Alumni Obituaries- January 2016

The Rev. Edward Emanuel Heydt, (M.Div., 1969), 75, passed away Friday, Dec. 4, 2015.  He was born in Reading, Pa., to Edward Samuel Heydt and Bernetha Mae Ditzler Heydt, and was the devoted husband to Deborah Sue Heydt.  Pastor Ed was the loving father of Troy Heydt, Terra Lorshbaugh, Tricia Potter and her husband, Doug, Noel Ebersole and his wife, Michelle, Gretchen Ebersole, Megan Cobb and her husband, John, and Nathan Ebersole. He was the grandfather of Christopher Lorshbaugh, Colton Beckman, Madison Ebersole, Roman, Elias, and Camryn Cobb; and great-grandfather to Christian Lorshbaugh.

Pastor James A. McKinney,  (B.Div., 1951), 91, passed into his eternal home on November 24, 2015. He was born in Murphysboro, Illinois on April 19, 1924 to Edith and Hugh McKinney. He accepted Christ at an early age and was a leader in the Methodist Church all his life. He attended Asbury College and Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky and Ohio Wesleyan Officer Candidate School. He proudly served in the Marine Corps and Navy during World War II. After the war he was eager to return to the ministry. He served Indiana Methodist churches in Vevay, Tell City, Sullivan, Madison Trinity, Franklin, Christ Church-Indianapolis, Carmel, East Columbus and Bartlett Chapel. Jim officially retired from the Methodist Church in 1989 to care for his ill wife, Rachel. During this first retirement he volunteered as a chaplain at Wishard, I.U., Methodist, St. Francis and St. Vincent Hospice. He did pastoral counseling, led bible studies, prayer groups, presided over  many funerals and performed many weddings. He returned to the formal ministry as associate pastor at Lawrence United Methodist Church in 1990, served as chaplain at Marquette Manor Retirement Center for 6 years and spent the last 11 years of his ministry as pastor of Christians United Church at Soldiers’ Memorial Chapel at Fort Harrison. In 2010, at age 86, he retired from this ministry. He always said this was the highlight of his service to God. When Parkinson’s showed up at age 89, he attended Rock Steady Boxing, which is an exercise program for Parkinson’s patients. He loved the camaraderie and support of other patients and coaches.

He is survived by his wife of 20 years, Kay McKinney, children Pastor Kevin McKinney (Joyce), Kimberly Papanikandros (Ly), stepson David Fresher, brother John, 4 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Rachel, son Michael and sister Margie Crain.

Visitation will be at Lawrence United Methodist Church on Friday, December 4, 2015 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. with a memorial service following at 12 p.m.  Memorial contributions may be made to Lawrence United Methodist Church, 5200 North Shadeland Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46226 or Rock Steady Boxing, 6847 Hillsdale Ct., Indianapolis, IN 46250. Arrangements by Indiana Funeral Care and Crematory. – See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/indystar/obituary.aspx?pid=176684890#sthash.zWqUZ2Oy.dpuf

James Wesley Wagner, (B.Div., 1958), 82, of Centerville, passed away peacefully on November 28, 2015. Jim was born on October 17, 1933 in Huntington, WV to Mina Wright and Lawrence Wagner and attended Huntington High School. He graduated from Asbury College in Wilmore, KY in 1955 and from Asbury Seminary in 1958. As a United Methodist pastor in the West Ohio Conference, he served churches in Burlington, Richwood, Lima and Wilmington. Jim had a beautiful singing voice and played many instruments. He also sang in a men’s glee club and traveled the country with it during college. He enjoyed flying, loved to golf and read, and most importantly he loved his family and playing and having movie marathons with his five grandsons. He had a great sense of humor, loved people and a great cup of coffee, and remembered the names of everyone he ever met. Jim is survived by his spouse of 56 years, Dorthy Sue Wagner; two daughters, Susan Basinger of San Diego, CA and Jennifer Brown of Springboro; sons-in-law, Roger Basinger and Peter Brown; and grandsons, Carl Brown, Matthew Basinger, Nicholas Brown, Jacob Basinger and Max Brown. He is also survived by his sister, Doris Jean Lucas of Huntington, WV. He is preceded in death by his parents. Family will greet friends from 9:30am-11:00am on Thursday, December 3, 2015 at Christ United Methodist Church/Chapel, 3440 Shroyer Rd. Kettering, OH, with a funeral service at 11:00am at the church/chapel. Burial in David’s Mausoleum. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Kettering Medical Center Foundation designated Cardiac Services, 3535 Southern Blvd. Kettering, OH 45429. – See more at: http://www.routsong.com/obituary/Pastor-James-W.-Wagner/Centerville-OH/1566845#sthash.kYggdL7C.dpuf 

Wayne William Woodward, (B.Div., 1955), 85, passed away on December 3, 2015. He lived in Jackson MS and was a retired Methodist minister as well as a college and seminary professor. He graduated from Asbury Seminary in 1955 and was the Assistant Librarian under Sue Shultz for 2-3 years around 1964-67. He then served as the Head Librarian at Asbury University (College back then) from about 1967-1978. He then went to Jackson MS to get the library at Wesley Biblical Seminary ready for accreditation and retired from there in 1998. He is survived by his wife of almost 60 years, Corinne Vaughn Woodward, 2 daughters, 4 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren.

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