The most recently received obituaries are listed first. An alphabetical listing of all 2017 obituaries begins further down.
Ione Etta McEathron Williams, 99, died on Nov. 23, 2017. She was the last remaining child of Alexander and Ida McEathron, pioneer missionaries and church planters to the Flambeau Hills of northern Wisconsin. She was born Sept. 14, 1918, in Hillsdale, Barron County, WI. The family moved to the Mud Brook Valley west of Holcombe, WI, when she was 2. She was baptized at age 10 in the Chippewa River by her father. At an early age she began teaching children”s Sunday school classes and serving as Sunday school secretary. She was active in Christian Endeavor at Highbanks Church of Christ in rural Holcombe, one of many churches started by her circuit-riding father. She graduated from Ladysmith High School in 1937. She married George Williams on Christmas Day, 1938. After his return from serving in World War II, they raised three daughters in Sugar Grove, WI. She called Sugar Grove Church of Christ her home church for almost 80 years (from 1939 until her death). She taught junior and adult classes and daily Vacation Bible School for children. She was a 70-year member of the American Legion Auxiliary. She was a gentle, loving, and cheerful wife, mother, grandmother, and homemaker. She worked alongside her husband doing farm work and providing food for the family”s needs. She enjoyed writing poetry and, at age 70, published her autobiography, Living in the Mud Brook Valley, about growing up the daughter of an itinerant preacher. She enjoyed genealogy and local history and produced several articles for local publications. She was a painter and woodcarver who also enjoyed knitting, crocheting, and sewing. She enjoyed the beauty of God”s creation and sharing her outdoors knowledge with her children. She is survived by three daughters, five grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren, among others. Funeral services were conducted Dec. 2, 2017, at the Sugar Grove Church of Christ. Burial was at Sugar Grove Cemetery. (posted 1-27-18)
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George William BonDurant, 101, of Elizabeth City, NC, died on July 11, 2017. He was born in Pennsylvania, on Aug. 9, 1915, the son of William Wilson BonDurant and Helen Lawrence BonDurant, and grew up in Mount Rainer, MD. He was married for 66 years to the late Sarah Presley BonDurant, whom he met and married while a student at Cincinnati Bible Seminary. He is survived by his daughter, Beth BonDurant, of Elizabeth City. He was a leader in the Restoration Movement in the 20th century. His parents were committed leaders in the Restoration Movement and instilled in him his faith in and commitment to the Word of God. In 1947, he came to eastern North Carolina as an evangelist for the Roanoke District Churches of Christ. He quickly realized the need for a preacher-training school. To meet that need, Mr. and Mrs. BonDurant founded Roanoke Bible College (now Mid-Atlantic Christian University) in 1948, and he served as president until 1986. Students admired and respected him and affectionately referred to him as “Mr. B.” He loved to teach and share his knowledge. For years he taught all week, preached every weekend, and taught extension classes or seminars in churches. He established a Christian camp for youth, Camp Roanoke, which operated for three weeks each summer on the college campus from 1953 to 1981. In retirement, he preached for a small rural church and had a prison ministry at the Maple Prison Unit, where his students knew him simply as “George.” A funeral service was conducted July 14 at Towne South Church of Christ, Elizabeth City, officiated by Brad Giffin. Another funeral service was July 16 at Pleasant Hill Christian Church, Jasper, GA, officiated by Kasey Kuyper, followed by burial at the church cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to Towne South Church of Christ, 2224 Peartree Road, Elizabeth City, NC 27909 or to the George W. BonDurant Scholarship Fund, c/o MACU Foundation, 715 N. Poindexter St., Elizabeth City, NC. Twiford Funeral Home, 405 E. Church St., Elizabeth City is assisting the BonDurant family. Online memorial condolences may be sent to the family at www.TwifordFH.com.
Paul Thurman Butler, 88, died on Jan. 20, 2017. He was born Nov. 17, 1928, in Springfield, MO, to the late W. D. and Verna Lois (Thurman) Butler. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1946 and served on the staff of Commander Task Force 90 during the Korean War. In 1957, he left the Navy and attended Ozark Bible College in Joplin, MO, graduating with a Bachelor of Theology and a Master of Biblical Literature. He served as preacher with Washington Christian Church, Lebanon, MO; Westside Christian Church, Carthage, MO; and North Joplin (MO) Christian Church. He joined the Ozark faculty in 1960, teaching nearly 4,000 different students. He authored 16 Bible commentaries and also wrote Sunday school lessons. He was awarded the Seth Wilson Outstanding Alumni Award from OCC in 1992. He was a member of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, serving as president of the Joplin chapter and the Missouri state chapter, and as chaplain general of the national society in 1991. In 1994, he was awarded the Medal of Honor from the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the highest award given to a nonmember. He was also a member of Joplin American Legion Post 13. He married Gale Jynne Kinnard on Nov. 10, 1948, and they had been married 68 years at the time of his death. In addition to his widow, he is survived by two children, Sherry Lankford of Belleville, IL, and Mark Butler of Joplin; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Memorial contributions may be made to Ozark Christian College or Park Plaza Christian Church Missions, both in Joplin.
