Passages: Fall 2017

Wayne Hemingway Jr. (’41), 97, of Spring, Texas, died May 21, 2017. A gifted educator, he taught Bible, math and science, conducted the a cappella chorus and served as principal/administrator at Athens (Alabama) Bible School; Crowley’s Ridge Academy in Paragould, Arkansas; Madison Academy in Huntsville, Alabama; and Northland Christian School in Houston. He taught middle-school science 20 years in the public schools in South Orange, New Jersey. He retired in 2015  after teaching in the Lone Star College System in Tomball, Texas. He loved directing singing. He was preceded in death by his wife of 69 years, Annile Chambers (’42); He is survived by three children, Beth (’67) , Pat and Lois Ferrell (’72); a sister, Lois Lemmons , (’47); five grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Era Madge “Padgie” Ellis McFatter (’44), 93, of DeQuincy, Louisiana, died May 4, 2017.  While at Harding, she worked in the print shop operating a Linotype machine and job press. In 1951 she received her M.Ed. in human development from University of Maryland. Before marrying, she worked in the Little Rock post office, taught school in Arkansas and Louisiana as well as Pepperdine College, was a home demonstration agent, and a family life specialist. After marriage, she remained active with Baton Rouge Music Club Chorus as librarian, served as president of the local and state chapters of the Louisiana Cow Belles, and taught Bible classes at Goodwood Boulevard Church of Christ. She was preceded in death by her husband, Herman. She is survived by her children, Mary Lynn Zimpfer (’82) and William Edward II; and five grandchildren.

Margaret Chaffin Mooneyham (’50), 88, of Jonesboro, Arkansas, died July 26, 2015. She worked at Stein Mart, and was a member of Southwest Church of Christ. At the time of her death, she was survived by her husband of 64 years, James (’50). She also is survived by four children, Van, Jonathan, Teresa McCown (’74) and Dana Gibson (’78); a brother, Jack Chaffin (’50); nine grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

James Mooneyham (’50), 87, of Jonesboro, Arkansas, died May 28, 2016. He was a teacher as well as working at Singer Manufacturing of Trumann, Arkansas; Penworthy Paper in Memphis, Tennessee; and The Thermos Company in Batesville, Mississippi. He was a member of Southwest Church of Christ. He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret Chaffin (’50). He is survived by four children, Van, Jonathan, Teresa McCown (’74) and Dana Gibson (’78), nine grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Richard Ellwood Smith (’50), 88, of Cecil, Arkansas, died June 19, 2016. He was a member of Ozark Church of Christ. He is survived by his wife, Wynelle Watson (’49); four children, Susan Kurth, Shannon, Robert and Reid; a sister, Georgia Murray; and a grandchild.

[caption id="attachment_656" align="alignleft" width="198"] Rosemary Wilson[/caption]

Rosemary Moore Wilson (’52), 87, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, died Aug. 16, 2017. She retired from Harding after serving as assistant admissions director. She was preceded in death by her husband, George (’50). She is survived by two children, Larry (’73) and Lisa Herndon (’78); four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Charles Franklin “Bud” Myer Jr. , (’53), 84, of Pensacola, Florida, died Dec. 22, 2016. He continued his education at Harding School of Theology, Johns Hopkins University and Yale University and earned his Ph.D. from University of Pennsylvania. He served as academic dean and taught biblical languages at Northeastern Christian College in Villanova, Pennsylvania. He also taught in Vienna, Austria; Kiev, Ukraine; Budapest, Hungary; Prague, Czech Republic; and other European and Baltic countries. While living in the Philadelphia area, he served as chairman of the Main Line Chamber of Commerce where he accomplished national accreditation for the chamber. He also served on the boards of Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, American Red Cross and two Christian camps. He made more than 40 mission trips to Trinidad, Grenada, Honduras, Mexico, Austria and Lithuania — his most visited country where he co-founded Camp Ruta. After moving to Pensacola, Florida, he served as an elder at Gateway Church of Christ and filled the pulpit for Warrenton Church of Christ until the end of August 2016. He was preceded in death by two sons, Lewis and Steven Douglas (’84). He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Eva Walker; his children, Charles Franklin III (’79), Melinda Gardner and foster son Quang Nguyen; and seven grandchildren.

