The Record Online - Spring/Summer 2001

Spring 2001

The Record Online

Spring/Summer 2001

Alumni in Memory

These pages are normally reserved for alumni of Greenville College, but an exception must be made in the case of John W. Minshall, who died March 13 on his 74th birthday after a brief battle with cancer. John cared about this college and was as much a part of the GC family as any alumnus could ever be. He served on the GC board of trustees from 1973 until his death, 28 years, about half that time as board chairman. During his years as chairman, he worked closely with then president Dr. W. Richard Stephens, who eulogized his friend and colleague at his funeral in Lakewood, CO. The following is excerpted from that tribute:

When I think of John, I am reminded of a self-description he shared often with me. He referred to himself as one who wore the belt—the belt of a carpenter full of tools appropriate for every need in his work. John Minshall was a builder, a modern day Nehemiah. Everywhere he went, he was always building, adding to, making better, providing for the shelter needs of people, providing space and place for study and worship, and he built in such a way that one’s spirit was lifted and encouraged. He believed that “holy shoddy is still shoddy.” So his reach always was for excellence and high quality in workmanship.

During John’s years of leadership on the board, Greenville College saw the value of its campus facilities and properties grow from $5 million in 1973 to nearly $25 million today, including such additions as the Snyder Hall of Science, Armington Center, Sports Training Annex, the track and field and the football stadium, Young Library Tower, and Crum Recreation Center. During his tenure the college endowment grew from less than $500,000 to about $7 million today. Innovative new programs were begun, including majors in contemporary Christian music, pastoral ministries, and youth ministries; intercollegiate football, the Academic Enrichment Center, and the Presidential Scholarship Program.

In all of this building, this man of the belt carried himself as a humble servant. And in recognition of this quality of character, Greenville College established the Minshall Servant Leadership Award in 1996, with John and his wife Shirley as the first recipients of this annual honor.

So today we continue to build on the excellent work of John Minshall. I imagine him now in heaven with Nehemiah and Joseph and other men of the belt in animated conversation about the building needs there; and the men of the cloth are thanking God for such servants as these.

—Dr. W. Richard Stephens
President Emeritus of Greenville College


Alice Cooke Baldwin ’28 died April 25, 2000 in Stanwood, WA at age 92. She taught junior and senior high school in Michigan and was active in the Free Methodist Church. She directed a radio chorus from the FM church and sang in the Pontiac Women’s Chorus, as well as the Light and Life Hour Choir in Ferndale, MI. She was a committee member of the Detroit Metropolitan Opera Association, a member of the American Association of University Women, president of both the Garden Club and Women’s Study Club, and also held positions in the Women’s Missionary Society for the Southern Michigan Conference.

Dr. Philip R. Bonner ’49 died March 30, 2000 at age 74 following a lengthy illness. A noted New York educator and decorated WWII and Korean War veteran, he served as associate vice president for administration at Buffalo State University College from 1964-70. Before retiring in 1982, he was superintendent of schools in O’Fallon, MO and Peru Central Schools. He was a member of the American Association of School Administrators, the New York State Retired Teachers Association, the New York State Council of School District Administrators, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was also a member of the Peru Community Church in Peru and the Mariner Methodist Church in Spring Hill, FL.

Rev. Phillip Calkins ’47 died May 14, 2000 at the age of 83. He was a Free Methodist pastor in the Pacific Northwest Conference and served as a missionary in Mexico before retiring in 1983.

Rev. John Harrison Hilker ’46 died Dec. 24, 1999 of cancer at age 74. After attending Greenville for three semesters, John served as a signalman second class from 1943-46 in WWII. He served the Baltimore City School District as teacher, vice principal, and principal for 21 years. In 1970 he accepted the call to ministry and pastored the Kingdom Evangelical Church of Hopkins, MN for 24 years.

Ruth Marie (Treyz) Mayhew ’41 died June 19, 2000 at age 80. She taught school and managed a real estate office as well as being a homemaker. She and her husband Dr. Raymond Mayhew ’37 had lived in Aiken, SC during retirement.

Scott E. Meers ’01, a senior accounting major and Dean’s List student at Greenville College, died in an automobile accident Feb. 24 at the age of 22. Norm Hall, Dean of Student Development, who represented the college at the funeral, described Scott as “a hard worker and a scholar of the highest honor . . . a man of character, the kind of young man that any parent dreams their son will become.” Scott was an organ donor. Eight groups or types of tissue, skin, and bone were taken by doctors from his body and passed on to others in critical need of them. Doctors said as many as 50 to 100 people would directly benefit from these donations. At the funeral a large white candle was used to light 8 other candles, to symbolize Scott’s gift of life to others.

Anna (Bates ’40) Orr died Dec. 17, 1999 at age 78. After teaching elementary students for 29 years, she spent her retirement participating in children’s ministries at denominational, conference, and local levels of the Free Methodist Church.

Rev. Lloyd Edward Robertson ’49 died Jan. 20, 2000 at age 75 in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. After graduating from Greenville College, he returned to Moose Jaw to begin his ministry in the Free Methodist Church. He and his wife Bessie worked as missionaries with the First Nations People and then continued their ministry with native youth as they made the transition to city schools. From 1965-83 he headed up the missionary work to the Samson Band First Nation People at Hobbema, Alberta. In 1983 he was appointed to the Kindersley Free Methodist Church. He spent the remainder of his good health involved in missions and the church.

John W. Kelsey ’34, who provided legal counsel for Greenville College from 1938-96, died April 6 at the age of 90. In addition to serving as college attorney from 1968-96, he also served on the board of trustees from 1968-94, then trustee emeritus until the time of his death. In 1978 he received the Alumni Association Loyalty Award, and last summer he received special recognition at the Alumni Banquet for his many years of service.

In 1967-68, John shut down his private law practice for a year to chair the college’s 75th Anniversary Fund Drive, which raised $850,000. He and his wife Kathryn (Andrews) ’34 personally donated valuable properties to the college over the years, including Andrews Athletic Field and an annuity gift of the Kelsey Building, whose 30,000 square feet is home to the Factory Theatre, college maintenance facilities, art sculpture studios, and more.

Russell C. Starr ’27 died May 12, 2000 at age 96. He enrolled at GC in 1923 but could only finish two years due to finances and the coming Depression. The college was always one of his chief interests, and he seldom missed an alumni gathering whenever one was held anywhere near his home of Kalamazoo, MI. H. J. Long and Enoch Holtwick were regular visitors in the Starr home. All three of his children and five grandchildren attended Greenville. He received an honorary bachelor’s degree from GC President Robert E. Smith in 1993 for his strong interest and support of the college over the years. He was an architectural draftsman by vocation, and his avocation was drawing. He was a member of the Kalamazoo Free Methodist Church for 70 years, and was involved in every aspect of the church.

 

Last updated: July 17, 2001