ALUMNI NEWS - 1940s
Hall Crowder, after ministries in Kentucky, Illinois, Oklahoma "retired" after 27 years in Gallatin, Tennessee going on to work with the mission agency, Operation Mobilization. This led to work in Mexico, England, Spain and Portugal, followed by service as a traveling rep for the mission in the U.S. Since 1989, Hall as resided in Waynesboro, Georgia and works with the international literature ministry which the Operation Mobilization established there. His wife, Alice, is in poor health. They have three daughters who have been missionaries and a son who is in Nashville, TN.
Robert H. Schondelmayer passed away peacefully on August 15, 2006 to meet his Lord and many family members and friends who have gone before. The son of a minister, Bob graduated from CBS in 1942 and never ceased being a minister. He loved his alma mater. He and his family went to the Philippines in 1947 and served for 3 years being unable to return because of the Korean War. Bob served congregations in Ohio , Indiana and West Virginia . His last ministry was in Midland , Michigan where he served for 10 years. Following his retirement from fulltime ministry in 1989, he continued to preach revivals, served as a teacher and acted as interim minister where needed. Surviving are his wife Gloria, children Paul, Timothy, Mary Beth and their spouses, daughter in law Judy , along with 5 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. Bob was preceded in death by his wife Marjorie, son David and brothers, H. Reign and Harold.
Paul ('46) and Mary Francis ('43) Neal celebrated their 60 th Wedding Anniversary on May 16. They were married in CBS Chapel Building on the day of Paul's graduation from CBS and now live in Sun City Center, Florida.
Virgil ('43) and Marjorie ( Att'd) Felton concluded their earthly ministries after 65 years of working together. Virgil died Feb. 14 and Marjorie on Feb. 21, 2006. Most of those years were spent in new church planting. They began in Lexington, KY founding Tates Creek in 1945 and in 1951 moved to Lansing, MI and formed New Churches of Christ Evangelism. They directed the organization for 35 years as it planted 46 churches in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio. irgil received the Golden Eagle Award and the Alumni Anchor Award from the CCU Alumni Association, God's Honored Servant Award from the National Missionary and North American Christian Conventions, the Distinguished Service Award from Great Lakes Bible College, and the James A. Garfield Award from Emmanuel School of Religion. Marjorie supported Virgil's ministry by performing secretarial work, playing piano, singing, visiting and giving of herself in any way needed. They spent their retirement years in Florida and Lansing, MI and recently moved to Park Place Assisted Living in Kalamazoo. They are survived by a son and a daughter, three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Harland Cary celebrated
69 years in Ministry on February 15, 2005. He preached his first
sermon in Wilmore, KS on Feb. 16, 1936. He along with his wife,
Frances, founded Colegio Biblico in 1945, which continues to this
day. Harland stepped down as President in 1976, but did not retire.
He helped in the reconstruction of San Raymundo, Guatemala following
a major earthquake. Harland and Frances have five children, all
of whom are faithful in the service of the Lord.
Ray Brestel ('45) went to be with the Lord on November 29, 2006 at the age of 88. He and his beloved wife Fern had been married for 66 years. Ray was retired from Standard Publishing. He is survived by his daughters Susan (John) Campbell, Jerilyn (Dick) Clegg and Mary (Bill) Meredeth along with 9 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. Services were held at Christ's Church in Mason, Ohio.
Roberta Selby has completed a book about the pioneer missionary work she and her husband, the late Charles Selby ('45), did in the Philippines for 50 years. It is entitled "Go - I Will Go with You" and is published by College Press. It is available for a donation of $18.00. Roberta would be glad to send you an autographed copy if you will write to her at 165 Highbluffs Blvd. #421, Columbus, OH 43235.
Paul ('46) and Mary Francis ('43) Neal celebrated their 60 th Wedding Anniversary on May 16. They were married in CBS Chapel Building on the day of Paul's graduation from CBS and now live in Sun City Center, Florida. (See photo under 1943).
Robert C. Neal ('47) passed to his reward on August 10, 2006. He came to CCU as a transfer student from Miami University, Oxford , Ohio. He was active in ministry for over 50 years preaching for churches in Ohio, Oregon , Virginia and California.
Robert Coleman, Jr. ('47) passed away on July 13, 2006 at Harbourwood Nursing Center in Clearwater , Florida . As a student at CCU, Bob ministered with the Grassy Creek Christian Church and the Union City Christian church. After graduation, Bob and his wife Gaynell ('40) went to Central Christian Church in Tampa and then to First Christian in Clearwater where they lovingly served for 23 years. He was a sportscaster for the Clearwater Bombers and hosted a radio program in addition to being a member of the Jaycees, the Rotary Club, and the Clearwater Moose Lodge. He was a Paul Harris Fellow and in 1971 was named "Mr. Clearwater." Survivors include his wife of 62 years and five grandchildren. His three children are deceased. Harold Armstrong ('68, '90), President of Florida Christian College, presided at the funeral.
