Remembering our friends

The Rev. Dr. Gabriel P. Dixon BTh ’33 died on Feb. 28, 2005. Born into a Church of God family, he was the first African American to graduate from Anderson University. He married Lollie Violet Cochran in 1934. That same year, the couple moved to Kansas City, where Gabriel accepted his first pastorate at Third Street Church of God. He was there 10 years. He accepted his second pastorate at the Garfield/Cote Brilliante Church of God in St. Louis, where he served until his retirement in 1974. In 1954 he received a bachelor’s degree of legal letters from Lincoln University School of Law in Jefferson City, Mo. He used this knowledge to served the congregation by assisting them in preparing wills, managing estates, and offering notary services. During his retirement, he served as the associate pastor to the Langley Avenue Church of God and to the First Church of God in Harvey, both in Illinois. As long as his health permitted, he traveled every other weekend to share the Gospel. Besides his wife, he is survived by three children, Lawrence Dixon, June Spann, and George Dixon; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and one brother, James Dixon. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Janice Irene, and five siblings.

Ruby (Clark) Kuckuck BTh ’34, BA ’38 died March 10, 2005, in Lake Wales, Fla. Born in Pittsfield, Mass., she moved to Lake Wales in 1995 from Yuma, Ariz. She was an elementary teacher in Little Diomede, Alaska. She was a member of Church of God, Anderson, Ind. She was preceded in death by her husband, Emil Kuckuck. Survivors include her brothers, Dr. Robert Clark BA ’41 and Dr. Charles Clark; and a sister, Thelma (Clark) Buehler BA ’38.

Juanita Flynt Podmore BA ’39 died Feb. 11, 2005. She was a graduate of both Anderson High School and Anderson University. She worked briefly at Warner Press and later as a secretary to the pastor at Anderson First United Methodist Church. She married Ed Podmore in 1943. She moved from Anderson, Ind., to Topeka, Kans., in 1947. In Topeka, she was employed briefly at Crosty Brothers department store, and later joined the staff at the Topeka Public Library, where she served as assistant children’s librarian for 20 years. After her retirement, she was employed for eight years as office manager for Friends of the Topeka Public Library. She was active in the First United Methodist Church in Topeka. In addition to her husband, she is survived by a daughter, Anne Fund; her brother and sister-in-law, Fenton ’37 and Adina (Whalen) ’39 Flynt; and two granddaughters.

The Rev. Leetus Williams Yount BA ’39 died Jan. 25, 2005. She lived in Hartselle, Ala. She met her husband, Otto Yount BS ’49, while they were students at AU. They married in 1942. She earned her master’s degree from Kent State University. The Younts lived in Ohio for many years, where Leetus taught elementary school and played the piano and organ professionally. They moved back to Alabama 22 years ago. They have served in churches in Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, and Alabama. Besides her husband, she is survived by two daughters, Joyce (Yount) DeFranco BA ’65 and Carrol (Yount) Bond BA ’68; three grandchildren; and two sisters, Geneva Williams and Clora Williams ’39.

Alvin Beason ’44 of Lebanon, Ind., died Jan. 10, 2005. He was the pastor of the Lebanon Church of God from 1944-1959. He served as interim pastor of churches in central Indiana until 2000. He was a Boone County probation officer from 1953-1976. He conducted a jail ministry at the Boone County facility from 1995-2003, when a stroke finally prevented him from continuing the work. He was an advocate of New Life Ministry, a halfway house for recovering drug- and alcohol-dependent men in Lebanon, Ind. He is survived by his wife, Marie, and three children, Lois (Beason) Shockley ’57, Dale Beason ’66, and Esther (Beason) Arington ’70.

Dr. DeVon W. Helbling ’44 died April 2, 2005. He lived in Portland, Ore. He had been a music professor. He was preceded in death by his first wife, LeEtta, and his second wife, Irene. He is survived by two sons, Roger Helbling and Dalyn Helbling; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Thomas Melvin Mitchell ’45 died March 29, 2005. In 1940, T.M. pioneered a new church in Newberg, Ore. While in Oregon, T.M. and Thelma, his wife, established and managed the Eastern Oregon Church of God youth camp program for several years. T.M. was also a Board of Trustees member of Warner Pacific College. T.M. and his family moved to Anderson to attend Anderson College. While there, he was called to pioneer and pastor the church in LaGrande, Ore. They built the church and parsonage in LaGrande. He also was pastor in Marbury, Md., and Lomita, Calif. He then managed the El Dorado Church of God Retirement Home in Oceanside, Calif., for five years. His wife, Thelma, preceded him in death in 2001. He is survived by two children, Connie Scott and Tom Mitchell, and six grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Gerald E. Elston ’48 died March 15, 2005, in Columbus, Ind. He served in the U.S. Army in Sicily and North Africa from 1942-1945, earning a Purple Heart for Bravery. He earned a master’s degree from Eastern Michigan University and an advanced degree in administration from Michigan State University. He retired from public school administration after 30 years with the Plymouth, Mich., school system. In his retirement, he did mission work in Japan and Haiti, worked at Warner Pacific and Warner Southern colleges, and Warner Christian Academy and White Chapel Christian School, both in Florida. Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Janice Hill (Bradley) Elston BA ’48; a daughter, Sheryl Elston BA ’75; a son, Mark Elston BA ’82; four grandchildren; three brothers; one sister; and several nieces and nephews.

