Obituaries for 2016

The most recently received obituaries are listed first. An alphabetical listing of all 2016 obituaries begins further down.

William Breckenridge Gulick, 86, of Mason, OH, died Dec. 21, 2016. Abandoned when he was 3 to 5 months old in Covington, KY, on Sept. 15, 1930, he was taken in by Fred and Betty Gulick, who gave him a name and chose a birthday. He lived in Covington until age 12. He lived with several families in Cincinnati, OH, until graduation from Western Hills High School in 1947. He graduated from Cincinnati Bible Seminary in 1951. In 1949, he married Ethel at Forest Hill Christian Church in Virginia. In 1951, they were called to serve God in India. Together they founded the Christ Nagar Institute (a hostel for boys), where they reared, loved, and taught more than 250 boys. In India they learned to speak and read Tamil and started the Ennore Church of Christ. The Ennore congregation helped to found several more churches in India. They spent more than 20 years on the mission field. Upon returning from India in 1973, Bill attended the University of Cincinnati while teaching classes at Cincinnati Bible Seminary in the Missions Department. He preached at many Ohio and Kentucky churches. In 1983, the couple moved to Virginia, where he preached at the Tri-City Church of Christ for 12 years. After retirement in 1995, the Gulicks served the Lord every day through hospitality, visiting the ill, and encouraging many with letters, phone calls, and visits. In May 2015, they relocated to the Christian Village at Mason (OH). A memorial service will be conducted at the Christian Village at 7 p.m. Jan. 12. A second memorial service will take place at a later date at Bonnie Brae Church of Christ, 7610 Staples Mill Road, Henrico, VA. (posted 1-6-17)

Richard D. Robinson, 81, of Wyoming, MI, died Dec. 4, 2016, after a debilitating illness. He was raised in Clarion, IA. He is survived by Jeannette, to whom he was married for 60 years (they met at summer church camp). Additional survivors include three sons, Tim, Greg, and James; one brother, Bill; one sister, Janet; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. He was the first of his family to attend college, graduating from Nebraska Christian College and completing postgraduate work at Lincoln Christian College. His first ministry (with Jeanette by his side) was at Tampico, IL, followed by ministries with Greenview (IL) Christian Church and Woodview Christian Church, Wyoming, MI, where he served 34 years. In their 50 years of ministry, Richard and Jeanette were a team, integrating music, worship, and outreach events at each congregation. He was truly a pastoral minister; many of his congregants entered full-time Christian service. Even as neuromuscular disease slowly diminished his physical abilities, he was able to minister to many caregivers who provided much appreciated assistance. He was also a contributor to CHRISTIAN STANDARD. Services were conducted Dec. 10 at Woodview Christian Church, Jon Stradtner officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to Woodview Christian Church, ALS Association”“Michigan Chapter, or Faith Hospice. Condolences may be made at www.mkdfuneralhome.com. (posted 12-15-16)

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ALPHABETICAL LISTING OF OBITUARIES

Ernest “Ernie” Chamberlain, 100, died July 12, 2016, at Turner (OR) Retirement Homes. He was born Aug. 1, 1915, in Corbett, OR, to George H. and Virginia Chamberlain. He grew up in Corbett as one of six children. He attended Corbett Christian Church, accepted Christ as Lord at age 12, and was baptized in Big Creek when the snow was still on the ground. He graduated from Corbett High School in 1933 and from Northwest Christian College, Eugene, OR, with bachelor”s degrees in theology and oratory in 1938. He received his Bachelor of Divinity from Butler School of Religion, Indianapolis, IN, in 1947. He was ordained March 1936 in Fairmount Church of Christ, Eugene, OR. He preached at Jasper, Kellogg, Amity, and Newberg, OR; Advance and Mays, IN; West Seattle (WA) Christian Church; and Caldwell (ID) First Christian Church. While in Seattle he helped start Puget Sound College of the Bible. He served as director of development for Boise Bible College and started the Peninsula Christian Church in Gig Harbor, WA. He also served one year as president of the North American Christian Convention and was on Standard Publishing”s Publishing Committee for many years. He was a preacher and teacher. His hobbies were fishing, golfing, and hunting. He married Zella Webb at First Christian Church in Salem, OR, on Jan. 2, 1937; they spent more than 70 happy years together. They had two daughters, Gloria Oostmeyer and Martha Chamberlain; six grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and 6 great-great-grandchildren. Services will be conducted Aug. 6 at Turner (OR) Christian Church, Turner, OR, on August 6, 2016.