Dr. Eleanor A. Daniel, 77, of Urbana, IL, referred to in a recent CHRISTIAN STANDARD article as “The Queen of Deans” because of her service as academic dean at three seminaries, died on March 2, 2017. She was born Feb. 28, 1940, near Milton, IL, to Donald W. and Bernice (Hillig) Daniel. She spent more than 40 years ministering in churches, colleges, seminaries, and overseas. She earned a BA and an MA at Lincoln (IL) Christian University, and an MEd and PhD from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. She held ministries in Tuscola, IL; Buchanan, MI; Oklahoma City, OK; Lincoln, IL; Cincinnati, OH; and Johnson City, TN. She taught at Lincoln Christian University, Midwest Christian College (Oklahoma City, OK), Cincinnati (OH) Christian Seminary, Emmanuel Christian Seminary (Johnson City, TN), and TCM International Institute in Austria. She loved traveling, which took her to many countries; in addition to Austria, she taught in Romania, Bulgaria, Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Ukraine, Russia, India, and the Philippines. She was preceded in death by one sister, Glenna. She is survived by two sisters, Jean Sanderson and Kay Matthews, both of Urbana; and two brothers, Jerry Daniel and Terry Daniel, both of rural Pittsfield, IL. Memorial gifts may be made to Windsor Road Christian Church, Champaign, IL, or to Emmanuel Christian Seminary at Milligan College in Tennessee. A memorial service will be conducted at 2 p.m. March 6 at Windsor Road Christian Church, Champaign, IL; with visitation at 1 p.m. (Read Brad Dupray”s interview with Daniel from 2007.)
Vernon Edward Miller, 98, of Richmond, TX, died there on Sept. 12, 2017. He was born in Fairbault, MN, the second youngest of 11 children. He married Norma Benedict on April 8, 1938. He farmed in Minnesota until 1948, when he moved his family to the Lebanon, OR, area. He worked in a variety of business ventures over the years, including the Miller Insurance Agency in Lebanon. He was also a founding elder with the Southside Church of Christ. In 1966, they moved to Lumby, BC, Canada, to raise cattle. They started the Lumby Church of Christ in their home. That same year, the first Christian camp was held at their ranch in the mountains. Eighty acres of this property was later donated to the churches in that area and is now known as the Double VM Bible Camp. He farmed in the Grande Prairie, Alberta, area along with his son, Richard, before retiring and becoming involved in the Spanish Bible and Printing Ministry in El Paso, TX, and Mexico. He kindly and patiently cared for his wife during her declining health. After Norma”s death in 1992, he married Lillian Strubar of Sweet Home, OR. She also predeceased him. He is survived by one son, Charles, and one daughter, Nancy Kay. In addition to his wives, he was preceded in death by one son, Richard. A memorial service will take place at 1 p.m. Oct. 4, 2017, at Southside Church of Christ in Lebanon, OR. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Double VM Bible Camp, c/o Katy Conklin, 307-15401 Kalamalka Lake Road, Coldstream, British Columbia V1B1Z3 Canada.
Melba Jean Pinney, 82, of Las Cruces, NM, died on Apr. 11, 2017. She served as children”s minister with Agape Christian Church in Las Cruces. She was born Oct. 1, 1934, in Waco, TX, to the late Riley “Buster” and Anna May Hope. She was married to Herb Dale Pinney Sr. for 63 years. In 1957, she and her husband were challenged to become bivocational church evangelists, so they sold their geology business in Socorro, NM, and moved their family to Ozark Christian College, Joplin, MO, to do undergraduate and graduate work in Bible, theology, and history. At Agape church, she taught Sunday school, was minister of the morning children”s church, and helped in the office work of the New Iberian Mission Association. In addition to her husband, she is survived by six children, H. Dale Jr., Lorelei Delle Nij, Linda Dawn Clavijo, S. Dean, Jeni Chavira, and Jeannie Hughes; one brother, John; and two sisters, Mary and Barbara. She also has 29 grandchildren and 43 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by four sons: Daniel and Donny died while serving Christ in the ministry, and twin sons David and Jonathan died in infancy. She also “mothered” dozens of others, helping to get them or their families on their feet. A celebration of life service is set for 10:30 a.m. April 29 at Agape Christian Church, followed by a potluck dinner. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are requested for the New Iberian Mission Association children”s fund, P.O. Box 15133, Las Cruces, NM 88004.
