THE RECORD Online

Fall 2004

Dr. Warren A. McMullen '28 died June 8, 2004 at the age of 96. Dr. McMullen taught Chemistry at Greenville College , serving as department head for 28 years (1945-73). He held an M.A. degree from the University of Nebraska and Ph.D. from New York University .

Born the son of a Free Methodist minister in South Dakota , Dr. McMullen first taught in the public schools of Lincoln , NE for 15 years before joining the Greenville College faculty. While teaching a full load at GC, he also served a two-year stint as director of Alumni Affairs.

After retiring from the faculty in 1973, he taught at Oakdale Christian High School in Kentucky for four years. Of the 137 students who majored in Chemistry during Dr. McMullen's tenure at Greenville, more that 50 went on to professions as doctors or dentists. On the occasion of his retirement in 1973, he said, “The satisfactions of my 28 years at Greenville College have included above all working with the finest students to be found. I have seen them go on to successful careers, to build strong homes, to be faithful in building Christ's kingdom through their local churches, to be concerned citizens striving for the betterment of their communities.”

Dr. McMullen and his wife, Cleo, who died in 1998, have three children, Alice Moline of Phelps , WI , Carl McMullen of Roberts, WI, and Barbara Strong of Mitchell , SD.

Dale Pierce '36 died April 19, 2004 after several months of declining health. He was married to Rosamond (Gregory) '37 Pierce for 59 years.

Dr. Ralph J. Miller '36 died March 25, 2004 at the age of 93. Dr. Miller taught Physics at Greenville College from 1945-77 with the exception of a few years spent pursuing a Ph.D. and as a Fulbright lecturer in the Middle East . Dr. Miller was the chairman of the Physics Department from 1945-77 and president of the Illinois Association of Physics teachers from 1965-68. He was a Fulbright lecturer in Physics at the University of Aleppo, Syria from 1964-65. Over his lifetime, he developed many programs that helped in research and aiding education.

Rev. Howard Rose '40 died May 30, 2004 at the age of 86. Rev. Rose held a Master of Theology degree from Winona Lake Summer School of Theology and, for 44 years, ministered in the Oil City/Keystone Conference of the Free Methodist Church .

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Mary Loretta Olmstead Rose, whom he married August 26, 1941 ; a foster son, Samuel Emanuele; and a sister, Doris Hathaway Hensley.

Henry LaVerne Riemenschneider '51 died October 9, 2003 at the age of 77. He taught 37 years at Washington Jr. High in Pontiac , Michigan . He received his master's degree from the University of Michigan . After retirement, he moved to Indianapolis , where he was employed and volunteered five years at the Free Methodist Harold Meaustrio Center .

He was a member of the John Wesley Free Methodist Church in Indianapolis . He is survived by wife, Sarah ( Adams ) '50 Riemenschneider, four children and five grandchildren.

Rev. George Eldon Kline '51 died December 20, 2003 at the age of 82. He served as a pastor for 37 years in Maryland and Florida Conferences. He is survived by his wife, Carmen (Tomb) '49 Kline.

Stella (Butcher) '54 Kaufmann , died April 23, 2004 at the age of 81. She was the wife of emeriti board member, Dr. Ken Kaufmann '49 .

Suzanne Betts '96 died suddenly on March 29, 2004 at the age of 29. She was a member of Phi Alpha Theta while attending Greenville College , and had received her Master of Arts degree in English from Southern Illinois University in 1998. She had been teaching as an English professor at Southwestern Illinois College at the time of her death.

Edith Simcoe 1922 – 2004

Edith was one of the most organized persons you would ever want to meet. It seemed that she had a file on everything and everyone connected with Greenville College , and she always knew just where to find any relevant scrap of information needed for the task at hand. No fewer than five GC presidents—Richardson, Herron, Stephens, Smith, and Mannoia—relied on her helpful spirit and can-do attitude.

Edith married the Rev. Riker Simcoe in 1940 and spent the first 24 years of her married life as a Free Methodist pastor's wife. Daughter Mary Elizabeth was born in 1943. Three years later, tragedy struck the Simcoe family when Edith contracted polio. The disease left her partially paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair for the rest of her life.

The paralysis radically changed their lives, but it did not keep their spirits down. Edith once testified, “Individually, God met with Riker and me, and together we were able to accept the ways our life would be different, determining to live as normally as possible.”

In 1964 the Simcoes moved to Greenville so Riker could work at the college in Church Relations. It wasn't long before Edith's skills as a writer, editor, planner and organizer were noticed by President Glenn Richardson, and she too became a GC employee. She started the GC Family Notes newsletter, later called The Insider , which continued for 30 years until her retirement in 2001. These weekly personal notes about the lives of faculty and staff made Greenville College seem more like a family.

Edith's courage and determination in the face of physical adversity were inspiring to many who knew and worked with her. Duane Reeves, longtime editor of The Greenville Advocate , wrote in an editorial after her death earlier this year, “I respected the work ethic, efficiency, commitment to accuracy, and completeness she exemplified…. She was a very brave person who never made a reference to, or used as an excuse, her physical limitations.”

By her work and by her example, Edith Simcoe made Greenville College a better place.

Last updated: April 14, 2005