Alumni Obituaries – March 2014

ELLISON-Charles H., (1982, MDiv), 80, of Waynesville, passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2014 at his residence. A Korean Conflict veteran, Charles graduated from Wilmington College in 1959. He later received a Master’s Degree from Asbury Seminary in Wilmore, Ky. He was the pastor of New Burlington Friends Church for 15 years, and ministered at other locations for a total of 26 years, most recently Fellowship of Praise, Clarksville. He worked for Wilmington City Schools for nearly 20 years. He enjoyed being a pastor, calling on people, and making hospital visits. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Helen; a son, Charles “Chip” (Lori) Ellison; a daughter, Holly (Hans) Jeschke; and four grandchildren, Drew, Zachary, Aaron and Claire.

HORTON-Ernest H. Jr., (1949, MDiv), 87, passed away on Jan. 15, 2014, in Corvallis.  Ernest (“Bud”) was born on Nov. 7, 1926, in Pasadena, Calif., to Ernest Sr. and Esther Horton. He grew up in Pasadena and spent most of his adult life in Altadena, Calif., before moving to Corvallis in 2011.  Ernest earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Los Angeles Pacific College, a Master’s of Divinity degree from Asbury Theological Seminary and a doctorate in religion from University of Southern California. He went on to teach philosophy, psychology and world religions for 48 years, mostly at Glendale Community College in California. Ernest enjoyed travel, and visited places such as Western Europe, India, Israel, Japan, Alaska and Hawaii. Ernest also enjoyed ocean swimming, concerts and art shows.  Ernest is survived by his wife, Patricia Mathews Horton; daughter Carol Tremblay and son-in-law Victor Tremblay of Corvallis; brother Harold Horton and family of Temple City, Calif.; grandchildren Jason and Sarah Mann, and Mark Tremblay; and great-grandsons Desmond, Broderick and Augustus Mann of Seattle.

LEDDUSIRE-Dr. Frank Edward Butts, Ph.D., (1958, MDiv) age. Frank was a Professor of Linguistics, Russian Language and Literature for 35 years at Seattle Pacific University. His dynamic life bridged from language, literature and history to theology, philosophy and astronomy. A fellow colleague attributed his depth of knowledge to being “irreducible”. Frank was a graduate of Seattle Pacific College, University of Washington, Asbury Theological Seminary, and a former Free Methodist pastor. He held a Ph.D. in Slavic Languages and Literature, a MA in Linguistics and a Divinity degree. Frank created the European Studies program and facilitated many collegiate poetry readings at SPU. He devoted himself to family, profound intellectual conversations and a lifelong passion for language. Frank embraced Eastern European culture to a depth that erases borders. During retirement, you would find him in his garden, writing poetry or studying Chinese and other languages. Much of his time was also spent researching genealogy and learning about the universe. His fascination with Mars inspired his poetry, conversations with grandchildren and recently led to his novel entitled, Mars Alive. Frank died from a stroke on February 5th. Survived by his sister: Carol Johnson (Fred). Children: Frank Eugene Leddusire (Florence), Ron Leddusire, Judy Casad (Tony) and Cindy Kaufman (Randy). Grandchildren: Sasha Countryman- Frate, Ben Leddusire, Frank Ethan Esau Leddusire, Emilie Kaufman, Marri Leddusire, Derek Kaufman, Abigail Leddusire, Austin Leddusire, Kyla Bagyan, Abegail Bagyan, and Ivan Leddusire. Great Grandchildren: Jordan Frate, Kiara Frate and Anika Leddusire.

MCKEAN-Dr. Rodney Byron, (1975, MDiv), 64, was born on June 23, 1949 and passed away on Wednesday, January 22, 2014.  Rodney was a resident of Hesperia, California.

