THE RECORD Online

Alumni in Memory

Burton Jones '33 died February 15, 2005, at age 94. He taught math and science classes for two years during WWII.

Lyle Martin '35 died March 3, 2005, at age 92. After graduation from Central College in McPherson, Kansas and Greenville College, he taught for a time in a boys' school in Houma, Louisiana. He later taught English and Physical Education at Central College, obtained a second college degree from McPherson College, and was later an instructor in Industrial Arts and English in Batavia, New York.

Rosamond (Gregory) '36 Pierce died March 1, 2005, at age 91. She received a B.A. in Education and Religion from Greenville College, a Master of Library Science from Central Michigan University and attended Winona Lake School of Theology toward a Master of Ministry. As a single woman in the late 1930s, Rosamond taught at a school for black women in Mississippi and served as principal and teacher at the Wesley-Roberts Deaconess School of Nursing and Home for unwed mothers in Oklahoma. After marriage, she continued her career as a teacher and librarian in northern Michigan, retiring after 20 years of service.

Rev. Cleo T. Denbo '38 died April 19, 2005, at age 89. He was born August 10, 1915 in Louisville, KY, the son of the Rev. W. W. and Mayme Longest Denbo. He was a retired minister in the Wabash Conference of the Free Methodist Church. He graduated in 1935 from Vincennes University and in 1937 joined the Wabash Conference. In 1938, he graduated from Greenville College and attended Asbury Theological Seminary, later marrying Dorothy Horton December 3, 1941 in Washington, Indiana. He was a pastor for over 60 years serving Free Methodist churches in Illinois and Indiana. During his ministry, he also served on the board of directors of Woodstock Home in Illinois, chairing it for 12 years. He also was a member of the Greenville College Board of Trustees for 29 years, serving as its chairman for 11 years. He received emeritus status in November of 1991 and served as an executive committee member for 19 years. He served the General Conference of the Free Methodist Church in many capacities as well. He served over 10 years as a volunteer at Community East Hospital.

Kenneth H. Autenrieth '40 died May 15, 2005, at age 87. He graduated from Greenville College in 1940 and taught school for two years. He married Dorothy Taylor in 1941. He worked at Mississippi Valley Structural Steel Co. in Decatur for 40 years. He retired as production manager in 1982.

Ralph Churchill '43 died June 30, 2004, at age 85. After graduating from Greenville he received a Bachelor of Divinity degree from Asbury Seminary in Wilmore, Ky. Mr. Churchill served as a ministerial worker for the Free Methodist Church in Michigan, Kentucky, Texas, and Kansas from 1943 to 1951.

Paul Campbell '52 died September 7, 2002. He was a good man, and he and his wife, Sylvia, were married 47 years.

David Foster '56 died March 13, 2005, at age 73. He received a Master of Arts in marriage and family counseling from Azusa Pacific College in California. He later received a doctorate in church administration from Claremont School of Theology in Southern California. He was a retired senior pastor of Lawrence Free Methodist Church and superintendent, for the Northwest Conference of the Free Methodist Church for nine years. He was a bishop of the Free Methodist denomination for 12 years and received the honor of bishop emeritus when he retired. As a church representative, he spoke in more than 60 countries. He also served on the board of directors for several organizations.

Rev. Donald Reeser '56 died June 27, 2004. He graduated from Moody Bible Institute ( Chicago, IL ) in June of 1954. He graduated from Greenville College with a B.A. in 1956. He went on to attend Northern Baptist Seminary where he earned a Master of Religious Education in 1958. He served with Greater Europe Mission in Germany before returning to Illinois to join the faculty at Greenville College, where he taught German at Greenville from 1970-1979. He later earned a master's in German from SIU Carbondale. For the last 21 years, he served as pastor of the Bethany Baptist Church in Highland, Illinois.

James Lee Koch (Jim) '57 died May 12, 2005, at age 70. In 1991, Koch was inducted into the Oklahoma High School Coaches' Association Hall of Fame. He has also been inducted in the Oklahoma High School Basketball Coaches' Hall of Fame and served as their Secretary/Treasurer for three years. In addition, Koch was named head coach of the 1976 Faith 7 basketball game held in Shawnee, OK.

Rev. Glenn A. Welch '58 died in 2004, at age 71. Pastor Welch ministered to members of Christ United Methodist Church for 29 years before his retirement in 1998. He graduated from Fuller Theological Seminary in California ; earned a master's degree in philosophy from Wichita State University ; and did doctoral studies at the University of Pennsylvania, where he was a teaching fellow.

Bill Morrison '66 died on June 7, 2005. He entered the presence of his savior after an 18-month battle with cancer. He and his wife, Dotty (Greenlee) '73 Morrison were living in Plano, Texas. Bill was a special education teacher at Allen High School in Allen, Texas, where he taught for 24 years. He had served as a deacon, choir member, member of the audio committee and ministered in England and Latvia on mission trips during the time he lived in Plano.

C. Dale Maxwell '79 died March 5, 2005, at age 48. He married his high school sweetheart, Kim Smith in 1977. In 1982, he began his career with Country Insurance. As a consultant to the Northwest Region, his goal was to invest in the people around him to help them reach their goals.

Kathleen Young died November 14, 2004, at age 86. She worked for a number of years in the Accounts Payable Office/Business Office before her retirement from Greenville College.

Last updated: October 27, 2005