU, there was a marked increase in the number of mathematics students and majors. Staff numbers also increased. The department also established a chapter of Kappa Mu Epsilon, the national mathematics honor society. She also arranged for visits by some leading mathematicians to the university.
