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Leslie Lightner, an ordained United Brethren minister, passed away August 8 at age 58. He served as associate pastor of College Park UB church (Huntington, Ind.) and as senior pastor of Park UB (Bluffton, Ind.). Most recently, he has been a professor at Winebrenner Theological Seminary (Findlay, Ohio). The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, August 13, at Winebrenner, with visitation 204 and 6-8 p.m. on August 12.
Today we learned about the deaths of three persons who are well-known in United Brethren circles.
Doris Shepherdson, 81, passed away Monday, July 28, in Modesto, Calif. She was Head Resident Counselor of Hardy Hall at Huntington University 1975-1979. She was also the aunt of UB endorsed missionary Dave Spencer. Doris was a member of the former Oakdale United Brethren church in California.
Polly Roush passed away early Sundy morning, July 12, at age 86. Her husband, J. Edward Roush, served as a US Representative for 16 years; he passed away in 2004 at age 83.
Polly was well-known in the Huntington University community, and as a member of College Park Church in Huntington, Ind.
In 1940, Polly was certified as a singing evangelist by the Church of the United Brethren in Christ. The same year, she enrolled at Huntington College, and graduated in 1946 with a Biology degree; she later earned a master’s degree in elementary education from Ball State University (Muncie, Ind.). Much of her career was spent as a public schoolteacher. She was also an energetic campaigner for her husband’s political campaigns.
Huntington University’s site has a lengthy article about Polly Roush.
Roger Sherman of Mainstreet Church (Walbridge, Ohio) passed away at 11:30 on November 26. He was a longtime leader at Mainstreet and second father to Senior Pastor Marty Pennington. He had suffered a massive heart attack on November 9.
The funeral is 11:30 Friday, November 30, at Mainstreet Church. Bishop Ron Ramsey will speak.
Russ Neterer is known to many people in the denomination through his involvement at College Park UB church in Huntington, Ind., his role as a founding member of Emmanuel Community UB church in Fort Wayne, Ind., his service as a lay delegate to General Conference, and his 25-year tenure on the Huntington College Board of Trustees.
Russ, 92, passed away early Wednesday morning, November 17, at Parkview Huntington Hospital. He is survived by his wife, Thelma, and two children.
Dr. Walter Burkholder passed away on July 9, 2004. The Pennsylvania native pastored at United Brethren churches in Pennsylvania, Fort Wayne, and near Geneva, Ind., and served as general secretary of Christian Education for the United Brethren denomination.
Surviving are wife, Erma; children, Alan, Ann Oden, and Sharon Bryant; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Services were held Tuesday, July 14, in Huntington, Ind.
Rev. Ernest Burk passed away on April 12. He was a retired pastor from Michigan Conference, and father of Dr. Roger Burk, pastor of Mt. Hope UB in Carson City, Mich.
Rev. Jim Preece, 43, former pastor of the Salem Chapel church (Junction City, Ohio) in Central Conference, passed away on Saturday, March 29. The funeral will be held at 1:30 pm on Wednesday, April 2, at the Living Word UB church in Columbus, Ohio (145 Obetz Road, Columbus). Rev. Bill Pitts will officiate. Calling hours are on Tuesday, April 1, from 2-4 pm and 6-9 pm at the Graumlich & Son Funeral Home (1351 South High Street, Columbus, OH).
Jim’s heart condition made it necessary to place him on permanent disability at the end of 2002. He had been pastor of Salem Chapel most recently, but before that pastored two other UB churches–Zanesville UB (Zanesville, Ind.) and Mount Victory UB (Decatur, Ind.). Jim is survived by his wife, Jenny, and children Rebecca and Tim. The family’s home address is: 1846 Pine Grove Place, Lancaster, Ohio 43130
Dennis Hunt, a pastor in California Conference (and formerly in Arizona Conference), died February 15 after suffering a severe heart attack. Memorial services will be held Thursday, February 20, at the Lake Hills Community Church in Laguna Hills, Calif. The address is: 2331 Moulton Parkway.