William Breckenridge Gulick, 86, of Mason, OH, died Dec. 21, 2016. Abandoned when he was 3 to 5 months old in Covington, KY, on Sept. 15, 1930, he was taken in by Fred and Betty Gulick, who gave him a name and chose a birthday. He lived in Covington until age 12. He lived with several families in Cincinnati, OH, until graduation from Western Hills High School in 1947. He graduated from Cincinnati Bible Seminary in 1951. In 1949, he married Ethel at Forest Hill Christian Church in Virginia. In 1951, they were called to serve God in India. Together they founded the Christ Nagar Institute (a hostel for boys), where they reared, loved, and taught more than 250 boys. In India they learned to speak and read Tamil and started the Ennore Church of Christ. The Ennore congregation helped to found several more churches in India. They spent more than 20 years on the mission field. Upon returning from India in 1973, Bill attended the University of Cincinnati while teaching classes at Cincinnati Bible Seminary in the Missions Department. He preached at many Ohio and Kentucky churches. In 1983, the couple moved to Virginia, where he preached at the Tri-City Church of Christ for 12 years. After retirement in 1995, the Gulicks served the Lord every day through hospitality, visiting the ill, and encouraging many with letters, phone calls, and visits. In May 2015, they relocated to the Christian Village at Mason (OH). A memorial service will be conducted at the Christian Village at 7 p.m. Jan. 12. A second memorial service will take place at a later date at Bonnie Brae Church of Christ, 7610 Staples Mill Road, Henrico, VA.

Evalyn Rinehart Likins, 91, wife of Claude Likins, died June 23, 2016, at her home in Gambier, OH. She was born May 21, 1925, in Galion, OH. She married Claude Likins Nov. 4, 1945. They accepted the call of ministry, which took them to Japan in 1955; they served in Tokyo, Kobe, and Akashi. They returned to the United States when Mr. Likins accepted the pastorate of the Lexington (OH) Church of Christ. Mrs. Likins retired to Gambier, then worked seven years in the Kenyon College library. She served the Lord as a member of Community Christian Fellowship, teaching Sunday school and junior church, and organizing the church”s prayer chain. The couple published their life story in a book entitled A Journey of Faith (available at amazon.com). In addition to her husband of 70 years, she is survived by four children, Patty Pelfrey of Gambier, David of Kansas City, KS, Joel of Lexington, OH, and Michelle Easterling of Columbia City, IN; eight grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one son, Philip; one infant daughter, Beth Ann; two sisters, Frances Hoam McWilliams and Esther Lanker; and two brothers, Lowell Rinehart and David Rinehart. A service was conducted at Snyder Funeral Home in Lexington, OH, with sons-in-law Robert Pelfrey and Shawn Easterling officiating. Burial was at Shauck Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Knox County, Ohio, 17700 Coshocton Road, Mount Vernon, OH 43050.

Russell LaVerne Morse, 87, a missionary, educator, and founder of Asia Christian Services, died Aug. 2, 2016, in Mason, OH. He had been in good health while living at Mason Christian Village. He was born Jan. 4, 1929, to Justin Russell and Gertrude (Howe) Morse. He went to China as a newborn and lived and served there with his parents and brothers until World War II.  He graduated from high school in Tulsa, OK, and attended Minnesota Bible College before transferring to Cincinnati (OH) Bible Seminary (CBS) as a junior and graduating from there in 1954. He married Lois Elliott in 1953. The couple went to Burma in 1955 and had a profound impact there. He later became missions professor at CBS, which he served for 23 years, inspiring many. He trained thousands of leaders through his work with Asia Christian Services, which he founded in 1964. He modeled evangelism and loving one another. He helped in spreading of the gospel in a number of ways: he influenced the starting of multiple Bible colleges, radio broadcasts, medical evangelism through clinics and medical kits, Bible translations, the printing of Christian literature, and church planting efforts in many new previously unreached tribes. In addition to his wife of 63 years, Lois, he is survived by five children, Marcia Odor, Mark Morse, Cindy Mizener, Beth Morse, and Shirley Hudspeth; 20 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and one sister, Ruth Margaret Johnson. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Eugene and Robert. Services were Aug. 6 at Christ”s Church at Mason. Burial was at Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati, OH. Arrangements were by Gwen Mooney Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the LaVerne Morse Memorial Fund of Asia Christian Services (www.asiachristianservices.com).

Alice L. Powers of Owasso, OK, wife of retired minister John M. Powers, died Sept. 6, 2016. She was a nurse who also served with her husband in planting new churches. She was involved in Bible Bowl for several years while they served at Christview Christian Church, Tulsa, OK. She was the daughter of Homer and Elsie Kaufman. In addition to her husband, John, she is survived by one daughter, Gay Adams of Prairieville, LA; one son, Brent Powers of Altoona, KS; three grandchildren; one sister, Lois Evans; and two brothers, Earl and Ralph Kaufman. A celebration service was conducted at First Church, Owasso, OK, on Sept. 10. Burial was at Thayer, KS. Ben Killion, Dan Clymer, and Charlie Curran officiated at the service. Memorial contributions may be made to Restoration House Ministries, 1300 Wellington Road, Manchester, NH 03104 (www.rhmnewengland.org).

