THE RECORD Online

Spring 2004

Alumni in Memory

Vern B.Archer died Dec.20, 2003, at age 94. He was the grandson of Cyrus and Elizabeth Archer for whom Archer Hall is named. Cyrus and Elizabeth and their eight children represented more than 300 combined years of ministry to the Free Methodist Church. Vern 's parents, Garfield and Adah, had three children – Glenn '27, Elizabeth,and Vern.

Bernice Roselle (Weiler '26) Nelson died Aug.9,2003,at age 96. After earning a teaching certificate, she taught in Ridott, Ill., for two years. Later while living in Rockford, Ill., she returned to teaching, primarily fourth grade at Morris Kennedy School. She actively involved herself as a Sunday school teacher and pianist for Lone Star Church. She served as a board member of Christian Women 's Club and sang in a women 's choral group.

Dr.Vivien W.Maves '28 died Jan.24,2004, at age 99 in Evansville, Ind. In 2003, Greenville College named its newly acquired and renovated art building as the V.W.Maves Art Center in honor of his $300,000 donation that went toward the renovations of the facility.

A native of Estherville, Iowa, Maves received his undergraduate training at Greenville College in French and business administration.

While attending Greenville, he participated in a number of activities and served as vice president of the Agora Debating Club and treasurer for the Greenville College Student Association. He also belonged to the literary organization Phoenix .

After a stint in the United States Army, Maves served as a high school teacher and principal before pursuing graduate studies.

He attended the University of Michigan and Vanderbilt University where he earned a master 's degree and doctorate, respectively, in psychology.

Maves joined the faculty at the University of Evansville in 1946 where he taught psychology. During this time, his students gained in-depth exposure to the core of psychology through his course in history and systems. He had a strong interest in Jungian theory and his colleagues considered him an authority on Jung 's work. At his retirement in 1970, Evansville named him professor emeritus of psychology.

Dr.Horace M.Tenney '31 died April 22, 2003, at the age of 95.He was a teacher during the Depression and eventually earned a doctorate in chemistry from the University of Illinois. Tenney worked for Standard Oil of New Jersey until retirement. He was devoted to educational programs and served as an elder and active member of his church.

Ivan Daniel Quass '32 died Dec.21, 2003, at age 93. His wife, Gladys Exilda (Schref . er '33) died Oct.12, 2002, at age 92. They were both working in service for the Lord at the time of their passing.

H.Eldon Hentz '37 died Oct.26, 2003, at age 87. Before joining the infantry in World War II, he worked at Hiram Walker Distillery from 1937 to 1941 and Curtis Wright Air Craft Inspection in St.Louis, Mo. Upon his return,he worked at Shell Oil in Wood River, Ill., for 32 years as an operating engineer and retired in 1977. He was affiliated with the Greenville, Ill., First Christian Church, and was a 50-year plus member of the American Legion Post 282 of Greenville. He also belonged to the Antique Automobile Club and American Thresherman of Pinckneyville, Ill.

Hazel B.(Clary '38)Myers died Sept.8, 2003,at age 91. She was an elementary school teacher, spending 20 years at Vandercook Lake before retiring in 1973. She was a member of the Spring Arbor, Mich., Church of the Nazarene. She loved reading and quilting,completing over 50 quilts and more than 20 quilt tops pieced and sewn.

Raymond E.Myers Jr.'39 died March 22, 2002,at age 86.He was a minister in the Iowa and North Michigan Free Methodist Conferences. He also taught and served as a principal for many years in northern Michigan schools.He continued his ministry as a school counselor in the Hillsboro, Mich., school district from 1958 until his retirement at age 62.

Margaret Jane (Buchanan '47)Grundan died June 29, 2003, at age 88. She was employed in the medical field in the Franklin, Pa., area as a nurse and physical therapist. In addition to private duty, she served at Polk State School and the Franklin Hospital. She was active in the Franklin Free Methodist Church and other community organizations.

Rev.Mark H.Shockey '48 died Nov. 5, 2002, at age 75. After pursuing a career as a teacher in the mission field, he took graduate studies in education at the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins University. He had been employed as a teacher in the Baltimore school system for 29 years where 15 years were in special education. He was also employed by the Baltimore Sun, managing the young news carriers, and pastored two Free Methodist churches in Reisterstown and Alesia, Md. Retiring to Murphy, N.C., in 1979, he pastored the Murphy Free Methodist Church for seven years. He was a member of the Gerry,N.Y.,Free Methodist Church and volunteered with the Jamestown, N.Y., Department of Probation for several years.

Jonathan C.Sharp '49 died Sept.23, 2003,at age 78. He served overseas in the Navy before graduating from Greenville College. He received his master 's degree from the University of Illinois in 1953 and a doctorate in Spanish literature from St.Louis University in 1969. He had taught in Nashville , Ill., Peoria Heights, Ill.,and Lawrenceville, Ind., before taking a position at Southeast Missouri State University from 1969 to 1985. He was a member of the Evangelical United Church of Christ in Cape Girardeau, Mo. He also belonged to the V.F.W., Illinois Retired Teachers and Missouri Retired Teachers organizations, N.E.A., and various other educational associations.

