Remembering our friends
Ruth Orlinda (Bruner) Kardatzke BA ’35 died Jan. 24, 2006, at Bayshore Commons Assisted Living at Orchard Villa in Oregon, Ohio. She was born in Dacoma, Okla., and had lived in Elmore, Ohio. On Dec. 29, 1934, she married Arlin M. Kardatzke, and he preceded her in death on Feb. 23, 2004. Ruth was an elementary school teacher for 17 years, retiring in 1976. She taught at Rocky Ridge, Gibsonburg, and Northwood Schools. She was a member of the Elmore Church of God, the Civic Mothers Club, and various teachers’ associations. She was also an election judge in Elmore. During her lifetime, she and her husband traveled to 49 of the 50 states and also to Europe. She is survived by sons, Merl Kardatzke BS ’59, Nyle Kardatzke BS ’62, Owen Kardatzke BA ’63, and Larry Kardatzke BA ’73; daughters, Sharon (Kardatzke) Benefield BA ’66 and Annette (Kardatzke) Foudy ’72; brother, James Bruner; sisters, Ella Lanman and Irma Schrader; 22 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and several adopted great-grandchildren.
Nelda (Settlemyre) Miller ’38 died Dec. 10, 2005. She was born in Drexel, N.C. She attended Rutherford College in North Carolina and spent two years at Anderson University. She was a homemaker who taught preschool for 24 years. She was a member of North Anderson Church of God and served as president of the Illinois Ministers Wives Fellowship. She was preceded in death by her husband, the Rev. Raymond Miller ’38. She is survived by three children, Joyce Elliott, Carol (Miller) Hefner BA ’65, and Marian (Miller) Mossman ’69; six grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Elizabeth (Smith) Pistole BS ’43 died Dec. 1, 2005, in Anderson, Ind., following an extended illness. She was born in Hale Center, Texas, and had been an Anderson resident since 1957. She was a teacher for Anderson Community Schools for 20 years before retiring in 1983. She received a master’s degree from Ball State. She attended Park Place Church of God and was the author of seven books. Survivors include her husband of 64 years, Hollis S. Pistole BA ’45, whom she married in Detroit, Mich., Feb. 14, 1941; four children Cynthia (Pistole) Poikonen BA ’68, Carole (Pistole) Greenwalt BA ’72, Dr. David Hollis Pistole BA ’72, and John Pistole BA ’78; two sisters, Mildred Gentry and Neoma Marusa; nine grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Rosie Eveline Shelby Ukrainetz Krain ’45 died on Dec. 31, 2005, in Phoenix, after a short illness and resulting problems. She was married to AU alumnus Nicholas Ukrainetz Krain, who passed away in 1988. The couple met at AU and were married in 1947 by Rev. W.E. Reed in Anderson, at Arrow Heights Church of God. They moved to Phoenix with their daughter in 1953, where they have attended First Church of God, and the Sixteenth Street/Missouri Park/Central Phoenix Church of God. Rosie is survived by children Sonia Krain Baumann and Dale Nicholas Krain; four grandchildren and one great-granddaughter; and sisters Thelma Jean Shelby Stanford and Naomi Shelby Melton. Friends may contact Rosie’s family at 8021 N. 5th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85020, or by e-mail at fotoluver@hotmail.com.
Oscar Melson Jr. ’48 died Jan. 15, 2006, in Anderson, Ind. He was born in Anderson. He married Suzette (Scott) Melson on July 17, 1949, and she survives. During the European conflict of World War ll, he served in the 103rd infantry of the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1946. In addition to Anderson University, he attended Arizona State and Butler University. While at AU, he started the Ravens Golf Team in 1947. For 40 years, Oscar worked at the Anderson Banking Co., primarily in the insurance department. He also served as an Indiana high school basketball referee for 20 years. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church. An excellent golfer, Oscar was president of Grandview Men’s Golf Club where he was club champion 15 times. A several-time Madison County Golf Champion, Oscar also qualified for three USGA National Public Links tournaments and for the USGA Seniors tournament in 1988. In addition to his wife, he is survived by a daughter, Susan Huffman; a sister, Elizabeth Ludwig; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. A son, Karl Christopher, preceded him in death.