Richard D. Robinson, 81, of Wyoming, MI, died Dec. 4, 2016, after a debilitating illness. He was raised in Clarion, IA. He is survived by Jeannette, to whom he was married for 60 years (they met at summer church camp). Additional survivors include three sons, Tim, Greg, and James; one brother, Bill; one sister, Janet; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. He was the first of his family to attend college, graduating from Nebraska Christian College and completing postgraduate work at Lincoln Christian College. His first ministry (with Jeanette by his side) was at Tampico, IL, followed by ministries with Greenview (IL) Christian Church and Woodview Christian Church, Wyoming, MI, where he served 34 years. In their 50 years of ministry, Richard and Jeanette were a team, integrating music, worship, and outreach events at each congregation. He was truly a pastoral minister; many of his congregants entered full-time Christian service. Even as neuromuscular disease slowly diminished his physical abilities, he was able to minister to many caregivers who provided much appreciated assistance. He was also a contributor to CHRISTIAN STANDARD. Services were conducted Dec. 10 at Woodview Christian Church, Jon Stradtner officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to Woodview Christian Church, ALS Association”“Michigan Chapter, or Faith Hospice. Condolences may be made at www.mkdfuneralhome.com. (posted 12-15-16)

Wayne B. Smith, 87, who helped start Southland Christian Church, Lexington, KY, in 1956 and served as her senior minister until 1995″”growing the church from 152 to 3,700 weekly””died June 29, 2016. He remained faithful to the end, even encouraging a gathering of ministers in Jessamine County, KY, the day before his death. Smith, who was once dubbed “the Bob Hope of the Ministry” because of his renowned sense of humor, was a resident of Sayre Christian Village in Lexington. He was born Jan. 21, 1929, in Pennsylvania but grew up in Cincinnati, OH. A 1952 graduate of Cincinnati Christian University, he began his ministry in Cynthiana, KY, pastoring Robinson Christian Church, Stringtown Christian Church, and Unity Christian Church before arriving in Lexington in 1956. He planted Southland under the sponsorship of her mother church, Broadway Christian Church. He officially retired in 1996, but continued to speak from coast to coast for banquets, revivals, conventions, business gatherings, and churches. He was the preacher”s preacher and he devotedly served the institutions that encouraged and discipled them. He was president of the North American Christian Convention in 1977; the NACC named him one of “God”s Honored Servants” in 1996. The Wayne B. Smith Oratorium at the CCU chapel is named in his honor (he served CCU as a trustee for 25 years). The Wayne B. Smith Center for Christian Leadership is at Kentucky Christian University, where he received The Lusby Award in 1996. He received honorary doctorates from Louisville Bible College (1970), Kentucky Christian College (1975), and Kerala Christian Bible College in India (1989). Assurance for Life and Right to Life honored him in 2009 with the Power of One Award for his stand protecting life; the Salvation Army honored his community service in 2009; and the Lighthouse Ministry named its new dining facility for Smith and his wife of 63 years, Marge, in 2016. Marge predeceased him in 2014. Survivors include two daughters, Judy Speakes and Jana Thore; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. The funeral service was conducted July 6 at Southland Christian Church. Burial was at Lexington Cemetery. Among those participating at one or both of those services were Wally Rendel, Dr. John Borders, David Waits and the Messengers Quartet, Jana Thore and Judy Speakes, Buddy Mossbarger, Ben Merold, Brewster McCloud, Joe Wright, Chuck Lees, Rod Huron, and Kenny Speakes. Memorial contributions may be made to Assurance, Bluegrass Christian Camp, or Sayre Christian Village, all located in Lexington.

Ethel Marcella (Sorrell) Steever, 95, died Jan. 7, 2016, at Mount Healthy Christian Village, Cincinnati, OH. She was born Feb. 26, 1920, to Will and Lottie Sorrell in Fort Mitchell, KY. She graduated from Lloyd High School in 1938 and attended Cincinnati Bible Seminary in 1938 and 1939. She married CBS graduate Rolland Steever in the spring 1939. Together they served churches in Columbus, IN; Granite City, IL; Elkins, WV; Savannah, GA; Kokomo, IN; Bel Air, MD; and South Bend, IN. She was preceded in death by her husband in 2011. She is survived three children, Richard Steever, Norma Womacks, and Bart Steever; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. A memorial service was conducted at the Parkside Christian Church on Jan. 16 with her son Bart Steever presiding.

William F. Stobaugh, 89, died Dec. 28, 2015. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Janet Sue Stobaugh; two brothers, Charles and R. Daniel; one son, David; two daughters, Connie Coblentz and Cynthia Halstead; seven grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren. He was a 1966 graduate of Cincinnati (OH) Bible Seminary and served as minister with churches in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. He was the evangelist for The Christian Restoration Association from 1970 until 1980. He also sang with the Gospelaires Quartet out of Akron, Ohio, in the 1950s. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made on behalf of William F. Stobaugh to The Christian Restoration Association, 7133 Central Parke Blvd., Mason, OH 45040.