Remembering our friends

Elizabeth Ethel (Miller) Jones ’40 of Louisville, Ky., died Oct. 29, 2004. She was the wife of the late Rev. Kenneth Jones, to whom she was married for 59 years. She was also a member of Larchmont Church of God, a missionary, a school teacher, and an artist. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter, DonDenna Duvall. She is survived by her brother, William E. Miller; a daughter, Lorelei Elizabeth Jones; 5 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Dr. Verna Del Marie Joiner Mayo BS ’47 died Dec. 21, 2004, following a stroke. She was an Anderson University professor emerita who served for many years as a professor in the science department. She earned her Master of Science degree from Tulane University and pursued her doctoral studies at Indiana University before returning to Anderson University to join the faculty. She returned to Louisiana in 1989 with her husband, Gradie LaNoyette, who preceded her in death shortly thereafter. Survivors include two sons, David and Lowell.

The Rev. Woodrow Wilson Starkey ’47 died Dec. 5, 2004. He was a retired Church of God minister, serving congregations in North Carolina, Arkansas, Tennessee, Texas, and Indiana. He was also an evangelist and interim pastor. He attended the Hermitage Church of God. He is survived by his wife, Mettie (Horton) Starkey ’47; three daughters, Dr. Mary (Starkey) Telfer BS ’64, Dr. Martha (Starkey) Reinhardt BA ’64, and Barbara Starkey BA ’70; eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; a half brother, William Waite; and a half sister, Margaret Gilmer. He was preceded in death by one daughter, Catherine (Starkey) Kardatzke BS ’62.

Eldon L. Williams BS ’52 died Nov. 13, 2004, following an 18-month illness. He had been a resident of Anderson, Ind., since 1947. He was a veteran, serving in the U.S. Army during World War II. In 1982, he retired as a supervisor at Delco Remy after 32 years of employment. He was a member of Park Place Church of God, Indianapolis Valley of Scottish Rite, Madison County Shrine Club, and the American Legion. He was a 50-year member of the Masonic Lodge 691 and an active volunteer with Boy Scouts of America for more than 40 years. He is survived by a wife, Kathleen “Billie” Williams; two sons, Michael Williams and Patrick Williams; one stepson, Kevin Luther; brothers Maurice Williams and Loren Williams BS ’50; and two grandchildren and a stepgranddaughter. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Barbara; one brother, Richard Williams; and one sister, Mildred Humphrey.

Arthur N. Dye BS ’53 died Nov. 23, 2004, after an extended illness. He had lived in the Anderson, Ind., area since 1946. He retired in 1982 from General Motors as a senior reliability engineer after 39 years of service. He served in the Army Air Force during World War II. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Anderson, the Mount Moriah Masonic Lodge #77 F. & A.M., the Scottish Rite Valley of Indianapolis, and the American Society for Quality Control. He is survived by his wife, Willodean, whom he married June 20, 1943. He is also survived by one son, Jon Dye; three sisters, Margaret Higgins, Lois Hulley, and Louise Abbitt; and four stepgrandchildren.

Chester L. Edwards BS ’55 died Jan. 20, 2005, at the National Lutheran Home in Rockville, Md., where he had resided for more than four years. He was born in Kirwin, Kan. His family lived in Loxicy, Ala., from 1916 to 1922 when they moved to Topeka, Kan. There he worked in the accounting department of the Santa Fe Railroad through the depression years and in 1932 was ordained to the ministry of the Church of God (Anderson, Ind.). He gave many years of dedicated service to the Topeka Church of God, which his mother had helped to establish. On Sept. 14, 1928, he married Verle Newth, who died in 1988. On March 31, 1990, he married Teresa Edwards. She died on December 23, 1993. In 1943, he moved his family to Anderson, Ind., in order to accept a position at the university in the accounting department. During his 28 years of dedicated service to the university, he was actively involved in the construction of 10 major campus buildings. In 1970 the college conferred on him an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. The Edwards Dining Room in the Olt Student Center was also named for him. In 1971 he retired from his position as business manager and treasurer. He was also preceded in death by a son, Ronald Edwards ’51. Survivors include a daughter, Fern Edwards ’45, and a stepdaughter, Jane Gray; three grandchildren; and a great-grandson.