ROGERS-The Rev. Thomas Paul, (1970, MDiv), 70, Lancaster, Ohio, went home to his Lord and Savior at the Pickering House on Jan. 27, 2014, after a courageous battle with congestive heart failure.  He was the son of the late Vernon E.L. Rogers and the late Marjorie C. Shillingstad Rogers, and was born Jan. 5, 1944, in Elgin. He graduated from Lincoln High School, Mott, in 1966; earned a bachelor of arts in English from North Dakota State University, Dickinson; and in 1970, he graduated with a master of divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore, KY. He received his Deacon Orders in the United Methodist Conference of North Dakota in 1967 and Elder Orders in 1972.  While in seminary, Tom served the UMC charge of Rainsboro, Marshall, Boston and New Petersburg churches in Ohio. After graduation from the Asbury Theological Seminary, he moved to North Dakota, where he served the St. Thomas, Glasston and Hamilton UM churches plus a cooperative with the Hamilton Presbyterian church. From 1972-77, he pastored the Calvary UMC in Kindred and the Zion UMC near Walcott. Returning to Ohio, Tom served the following churches: South Salem, Fruitdale, Lattaville and New Bethel UM, Trinity UMC in Bloomdale, St. Marks UMC, where he held a position as associate pastor, Chesapeake UMC, Wesley UMC in Van Wert and Sixth Avenue UMC in Lancaster, all in the West Ohio Conference. Retiring after 40 years of ministry in June 2007, he accepted an appointment at Salem UMC near Carroll, Ohio (April 2008); however, illness forced his premature retirement in March 2013.  Tom was a member of both the Hocking Valley Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution and the Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War (Camp McKinley No. 21). While serving as chaplain in both organizations, he participated in parades, encampments, reenactments, grave markings, Save the Cannon and Brick Committee and volunteered for many other programs. He also conducted tours as docent at the Sherman House.  Tom is survived by his wife, Betty Anne Conkel Rogers, whom he married on June 1, 1969; his son, Andrew N. (Gayle) Rogers; his daughter, Amelia J. (fiance, John M. Anderson) Rogers; two step-grandsons, Jacob (Sarah) Forshnell and Zachary (Donna) Forshnell; two future step-granddaughters, Heather R. Anderson and Ciana H. Anderson; five step-great-grandchildren; his siblings, Marcia Houtz, William (Melvina “Beanie”) Rogers, John (Judy) Rogers and Julie (David) McKown; other loved ones; many nieces and nephews; an uncle, Don (Ruth) Rogers; as well as his beloved Black Lab, Happy, who misses her best friend very much.  He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Raymond L. “Oscar” Rogers; one nephew, Ian James Rogers; and his other Black Lab, Ginger.

ZINK-Frank L., (1968, MDiv), 78, of South Bend, IN passed away on Wednesday, January 15, 2014 at Memorial Hospital. He was born on August 4, 1935 in Flint, MI to Frank L. and Sena (Nelsen) Zink. Frank is survived by his wife, Ruth A. (Shock) (Geahlen) Zink; three daughters, Rebecca (Michael) Wilson of Bremen, IN, Carolyn Zink of Manistee, MI and Michelle Cabrera of Warsaw; two sons, Andrew Zink of Aurora, IL and David Nielsen Zink of the Netherlands; twelve grandchildren; three great grandchildren, four stepchildren and his friend, who was closer than a brother, Terry Misner of Bremen, IN. He was preceded in death by his son, Frank Nelsen Zink and his sister, Mary Zink. Frank received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan, Flint and Ann Arbor, MI. and theology degree from Asbury Seminary in Wilmore, KY. He was a pastor from 1961-’66 at three churches, Bybee Methodist in Bybee, KY, Columbine Methodist Church in Grand Blanc, MI and the Lansing Missionary Church in Lansing, MI; From 1966-’71 he was in full time evangelism while completing his graduate program in Communication at Michigan State University. In ’71 he became a full time faculty member with Bethel College, Mishawaka, IN, earning the Teacher of the Year Award in ’74. In ’76 he taught Communication & Speech at St. Mary’s College and the University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN and in ’79 at Ancilla College, Donaldson, IN. From ’97 he taught full-time and adjunct as a faculty member at Ivy Tech until December of 2013. There he earned the Teacher of the Year Award, an Honorary Degree in 2013 and received special honors by having the annual Frank L. Zink Speech Competition established in his honor. Frank’s family and dear friends were his motivation for working and playing. He was passionate about traditional jazz, attending festivals and teaching his children how to enjoy the genre. He also loved animals, adopting orphaned ones and advocating good treatment of them to anyone who would listen. His students and their class successes were always of a high priority. Most importantly, his faith in the salvation and love of Jesus Christ was the heart and soul of his existence, favoring Hebrew 11 as his “life chapter”.

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