Ralph Dornette ('48) passed from this life to his eternal reward on August 31, 2006. He has been a true friend and encourager to CCU - as a student, a minister, a visionary proponent of new church evangelism, a productive member of the staff, a loyal financial supporter, fund-raiser and a faithful alumnus. He served as a trustee and was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award in 1994. He also received an Honorary Doctorate from Hope International. As an evangelist, he started 55 churches in Ohio , Oklahoma and California . Ralph was the former Church Development Fund CEO. Under his 26 year leadership, CDF assets grew from $750,000 to nearly $70 million. He is the author of three books. He is survived by his wife Betty, daughter Cindy and son-in-law Bob Orndorff and two grandchildren.
Congratulations to Howard Mackey who extended his license as a Certified Flight Instructor with instrument rating through August 2008. Howard and Dorothy have been in ministry since beginning to preach in 1945. Helping others who can use aircraft in ministry has brought pleasure and satisfaction. Howard reports he has enjoyed the friendly skies and smooth landings.
Dorothy Stebbins Mackey has written her fourth book. "Here We Come Ready or Not" was written from the perspective of a first grade teacher about the difficulties of teaching a class of 30 students, many of which come from difficult home situations. It is in paperback and can be ordered from AuthorHouse. The ISBN number is 1420895990. Dorothy is the wife of Howard Mackey ,('48). They have been married 58 years and are now involved with Music Evangelism. Their email address is: howmackey@juno.com.
Hervey Sewell ('49) went to be with the Lord and his wife of 68 years, Betty, on January 25, 2007 at the age of 89. They married in 1936 and Hervey entered CBS to prepare for the ministry the same year. Even though basketball was a major interest to him, when given the choice of playing ball or a life of ministry he chose the ministry and never regretted his choice. They always worked as a team. Hervey preached and Betty led the music as they served churches in Ohio, Indiana and Michigan. Even in retirement they began a chapel service at their retirement condo in Arizona. In addition to his ministry he received a Masters degree from Michigan State University and taught school in Michigan and Indian. He was instrumental in starting 3 churches in Richmond, IN, as well as having a major role in starting Great Lakes Christian College. By many he will be remembered as the lifeguard at Rock Lake Christian Assembly in the mid ‘40's and early ‘50's. He is survived by two children, David from Lutz, FL and Judith Saunders ('63) of Vestaburg, MI, 5 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. Funeral services were conducted in Edmore, MI by son-in-law J.D. Saunders ('61) and grand-son-in-law Roger Penwell.
Jack H. Ballard of Stone Mountain , Georgia , died from unexpected heart failure on February 21, 2007. He was born in Ashland , Kentucky , on May 5, 1928, the son of the late John H. Ballard and Myrtle Ballard. In his early teenage years, he decided that he would dedicate his life to the service of his God, and he entered the Cincinnati Bible Seminary in 1945. Through a seminary friend, he met the woman who would be his champion and companion for the rest of his life. After he married Charlotte Wilson in 1948, he began to search for a congregation somewhere near the Atlanta home that she so greatly missed. In 1950, at the age of 21, he was called to be the minister of Mount Carmel Christian Church in Decatur , Georgia . Over the next 44 years, he served as the pastor of that church and presided over its growth into the largest Christian church in the southeast. Through his tenure at Mount Carmel, he steered the church's move from a small building in Panthersville on Candler Road to its final location in Stone Mountain . Following his retirement in 1994, he agreed to serve as the interim minister for Northside Christian Church in Marietta -a position that he held while they "looked for a minister" for the next nine years. During that same time, he continued to work as the chief fund raiser and chairman of Church Builders, a ministry that he launched in 1971 and that, to date, has built 74 churches in 23 states and two Canadian provinces. With the help of his lifelong friend Dale Sikes, he continued planning the construction of new churches until the time of his death. Throughout his lifetime, he was blessed with the love of people who sought to assist him in his ministry: the florist who donated the altar flowers every Sunday; the dairy owner who provided milk for the church camp children and land for the church expansion; the children's nursery owners who became the biggest supporters for his work with the Christian Church Foundation for the Handicapped; the self-made dinette salesman who would be his constant advocate; and the thousands of friends who so generously supported his attempts to spread the Gospel through the world. To all of these people he was not a reverend or a prelate or a doctor; he was simply Jack, their spiritual companion, and all are beggared by his loss. He is survived by Charlotte, his wife of 58 years; his daughter and son, Pam and John; their spouses, Bill and Rita; and their children, Casey, Jeremy, Mia, Megan, Brent, and Gillian.
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