Remembering our friends

Elsie Kardatzke Stagner ’35 died Sept. 13, 2007, in Phoenix, Ariz. She was the last survivor of a family of nine, many of whom attended AU and were early supporters of the college. She was employed in the federal government and retired in 1977. Survivors include a daughter, Patricia Harger; a son, Douglas Stagner BA ’74; and 4 grandchildren, including two juniors at AU.

Florence Margaret (Harvey) Jackson BTh ’45 died Sept. 16, 2007, in West Lafayette, Ind., after an extended illness. She was a teacher and church secretary for many locations where her husband was pastor. He held his final pastorate at First Church of God in Greenfield. She enjoyed making candles, writing and reading. She married V. Ward Jackson Sr., on Sept. 12, 1942; he died April 7, 1997. Survivors include four children, Vernon Ward Jackson, James Herbert Jackson, Darlene Freeman, and Mary Sterrett; nine grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Thomas L. DeVol BA ’51 died Jan. 15, 2007. After graduating from AU, he worked for General Motors Institute in Allison BOP in Kansas City and Delco Radio in Kokomo, Ind. For the past several years, he was the state director of safety for the Department of Natural Resources of Indiana. He is survived by his wife, Betty L. DeVol BA ’50; and a son, Dr. Thomas A. DeVol.

Helen Pruitt Johnson McBrayer ’53 of Morehead, Ky., died Sept. 4, 2007. She was born in New Boston, Ohio, and grew up in Ashland, Ky. Helen graduated from Morehead State University with a master of education degree and completed additional graduate hours at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. She was a public school teacher and administrator for many years and retired from the Middletown, Ohio, school system. Her first husband, the late Rev. Ramah Johnson, was a former pastor of various churches in Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio, and Helen was a former missionary to the West Indies. After her marriage to James Earl McBrayer, Helen became very active at Morehead First Church of God and the community. She was a devoted Christian, Sunday school teacher, a member of the board of trustees of the church, and held various offices in Women of the Church of God. She was a member of the Kentucky Retired Teachers Association and Kappa Delta Pi (honor society in education). James, a well-known businessman and community leader, preceded her in death on Jan. 28, 2002. Survivors include two sisters, Jo Ann Ramey of Ashland, Ky., and Judy (David) Hill of South Carolina; three nieces and three nephews; several great-nieces and great-nephews; four step­children; 18 step-grandchildren; and 36 step-great-grandchildren.

Sylvan “Van” D. Snelling BA ’54 died Nov. 6, 2007, in Wichita. The cause of death was pulmonary fibrosis. The fibrosis resulted from breathing asbestos dust during the time he worked in a factory while attending the School of Theology in Anderson. Following seminary, he served as youth director at Pryor, Okla., Church of God with Dwight Dye and as pastor of Fifth and Madison Church of God in Tulsa for the remainder of his pastoral ministry. In 1959 he joined the Western Electric Company and later was employed at AT&T, where he served until his retirement. He is survived by his wife, LaVada; sons, Brad and Michael; grandsons, Samuel and Isaac; stepchildren, Cathy Nesbit, Cindy Harrold, and Christy Sponsel; a sister, Juana Atchison; seven step-grandchildren; and six step-great-grandchildren.

Gene Baskerville BTh ’58 died July 27, 2007, six months after he was diagnosed with leukemia.

Mark E. Barnett BA ’65 died Oct. 21, 2007, in Paso Robles, Calif. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Katherine (Squires) Barnett BA ’75; a son, Mark Barnett II; and a brother, William Barnett.

Donna Irene White Bowen BA ’72 died July 20, 2007. She was a caseworker in Hendricks County, Ind., for the Department of Family and Children for the state of Indiana for 31 years. She was a member of the Plainfield Christian Church. She is survived by her husband, Ronald Bowen ’70; a daughter, Stephanie Nelson; a stepdaughter, Christina Kelso; a brother, Dean White; a sister, Diane White ’75; and her father, Edison White BA ’54.

Daniel Tunnie Martin BA ’76 died July 8, 2007, at his home in Albuquerque. He was born in India to missionaries for the Methodist church. As a young man, he achieved the level of Eagle from the Boy Scouts of America. He went to medical school at The Ohio State University. He began a private practice in Freemont, Ohio, and was the chief of surgery at Fremont Memorial Hospital and clinical assistant professor of the Medical College of Ohio. In addition to his work as a general surgeon, he traveled across the United States, South America, and Europe training surgeons in the newly introduced techniques of laparoscopic surgery. He spent the latter portion of his career as assistant professor of surgery, division of surgical endoscopy and laparoscopy at the University of New Mexico. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn; three children, Joshua Martin, Caitlyn Martin, and Jared Collins; his father, Tunnie Martin; a brother, John Paul; and a sister, Seema.