Ione Etta McEathron Williams, 99, died on Nov. 23, 2017. She was the last remaining child of Alexander and Ida McEathron, pioneer missionaries and church planters to the Flambeau Hills of northern Wisconsin. She was born Sept. 14, 1918, in Hillsdale, Barron County, WI. The family moved to the Mud Brook Valley west of Holcombe, WI, when she was 2. She was baptized at age 10 in the Chippewa River by her father. At an early age she began teaching children”s Sunday school classes and serving as Sunday school secretary. She was active in Christian Endeavor at Highbanks Church of Christ in rural Holcombe, one of many churches started by her circuit-riding father. She graduated from Ladysmith High School in 1937. She married George Williams on Christmas Day, 1938. After his return from serving in World War II, they raised three daughters in Sugar Grove, WI. She called Sugar Grove Church of Christ her home church for almost 80 years (from 1939 until her death). She taught junior and adult classes and daily Vacation Bible School for children. She was a 70-year member of the American Legion Auxiliary. She was a gentle, loving, and cheerful wife, mother, grandmother, and homemaker. She worked alongside her husband doing farm work and providing food for the family”s needs. She enjoyed writing poetry and, at age 70, published her autobiography, Living in the Mud Brook Valley, about growing up the daughter of an itinerant preacher. She enjoyed genealogy and local history and produced several articles for local publications. She was a painter and woodcarver who also enjoyed knitting, crocheting, and sewing. She enjoyed the beauty of God”s creation and sharing her outdoors knowledge with her children. She is survived by three daughters, five grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren, among others. Funeral services were conducted Dec. 2, 2017, at the Sugar Grove Church of Christ. Burial was at Sugar Grove Cemetery.
Leonard Ginther Wymore, 95, who served as director of the North American Christian Convention for 23 years (1963″“86) after serving with Standard Publishing for 8 years, died Jan. 19, 2017, in Johnson City, TN. He served his Lord and Savior for more than 75 years. He was born Sept. 10, 1921, in Bartley, NE. He was baptized and committed his life to Christ at an early age. After graduation from Manhattan (KS) Christian College and attending Butler University School of Religion in Indianapolis, IN, he served a number of small congregations in Kansas and Indiana. He continued to value small congregations his entire life as he was called to other leadership roles, most notably director of the NACC. As NACC director, he sought to fulfill a vision for resounding preaching services and valuable training sessions for kingdom workers. He cherished the opportunities this role afforded him to witness to his faith with Christians and non-Christians. During this time (1972), he also led in the founding of the Religious Conference Management Association, which remains a vital multi-faith organization responsible for planning and/or managing religious conferences and conventions across the nation. Prior to his time with NACC, he served with Standard Publishing from 1956″“63; he was editor of The Lookout magazine (October 1956″”December 1957) and director of the National Christian Education Convention (starting in 1956). He was honored with a Doctor of Laws from Kentucky Christian University in 1968 and the James A. Garfield Award from Emmanuel Christian Seminary in 1990 for recognition of his outstanding service and leadership to the Christian community. He continued to serve during “retirement,” directing Double Vision (a church planting group) and the Arizona Evangelizing Association, serving as an interim minister in Arizona and Tennessee, and writing and consulting. He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Thelma (Haas); one daughter, Kathy Downs; two sons, Don and Fred; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Condolences may be sent to Thelma Wymore, 2012 Sherwood Drive #512, Johnson City, TN 37601. A memorial service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Feb. 18 at Hopwood Christian Church at Milligan College. Memorial gifts may be made to the Leonard & Thelma Wymore Scholarship Fund at Emmanuel Christian Seminary at Milligan College. (Click here to read Mark Taylor”s column about Leonard Wymore.)
Thelma Maxine (Haas) Wymore, 93, of Johnson City, TN, died March 6, 2017, just weeks after the death of her beloved husband of 71 years, Dr. Leonard G. Wymore, who died Jan. 19. She was born May 2, 1923, in Kansas City, MO, to Charles and Flora Haas. She was the only daughter in a family of nine children. She is survived by three children, Kathy Downs, Don Wymore, and Fred Wymore; five grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and one brother, Lloyd Haas of Augusta, KS. She grew up in Lawrence, KS. She attended Manhattan (KS) Christian College and Butler University School of Religion in Indianapolis, IN. She was very supportive of her husband”s ministries; she worked as a secretary 1967-69 for the North American Christian Convention, which he directed. She will be remembered for her hospitality, storytelling, pursuit of family genealogy, constant study of the Bible, handmade gifts, and her love of family and friends. Memorial gifts may be made to the Leonard & Thelma Wymore Scholarship Fund at Emmanuel Christian Seminary at Milligan College (in Tennessee). A memorial service will be conducted at 2 p.m. May 20 at Emmanuel Christian Seminary Chapel, 1 Walker Drive, Johnson City, TN. Interment will be at a later date in Bartley, NE.
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