[caption id="attachment_657" align="alignleft" width="203"] Bob Gilliam[/caption]

Bob Gilliam (’54), 85, of Little Rock, Arkansas, died Aug. 3, 2017. He earned a master’s degree in teaching from Harding in 1957. He served as a minister for churches of Christ in Arkansas, Ohio and Puerto Rico. He earned his doctorate and returned to Harding as professor and chair of the psychology department from 1960-69. He joined Pepperdine University in 1970 as chair of the social science division, retiring in 1993. He received an Outstanding Teaching Award at both Harding and Pepperdine universities and co-founded the Pepperdine University Faculty/Staff Scholarship Fund. He was a member of Pleasant Valley Church of Christ. He was preceded in death by a son, Roy. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Dorothy Callahan (’57); two children, David (’80) and Priscilla MacRae; seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Elizabeth Hickey Chambers-Paplinski (’55), 83, of Walla Walla, Washington, died Aug. 19, 2016. She traveled all over the world as a military wife and mother and served for more than 20 years for the U.S. Forest Service in Bend, Oregon. She was preceded in death by her first husband, James. She is survived by her second husband, Kenneth Paplinski; a daughter, Patricia Ill; two siblings, Mae Herndon and Robert-Kenady Herndon; five grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

Lehman Hall (’55), 84, of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, died May 11, 2017. He loved sports, excelling in basketball and baseball. He spent many years teaching and coaching at Clapsop Community College in Astoria, Oregon; Columbia Christian College in Portland, Oregon, and Madison Academy in Huntsville, Alabama. He also was a principal and athletic director. He remained active after retirement by substitute teaching, selling real estate, delivering meals on wheels, and packing boxes for disaster relief. He was a member of North Boulevard Church of Christ. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Robyn; two daughters, Gayla (’91) and Tara Bunner (’94); two brothers, Leonard (’54) and Richard (’68); and two grandchildren.

Bonnie McAdams Orr (’55), 83, of Judsonia, Arkansas, died May 8, 2017. Bonnie was the first in her family to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees. She spent 30 years teaching first grade in Crawfordsville, Bald Knob, and Judsonia, Arkansas. She was a member of Judsonia Methodist Church and president of Delta Kappa Gamma. She is survived by two daughters, Sandra Cassinmus and Fonda McCarty; four siblings, Savetta Stader, Bobby McAdams, Olga Nell Daugherty and Marolyn McCorkle; and a grandchild.

[caption id="attachment_658" align="alignleft" width="198"] Elizabeth Norwood[/caption]

Elizabeth Ann Belue Norwood (’58), 81, of Searcy, died May 25, 2017. She was a teacher at Springdale, Arkansas, and Harding Academy for 34 years and a member of College Church of Christ. She is survived by her husband of 59 years, Harold (’59); two daughters, Nan Calhoun (’84) and Karen Corker (’90); a brother, Bill Belue (’62); and four grandchildren.

Charles Thomas Bryant Sr. (’59), 85, of Louisville, Tennessee, died April 19, 2017. He served four years in the U.S. Air Force before receiving his degree in chemistry and working for the U.S. Geological Survey until his retirement in 1985. He is survived by a son, Charles Jr. (’81); a daughter, Angela Langley (’84); three siblings, Wes, John (’62) and Sherry Montgomery; and three grandchildren.

Lynn Perry Sanderson (’60), 78, of Canton, Oklahoma, died May 5, 2016. He operated the family farm and worked as a quality foreman at United States Gypsum where he retired after 35 years. He was a member of the church of Christ. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Norma Jean; four children, Gary, Dale, Linda Fields and Susan Pannell; a sister, Norma Thornton (’50); and seven grandchildren.

