04 Jan Obituary: Rev. Donald Bender Passed away January 1

Rev. Donald Bender, 85, passed away January 1, 2016, in Chambersburg, Pa. He graduated from Huntington College and spent his life pastoring churches in Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. He was a member of Blue Rock UB church in Waynesboro, Pa., which was one of the churches he pastored. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Shirley, and three children.

Visitation: 6-8 pm Monday, January 4.
Funeral: 11am Tuesday, January 5.

Both the visitation and funeral will be held at Grove-Bowersox Funeral Home, 50 South Broad Street, Waynesboro, PA. Rev. Gayle Ruble will officiate at the funeral.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: SpiriTrust Lutheran Home Care and Hospice, 2700 Luther Drive, Chambersburg, PA 17202 or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or at www.stjude.org.

29 Dec Death of Esther Lange, wife of Rev. Burton Lange

Esther Lange, widow of Rev. Burton Lange, passed away at 9:15 pm on Monday, December 28, 2015. Sons Roger and Jerry were praying around her bed as she took her last breath.

Esther and Burt served 58 years in United Brethren pastoral ministry–in Kansas, Indiana, Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Burt passed away June 22, 2015. Funeral details for Esther will be posted when available.

29 Dec Obit: Doris Malson, wife of Rev. Charles Malson, Sr.

Here are the funeral details for Doris Malson, who passed away on December 24.

Visitation: 3-6pm on Saturday, January 2, 2016,.
Visitation location: Mt. Hope UB church Fellowship Building, 5011 Mt. Hope Road, Carson City, Mich.
Memorial service: 3pm Sunday, January 3, 2016.
Memorial service location: East Washington UB church, 8051 S. Crapo Road, Ashley, Mich. (corner of Crapo and M 57 just west of Ashley). Visitation one hour prior to the service. Rev. Steve Malson, a son, will officiate.

Doris M. Malson was born August 17, 1923 in Lansing, Mich., the daughter of Fred and Bessie Crowl. She was a good student, athlete, and president of her class the last three years in high school. She and Charles F. Malson met and fell in love at Camden High and were married after graduation in the fall of 1941, a couple weeks before the attack on Pearl Harbor. They were married for 73 years. Charles preceded her in death in 2013.

Doris is survived by her children Beth and Lee Palmer, Cathie Kesler-Collins and Tom Collins, Chuck and Kate Malson, Patsy and Trent Bushnell, Steve and Jody Malson, Mary and Doug Streeter, by 19 grandchildren, and a growing number of great-grandchildren.

Doris’ life was manifested by her love for Jesus, her devotion to Charles, her family, and a host of those who loved her as family. She spent her life caring for others and was proud of how many were unofficially adopted into the Malson clan. She cooked for camps and conferences at the Carson City Christian Camping Center. She readily hosted people for meals. Visitors knew that they would be offered ice cream and her famous homemade chocolate topping and/or homemade donuts even if it were a drop-in visit.

Doris and Charles farmed after marriage until Charles answered the call to Christian ministry. They moved to New York, where Charles attended Houghton College. To supplement their income, Doris did laundry for college men. One Monday she washed, starched, and ironed 58 white shirts along with the other laundry. (This was before dryers were common.)

She served alongside Charles at Brown Corners UB church in Clare, Mich., 1952-1957, and at Richfield Road UB church in Flint, 1957-1982. Dozens consider her to be Mom or Grandma. Doris traveled extensively with Charles, who was fulltime superintendent of Michigan Conference 1982-1991, when he retired.

Doris and Charles visited various countries while serving on the denominational Board of Missions. She was president of the Michigan Conference Women’s Missionary Association for several years. While in the Carson City area, they were faithful members of the Mt. Hope United Brethren in Christ Church.

She and Charles believed in giving back to the community where they lived. They volunteered at Carson City Hospital for more than 25 years, developing many community friends while helping to create a wonderfully welcoming atmosphere as people registered.

Memorial funds may be made to any of the following:

• Carson City Christian Camping Center, 10890 Easy Street, Carson City, MI 48811.
• Greater Lansing Youth for Christ, 5222 Dumond Dr, Lansing, MI 48917.
• Samaritan’s Purse, PO Box 3000, Boone, NC 48607.

24 Dec Death of Doris Malson

Doris Malson passed away at 6:30pm on Christmas Eve. She had suffered a massive stroke on Friday, December 18.

Her son Chuck wrote, “At 6:30 tonight, Christmas eve, my Mom, Doris Malson said Merry Christmas to St. Peter at the gates of heaven, knelt at the feet of Jesus, and looked around for Pop, Charles Malson. At least, that’s how I imagine it. What a great time for a great woman. Thank you for all your prayers and love. No details yet on the visitation or Memorial services.”

10 Dec Obit: Death of Evaline Macy

Evaline M. Macy, 86, wife of Rev. Vernon Macy, passed away October 31, 2015, in Hastings, Mich. She and Vernon, a former UB missionary in Honduras, were married in 1986. For a brief time they pastored in Michigan.

The funeral was held November 4 at Hastings Baptist Church in Hasting, Mich.