Georgetta Kinney Schauer BS ’49 died Jan. 24, 2006. She was a homemaker and an assistant in ministry. She was the pianist for her husband, the Rev. Homer Schauer ’50, who sang for a time with the Christian Brotherhood Hour Quartet. Georgetta and Homer are the parents of four children. For those who would like to express their love and prayers for Homer, he is at the Scripps Home at 2212 N. El Molino Ave., Altadena, CA 91991. You may also contact him at (626) 398-8576 or hschauer626@earthlink.net.
Elizabeth Joy Ikast Barnes BS ’51 passed away July 3, 2005, in Yucaipa, Calif., after a long illness. She graduated from Anderson University with a degree in business. Upon graduation she took a position with Firestone Tire Company in Nebraska and later transferred with the company to Los Angeles. Over the years she rose through the ranks to become the first female controller in the history of the company. She was a long-time member of the First Church of God in Santa Ana, Calif., and in retirement she belonged to the First Church of God in Yucaipa, Calif. She was preceded in death by her brother David Ikast Nielsen, and by her former husband. She is survived by her sisters Esther Lillian Ikast Fair and Ruth Ikast Leedom Helvering; brother-in-law the Rev. James W. Fair BA ’49; and 13 nieces and nephews.
Marian (Egly) Zerkle ’51 died Nov. 22, 2005, in Middletown, Ind., following an extended illness. She was a homemaker and attended South Meridian Church of God. She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Robert Zerkle. They were married in 1951 in Danville, Ill. Other survivors include four children, Catherine (Zerkle) Tolbert BA ’75, John Zerkle BA ’77, Nancy (Zerkle) Varner BA ’78, and Susan (Zerkle) Miller BA ’82; three sisters, Lois York, Clara Bounds, and Dorothy (Egly) Garner ’45; two brothers, Glenn Egly and Alan Egly MDiv ’56; 10 grandchildren; one great-grandson; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Cas A. Downs Jr. BS ’57 died Dec. 17, 2005, after a brief illness. He was born in Rand, W. Va., and had lived in Anderson since 1954. He earned his master’s degree from Ball State University. He was a veteran who served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean Conflict. He was a school principal for 32 years, retiring in 1989 from Hagerstown Elementary School. He was a member of the Chesterfield Community Church of God. He is survived by his wife, Lois (Esper) Downs ’51, whom he married in 1951; three sons, Gary Downs BA ’83, Robert Downs, and Bill Downs BA ’88; a brother, Carl Downs; and one grandson.
Rex “Arnett” Ahrendt BA ’64 died Oct. 30, 2005, following an extended illness. While at AU, he played on the tennis and basketball teams. He attended the University of Hawaii to do his graduate studies. During his lifetime, he had two careers — music and golf. He is survived by his mother, Ava Ahrendt; sister, Rita Simpson; and a nephew.
Jeannine (Lenon) Byard BS ’67 died Nov. 13, 2005, after a year-long battle with cancer. She lived in Anderson, Ind., at the time of her death. She was born in Remus, Mich., and moved to Anderson at the time of her marriage to Jerry Byard. She taught music in the public school system for a few years, after which she gave private piano lessons in the home for 37 years. She was the organist for many years at South Meridian Church of God. In addition to her husband, she is survived by her mother, Helen Lenon; sisters, June Varner, Marie Starks, Margie McArthur, Sandra Lenon, and Elaine MacDonald; one brother, Arthur Lenon; and many nieces and nephews.