Jack R. Anderson BA ’50, MDiv ’57 died Feb. 24, 2005, in Louisville, Ky. He loved and devoted his life to the Church of God ministry. He pastored in St. James and St. Louis, Mo.; Milwaukee, Wis.; Toledo, Ohio; and Louisville, where he retired. He was a former member and chairman of the AU Board of Trustees. He was preceded in death by his wife, Vergie (Wellman) Anderson ’50, in February 2004. He is survived by three daughters, Julie Bair, Lori (Anderson) Goodson BA ’79, and Marci Keith; one son, Corey Anderson; several grandchildren; a sister, Marilyn Kressel; and a brother, LeRoy Anderson.

Jack L. Munn ’50 died March 31, 2005, at his home in Indianapolis. Originally from Springfield, Ohio, he had lived in Indianapolis since 1960. He was a U.S. Army veteran. He was with the Marion County Sheriff’s Department for 32 years, retiring in 1995 as a sergeant. He was a very active layman at Meridian Church of God in Indianapolis. He was always involved in music, and directed the choir for about 20 years. He was diagnosed with bladder cancer in May 2004. After surgery and chemotherapy failed to stop the progress of the disease, he stayed in charge by planning his own “Celebration Homecoming.” He is survived by his wife Gloria L. (Skipper) Munn, whom he married on Sept. 4, 1954; a son, Randal W. Munn BA ’83; two daughters, Rita (Munn) Mott ’77 and Rhonda (Munn) Werner ’81; seven grandchildren; and two nieces.

Bonnylyne W. Portwood ’50 died of a brain tumor on April 12, 2005, at her home in Florida. She was a deputy finance officer of Homestead Air Force Base and an instructor at South Dade Adult Education Center. She was an active member of Kendall Community Church of God where she was an organist. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph E. Portwood. She is survived by her children, Ralph L. Portwood ’66, Randy Portwood, Rhonda Lingle, and Reese Portwood; six grandchildren; and two great-granddaughters.

M.E. “Bud” Trigleth ’52 died March 24, 2005. He had suffered from Leukemia for the past three years. For 39 years, he served on the professional staff of The Boy Scouts of America. His journey enabled him to touch the lives of many people. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Maxine (Tolbert) Trigleth ’48; three children, Jan Trigleth BA ’74, Harry Trigleth, and Cheryl Harris; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

James R. Scarbrough ’59 died July 3, 2004, in Richmond, Ind. He lived in Tipp City, Ohio, at the time of his death. He was an Indiana native. He worked for Packer Plastic in Lawrence, Kans., and Household MFG Inc. in Richmond. He was a corporal in the U.S. Army, serving from 1951-53. He attended the Ginghamsburg United Methodist Church. He is survived by his wife, Zelma (O’Field) Scarbrough ’57; eight children, Ken, Mary, Jim, Joyce, Alice, Mike, Tim, and Vicki; and several grandchildren and stepgrandchildren.

Garry Hornback BS ’61 died Jan. 19, 2005, from a stroke. He married Carol Jo Parker BS ’58 in December 1958. They moved to St. Louis — Garry’s home territory — in 1963 after spending several years in the San Francisco Bay area. Garry was a school psychologist before his retirement. He held a license in chiropractic and loved to fly planes. He is survived by his daughter, Karen. Carol Jo was a school counselor prior to her retirement in 2000. She experienced a stroke in 2003, which has limited her mobility and speech, but she enjoys notes and news from friends. Her address is 1923 Applegate Lane, Edwardsville, IL.

Rhett T. Cooper BA ’70 died May 31, 2004. He is buried at the Barrancus National Cemetery, U.S. Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Fla.

Paula M. Davis ASN ’77 died May 10, 2005, in Anderson, Ind., following an extended illness. She was a lifelong resident of Anderson. She was employed for several years in production at Delco Remy. She then earned her degree at AU. She worked as a registered nurse at St. John’s Medical Center, Community Hospital, and various local nursing homes. She is survived by her daughter, Stephanie Westerhout.

Terry Lee Starr ’81 died of a heart attack on Nov. 27, 2004, in New York City. He attended Cincinnati Art Academy and received his graduate degree from the Boston School of Art. He was a private student of Pauline Rice from ages 12-16. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, the Rev. Daniel and Betty (Clement) Schemmer, who both graduated from AU in 1928.

Terry Allen Rigdon BA ’95 died Dec. 19, 2004, after a six-month battle with stomach cancer. Terry was a police officer with the Anderson (Ind.) Police Department. He is survived by his wife, Tammy; a son, Tyler; a sister, Angela Rigdon BA ’95; and his parents, Jeff and Mary (Hodge) Rigdon ’72.

The Rev. James Harold Edwards, age 86, of Anderson, Ind., died May 16, 2005, after a brief illness. He was born in St. Marys, W.Va., and was a Church of God minister for 64 years in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky. He was a minister at Mount Pleasant Community Church in Daleville for 10 years. He was a member of the Mounds Kiwanis Club and served as lieutenant governor of the Kiwanis Club in Kentucky. He was also named a Kentucky Colonel. He loved family gatherings and attending Anderson University sports, especially football. Survivors include four children and spouses, Carolyn (Edwards) BS ’64 and the Rev. Gerald Yoder BA ’66, Dr. James L.BA ’65, MDiv ’70 and Deanna (Monteith) Edwards BA ’65, David M. BA ’67 and Gloria (Setzer) Edwards BA ’71, and Dr. Robert E. BA ’67, MDiv ’72 and Janet (Blackwell) Edwards BA ’67; nine grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Vera V. Edwards, on Nov. 3, 2001; a grandson, Jeremy Yoder; and several brothers and sisters.