Remembering our friends

The Rev. Marvin L. Tate ’44 died Feb. 25, 2004, in Anderson, Ind., after an extended illness. He was ordained as a minister in the Church of God in 1942. He served as full-time minister in Granby and Rolla, Mo., Morehead, Ky., and Bloomington, Ind. He also built churches at each pastorate. For 19 years he was volunteer minister of seniors at South Meridian Church of God Rise and Shine fellowship in Anderson. He suffered from Parkinson’s disease during the last 10 years of his life, but didn’t give in to the disease until he had to. He and his wife, Pearl, were world travelers and had visited Europe, Africa, and several island countries. Survivors include his wife, to whom he had been married for 64 years; two daughters, Norma Jean (Tate) Elmendorf ’59 and Phyllis Schaefer; and three grandchildren.

Thelma LaVaughn Jones Whalen BS ’47 died Dec. 22, 2003, in Florida. Thelma earned a degree in Christian education at AU. She later received a degree in elementary education. In 1945 she married the Rev. Paul Whalen BA ’46, BTh ’47, MDiv ’59. Together they served in Churches of God in Michigan, Kansas, Indiana, Colorado, Missouri, Alabama, and Grand Cayman. Thelma taught school for 25 years, retiring in 1989, and was commended by the Kansas State Education Department as a Master Teacher. Her husband died in 1990. She is survived by two daughters, Karen (Whalen) Hanna BA ’74 and Jan (Whalen) Fitts BA ’73; two sisters, Margaret Smith and Irene (Jones) Johnson BTh ’49; four grandchildren; seven nephews; and two nieces. Besides her husband, she was also preceded in death by a son, Russell BA ’76, and a sister, Eunice.

Gilbert Fritzler BS ’55 died May 12, 2003, at his home.