Dr. L. David Lewis BA ’67 died peacefully in his Anderson, Ind., home on Jan. 11, 2006, after a year-long battle with cancer. A former Anderson University professor, department chairman, and program administrator, he retired in 2004 as president and chief executive officer of Overseas Council International, a global Christian ministry based in Indianapolis. He was a native of Sikeston, Mo. He earned a Master of Divinity degree from Asbury Theological Seminary in 1970 and a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago’s Divinity School in 1979. He was ordained to the ministry of the Church of God in 1971 and served in various leadership positions at churches in Kentucky, Alabama, Florida, Missouri, and Indiana. He joined the faculty of Anderson University in 1978 and for 20 years taught classes in both the Department of Bible and Religion and the Department of History and Political Science. He also was active in his family’s business as co-owner of Lewis Furniture Co. and Kingsway Furniture Store in Missouri. He was an active member of the Church at the Crossing, Indianapolis, where he taught Sunday school and served as chairman of the missions task force. He previously attended Park Place Church of God and served that congregation as chairman of the church council and as a Sunday school teacher. He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Margaret; a daughter, Dr. Stephanie Williams; a son, Christopher Lewis BA ’94; four grandchildren; a brother, Donald Lewis BS ’59; and a sister, Marilyn Moll. During his illness, Stephanie started a scrapbook made up of the letters friends and family sent to David during his illness. Artist and AU alum David Liverett is putting those letters into a book along with additional stories from friends. Anyone interested in purchasing the book can contact Liverett at dliverett@insightbb.com. All proceeds will benefit the Kenya International School of Theology.
Robert Leon Davis ’70 died Jan. 17, 2006. He was born in Philadelphia, Pa. Robert was drafted in the U.S. Army where he served in Vietnam. After returning to the U.S. he shared wonderful stories of the Vietnamese people he had met and with whom he had become friends. In the late 1960s Robert settled in Anderson, attending college and working at General Motors Corp., where he remained until he retired in 2004. In 1975 Robert was married to Diane Bryant. He was a member of the Sherman Street Church of God. Survivors include his son, Rodlin Davis; three sisters, Betty Jane Davis, Barbara Y. Davis, and Etta D. Barton; two brothers, William J. Davis and Herschel T. Davis; and a niece and two nephews.
Katie Collette BA ’01 died Sept. 10, 2005, following a four-year battle with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. She worked at the Madison Community Bank. Survivors include her mother, Mary Collette; her father, Michael Collette; her sister, Kirsten Collette BA ’03; her paternal grandparents, Edward and Geraldine Collette; stepmother JoAnna Collette BA ’83, MBA ’98; and stepsisters Betsy, Jill, and JoEllen.
Dennis Roberson ’04 died Dec. 9, 2005, following an extended illness. He was a lifelong resident of Anderson, Ind. He was retired from Inland Fisher Guide Division of General Motors and a veteran of the U.S. Army. He was active with the Humane Society of Madison County. He is survived by his wife, Lisa.
J. Willard “Bill” Reardon, a friend and supporter of Anderson University, died Feb. 12, 2006, in Anderson, Ind., following a brief illness. He was born in Chicago. An engineering graduate from Purdue University, Bill went on to work for General Electric Company as a design engineer for 39 years until his retirement in 1975. He was a licensed professional engineer in the states of Indiana and Pennsylvania. At the time of his retirement, he served as manager of small motor product engineering for the direct current motor and generator department of General Electric. Bill, in his younger years, was a member of the American Guild of Organists and a member of the Erie Symphonic Choir. He was active in the Park Place Church of God, American Society of Electrical Engineers, Mounds Kiwanis Club, the Anderson Symphony Board, and Anderson University Fellows and Sponsors. The university honored Bill and his wife, Virginia, in 2002 with the naming of the J. Willard and Virginia Reardon Wellness Education Center in the Kardatzke Wellness Center. He is survived by Virginia, his wife of 31 years, as well as a brother, Dr. Robert H. Reardon BA ’40; three children, Lowell Reardon, Dan Reardon BA ’65, and Ann Reardon; two granddaughters and six great-grandchildren; and three nieces and a nephew.