Jonathan Bernie Shrable (’60), 80, of Fordland, Missouri, died March 11, 2017. He retired as a social service case worker with the Missouri division of family services. He also was a dairy and beef farmer as well as teaching school. He was a member of Fordland Church of Christ. He is survived by his wife, Celia; four children, Eric, Janice Ellingson (’84), Jeff, and Jeannie Bright (’91); two brothers, John and Dean; seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Paul Clayton Summitt (’61), 82 of Paragould, Arkansas, died June 19, 2017. He attended Harding from 1952-55 and was accepted into the Naval Aviation Pilot Training Program in Pensacola, Florida, during 1955-56. He completed his tour of duty with the Navy and returned to Harding to complete his degree. He then went to Duke University Law School, where he graduated in 1964. He began his career as a civil servant in the U.S. Department of Justice. He later moved to Capitol Hill and authored key criminal code legislation under U.S. Sens. John McClellan, Edward Kennedy and Strom Thurman. He remained in the Naval Reserve and retired with the rank of captain. He was a member of Antioch Church of Christ in Cardwell, Missouri. He is survived by his wife, Irene Allen; three daughters, Julia Miller, Kathryn Tran (’81) and Ruth Anne Rosati; a brother, James Knox (’60); eight grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

William H. Smith Jr. (’62), 84, of West Monroe, Louisiana, died Feb. 17, 2016. He was an elder and pastor at White’s Ferry Road Church of Christ for 53 years. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Margaret; four daughters, Dawn Foor, Starla Bunn, Pamela Spencer and Kimberly Stephens; 14 grandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren.

Joseph Loil “J.L.” Pate (’63), 79, of Searcy died May 17, 2017. While at Harding, he was a member of the 1959 football team. He was awarded the first GenCorp Technology Award for his development of Prefix Vinyl Protective Coating. He retired from Omnova Solutions after a 35-year career as a chemist and product development engineer. During that time, he was awarded six U.S. patents. He also served for 23 years in the U.S. Army Reserves, retiring with the rank of major. In retirement, he was active in the His House ministry at College Church of Christ. He was preceded in death by a son, Brent. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Mona Judy Epperson (’64); a daughter, Angela Dawkins (’89); and four grandchildren.

Delmar O’Dell (’66), 72, of Harrodsburg, Kentucky, died with his wife, Vivian Handley (’67), and granddaughter Karen on May 11, 2017, from injuries sustained in a traffic accident in Bardstown, Kentucky. He was a social worker for Bluegrass Regional Mental Health and a member of Ebenezer Church of Christ. He is survived by three children, Hettie Harless (’96), Jere and Joel (’01); a sister, Nelda Hendricks; and 10 grandchildren.

Vivian “Delores” Handley O’Dell (’67), 71, of Harrodsburg, Kentucky, died with her husband, Delmar (’66), and granddaughter Karen on May 11, 2017, from injuries sustained in a traffic accident in Bardstown, Kentucky. She was a teacher for Christian schools in her area and a member of Ebenezer Church of Christ. She is survived by three children, Hettie Harless (’96), Jere and Joel (’01); and 10 grandchildren.

Harvey Dale Allison (’68), 77, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, died June 20, 2016. He served in the Air Force from 1960-65 before coming to Harding to finish his education. He retired as principal of Torreon Day School in Cuba, New Mexico. During his life, he visited all 50 states, six continents, and 23 major league ballparks. He is survived by his wife, Jane Eubanks (’64); three children, Suzie, Sara and James; three siblings, Ann Nelson (’63), Joan Van Rheenan (’66) and Fielden Allison (’70); and seven grandchildren.

Carolyn Elaine Ledbetter Pinkston (’69), 69, of Shelbyville, Tennessee, died May 20, 2017. She worked as an accountant for Stanley Tools for five years and then at National Pen before retiring after 15 years. She was a member of the church of Christ. She is survived by her husband of 29 years, Marvin; five children, John “Bo” Bowen, David Bowen, Dawn Jones, Wade Pinkston and Renee Cummings; four siblings, Marilyn Anderton, Becky Nichols, John David Ledbetter and Camille Bell; and 15 grandchildren.