Vernon L Eggleston '50 died May 7, 2003, at age 76. He worked in the graphic arts field. While attending G.C., he submitted the winning entry for the alumni logo, which was used for over 40 years. He was an active member of the Indianapolis Ritter Avenue Free Methodist Church.In 1989, he moved to Florida where he continued to serve the Lord through the Light &Life Church 's sound and tape ministry.

Byron McCormick '52 died July 8, 2003, at age 72.He was a Korean War Army veteran. He also earned a master 's degree at Bradley University.After 37 years with Peoria, Ill., School District 150, he retired in 1991 as principal of the Peoria Adult Education Center. He taught business at Woodruff High School in Peoria and also worked as personnel director of the school district for 14 years. He was later an accountant for McCormick Auto Place Inc. in Bellevue,Ill. He was a member of East Peoria Free Methodist Church.

Rev.G.Robert Sawyer '54 died August 12, 2003, at age 70. “Preacher Bob” graduated from Asbury Theological Seminary after attending Greenville College. He was a pastor for Free Methodist churches in the East Michigan Conference for 46 years before retiring in 1998.

Leonard W.Keillor '57 died May 11, 2003, at age 72. A native of Melbourne, Australia, Keillor left his native country at age 20 to work in England. He later worked at a youth camp in Canada before attending Spring Arbor Junior College in Michigan. Keillor originally came to Greenville College in 1955. After graduating from Greenville, he went to the University of Illinois for one year before coming back to Greenville in 1958. He eventually served as Greenville College's vice president of business affairs. In retirement, Keillor 's pursuits led him to continued involvement in the sport of tennis. He organized matches, coached the girls' tennis team at Greenville High School,and won gold medals in the Illinois State Senior Olympics. His efforts in the state Olympics allowed him to qualify for the National Senior Olympics.

Sarah (Dorsey '67)Denbo died April 27, 2003, at age 58. She taught elementary school for Stephen Decatur Elementary in Indianapolis. She was a member of John Wesley Free Methodist Church in Indianapolis and held a master 's degree from Butler University .

Gary Lane Wyant '74 died April 26,2003, at age 50. Gary worked for the Illinois Department of Corrections since 1980 and was the warden at East Moline Correctional Center until his early retirement in December 2002. Gary was a member of Wildwood Baptist Church in East Moline, Ill. He fought renal cancer for two and a half years.

Ruthella (Crigler '40) Smith died Aug. 21,2003,at age 84.While living in Ann Arbor,she was a radiology technician for the University of Michigan Hospital. During World War II, she worked for Argus Camera Company where she made bomb sights and telescopes. She was a volunteer for the American Red Cross in Ann Arbor for more than 30 years,where she served as the Motor Service chairman in Washtenaw County,Mich.

In her early years, she sang for a traveling evangelist and appeared on the WLS radio show “Barn Dance.” She studied opera at Indiana University for five years and was a member of the Vermilion Festival Chorus of Danville, Ill. She recorded an album,“The Lord is My Light” and published a book of poems,“Milkweed Ballet.” She was a member of Westside United Methodist Church where she served on its music committee, taught Sunday school,and was a youth group counselor. After moving to Attica, Ind., she became a member of Attica First United Methodist Church,where she sang in the choir and served on several committees.

Doris (Andrews '45) Archer died Sept. 6, 2003, at age 80. She earned a master of arts in vocal performance at Northwestern University and taught English and music for a few years. For many years, she sang professionally as a charter member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Chorus with Lyric Opera of Chicago, and the Rockefeller Chapel Choir, University of Chicago. Her particular love of sacred music also found expression through her work as choir director with the United Methodist Churches in Lansing and Riverdale, Ill. Mrs.Archer was a long-time member and officer of Flossmoor Women 's Club and JA Chapter of the P.E.O. Sisterhood.

Helen (Rose '46) Basch died Feb.9, 2004,at age 81. She was a graduate of Shadyside Hospital School of Nursing in Pittsburgh , Pa., E.T.C.M. Hospital of Midwifery in Kolar, India,a nd the Marathi Language School in India. She received her master 's degree in nursing education from the University of Rochester. She served as a missionary nurse through the Free Methodist Church of North America Mission Board for 18 years, serving 16 years in Burundi,Africa. Her work involved nursing in hospital and village clinics, teaching health classes, and working in the church. She also developed diabetic diets for vegetarians and non-vegetarian diets. While in the United States,she taught nursing on all levels, and in 2002 the UMRI Christian Hospital, located in central India, named their new nursing school as the Helen Rose School of Nursing in honor of her many years of dedicated service to her patients. She attended the Frewsburg Christian and Missionary Alliance Church in Frewsburg, N.Y. She was a member of the Trained Nurses Association of India,the Christian Nurses Association of India,and the American Association of Retired Persons.

Last updated: August 9, 2004