Donald Ray Cavender BA ’58, MDiv ’62 died June 20, 2004, following a 10-month battle with cancer. He was a veteran of the United States Air Force and served during the Korean War. During his off-duty time in Korea, he worked with the chaplain, teaching children the Gospel. While a student at AU, he worked full time for Delco Remy. He was a retired pastor and social worker. He also worked as a tax preparer. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Betty Jo; three children, Darel, Karen, and Diana; three granddaughters and one great-granddaughter; one sister, Doris McCurdy; and three brothers, Otis, Bob, and John.

Robert L. Hazen Sr. ’62 died Jan. 20, 2005, in Anderson, Ind. He had lived in Anderson since 1955. He was a tool and die maker for Delco Remy for 35 years, retiring in 1993. He worked part time for Henry Ponsler Construction and the last eight years for Ambulatory Renal Services. He was active at East Side Church of God. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He worked for Baker Brothers Funeral Home and in the sales office for East Maplewood Cemetery. Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Wanda (Boyer) Hazen of Anderson, whom he married in New Castle, Pa., on Sept. 25, 1953; four children, Robert L. Hazen Jr. BA ’77, Joyce D. Hazen BA ’80, James R. Hazen BA ’83, and David Hazen BA ’88; two brothers, Charles Hazen and William E. Hazen; a sister, RuthAnne Ambrose; and 10 grandchildren.

William J. Holder ’62 died Nov. 3, 2004, after a sudden illness. He had lived in the Anderson, Ind., area since 1959. He was an installer and worked in maintenance for General Telephone Electronics in Pendleton, Ind., for 33 years, retiring in 1994. He served in the U.S. Army in the 1950s. He attended East Side Church of God. Survivors include his wife, Phyllis (Spitzmesser) Holders BS ’58, whom he married Jan. 24, 1958; three children, Kevin Holder BA ’86, Mary Beth (Holder) Rowbottom ’88, and Brandon Holder ’99; two brothers, Robert Holder and Ralph Holder; and two grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a brother, Wayne Holder.

The Rev. J. Larry Shook MDiv ’62 died Sept. 24, 2004, in Florida. In addition to the AU SOT, he was a graduate of Mississippi State University. He was a chaplain in the Florida state prison system for more than 20 years. He is survived by a son, James L. Shook Jr. BS ’76; a daughter, Karen Napier; one brother, Reece Shook; and three grandchildren.

Robert Dale Knuckles AA ’86 died Nov. 30, 2004, after a brief illness. He had been an Anderson, Ind., resident since 1965. He retired in 1996 from the Anderson Police Department as a lieutenant after 30 years of service. He also graduated from the University of Kentucky with a degree in industrial security management and crime prevention and from Southern Police Institute. He had more than 2,000 hours of criminal investigation schooling at Indiana University and other police training seminars. He also served in the U.S. Navy. He is survived by his wife, Tamra Ewald, whom he married April 15, 1967; two sons, Robert D. Knuckles II and Christopher L. Knuckles; brothers and sisters, Gary Knuckles, Don Knuckles, Patti Ann Davis, Jim Knuckles, and Jeff Knuckles; and five grandchildren.

Annie Christine Carter, AU freshman, died Nov. 27, 2004, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. She was born Oct. 5, 1986 in Pusan, Korea. Survivors include her father and stepmother, Leigh E. Carter and Tammy Carter; her mother and stepfather, Sandi Coleman and Lynn D. Coleman; paternal grandmother, Darlene Carter; maternal grandmother, Lois Hofstetter; stepgrandparents, Kenny and Shirley Gephart; stepgrandparents, Dale and Shirley Coleman; one brother Joe Carter; five stepbrothers, Landon Coleman, Joshua Coleman, Caleb Coleman, Gale Harpring, and Kelley Harpring; and one stepsister, Stacie Harpring.