Jerry Thomas (’69), 72, of Fort Worth, Texas, died May 7, 2017. He was a longtime educator in the Fort Worth, Texas, area as well as minister for Lone Camp Church of Christ. He is survived by his wife, Sharon; and three sons, Barry, Mark (’91) and Matt (’05).

Kay Carol Craig Crouch (’70), 69, of Plano, Texas, died July 3, 2017, from complications related to brain cancer. She loved to travel with her family and entertain. She is survived by her husband of 45 years, Bob; two daughters, Amy Wiebe and Jennie Brady; and seven grandchildren.

Mickey Lane Pounders (’76), 63, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, died July 1, 2017. He taught middle school math for Bald Knob Schools in Arkansas as well as serving as principal for McRae Elementary in Searcy. After moving to Baton Rouge in 1992, he worked for the Louisiana State Board of Education, the board of elementary and secondary education, and most recently was an assessment consultant for Houghton Mifflin Harcourt publishing company. He also served as an elder for South Baton Rouge Church of Christ and was a board member for Camp Smiling Acres. He is survived by his wife, Tawna Jenkins (’81); two sons, John (’09) and James (’16); his father, Gorman; and two brothers, Jeffrey and Neal.

Keri Marlene Thompson Tullos (’81), 58, of Searcy died June 17, 2017. She was a medical technologist in the hematology laboratory at St. Vincent Infirmary and a member of College Church of Christ. She is survived by her husband, Dan (’73); a son, Ian; and a sister, Alesa Garner (’78).

Jeri A. Massia Shay (’82), 58, of Russellville, Arkansas, died July 21, 2017. She was a homemaker. She is survived by her husband, Larry (’84); a daughter, Desiree; and a sister, Denise Bratcher.

Pam Adams Keese (’82), 56, of Searcy died April 18, 2017. She was employed as a physical education teacher at Harding Academy. She is survived by five children, Caleb (’08), Sarah (’08), Rebekah Smith (’11), Elizabeth (’14) and Seth (’17); four siblings, Kim Kinser (’82), Charlie Carroll (’79), Tricia Bynum and Susan Carroll; and two grandchildren.

David Lynn Wright (’83), 57, of Hendersonville, Tennessee, died Aud. 23, 2017. He was the senior policy advisor at the Tennessee Higher Education Commission and was a nationally recognized expert on state higher education policy and known for his accomplishments in institutional research. He was a talented pianist and vocalist who enjoyed performing and song writing. He was preceded in death by his wife of 26 years, Melanie Kay Park (’83); and a sister, Barbara Moore (’78). He is survived by two children, Aaron and Abbey; his mother, Ann Wright (’54); and two sisters, Donna Baines (’74) and Susan Dillard (’86).

April Edelhuber Middlebrooks (’02), 36, of Searcy died July 4, 2017, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. She owned The Baked Cakery and was employed by Sonic of Searcy. She is survived by three children, Kelsie, Konner and Dylan; her parents, Stephen (’82) and Lisa Kenney Edelhuber; two siblings, Afton Worley (’06) and Jonathan (’07); and two grandmothers, Mary Edelhuber and Carolyn Kenney.

[caption id="attachment_659" align="alignleft" width="184"] L.V. Pfeifer[/caption]

L.V. Pfeifer , 87, of Searcy, died Aug. 19, 2017. He earned his M.A. and M.Th. from Golden Gate Theological Seminary. He and his late wife, Maxine, spent nearly three years as missionaries in Italy where they aided in beginning churches in Florence and Bologna. He then preached from 1956-68 for churches in California before teaching at Preston Road School of Biblical Studies in Dallas from 1968-73. He taught Bible at Harding where he also was director of the school of biblical studies and professor emeritus. He is survived by two children, Derek (’78) and Sherry Lowe; a sister, Boots Nichols, four grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.