In Memoriam

DWAINE BASSETT CC ’49 died August 1, 2004, at the age of 80. After earning his degree from Cascade College, Dwaine went on to graduate from Western Evangelical Theological Seminary. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and following the war worked as a pastor and professor. In 1963, Dwaine joined SPC as associate director of admissions and later became director of admissions and then director of financial aid and placement. After leaving SPC, he worked for City University in Seattle. In 1992, he married Ethel Pierce. Survivors include his wife; one daughter; one son, RODNEY BASSETT ’73; two stepdaughters; one stepson; 14 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

BENJAMIN BURGER ’75 died of a heart attack on August 20, 2004. He was 51 years old. Born and raised in Salem, Oregon, Benjamin spent 25 years working in the juvenile corrections system in Oregon after graduating from SPC. He counseled youth to help them transition out of the system and into the community. He retired in April 2003 and began his own landscaping business called Ben’s Landscaping and Lawn Maintenance, primarily using the business as a way to build relationships and help his elderly customers. He was a member of Salem First Baptist Church for 25 years. Benjamin is survived by his wife of 25 years, Terri, and by two sons, including JEREMY BURGER ’04.

HOWARD COLLARD ’61 died March 10, 2004. He was 81 years old. He and his wife, ELIZABETH COLLARD ’61, served with Wycliffe Bible Translators in northwestern Mexico from 1945 to 1969. Howard then worked in donor relations at the Wycliffe office in Huntington Beach, California. In addition to graduating from SPC, Howard earned a theology degree from Biola College and served on the board of Totonaco Bible Institute for many years. He is survived by his wife, two sons, and a daughter.

RALPH GWINN ’47 died August 1, 2004, at the age of 84. Born and raised in Seattle, Ralph left SPC to become a pilot during World War II. After the war, he returned to SPC, where he was voted student body president. Ralph went on to join the first class of the new Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. In 1957, he became professor of Bible, New Testament Greek, phil- osophy, and humanities at Knoxville College, an African-American Presbyterian college in Knoxville, Tennessee. In 1964, Ralph and his family moved to the Middle East, where he served as a professor at the Beirut College for Women in Beirut, Lebanon. In 1969, he joined the faculty of Tarkio College in Tarkio, Missouri, where he remained until 1980. In retirement, Ralph served as an interim pastor in the Seattle area. Preceded in death by his wife, Maureen, Ralph is survived by a daughter, a son, and four grandchildren.

PAUL HVIDDING CC ’46 died April 22, 2004. He was 88 years old. Born in Alberta, Canada, Paul graduated from Pacific Lutheran College, where he was a member of the college football team dubbed the “Fighting Fools” by a Tacoma, Washington, newspaper. He served in the U.S. Air Force during World War II and afterwards attended Cascade College and Western Evangelical Seminary. Involved with the Catholic charismatic movement, he was a longtime minister and missionary, serving people in prisons, hospitals, reform schools, and elsewhere. Paul is survived by GLADYS OLRIG HVIDDING CC ’43, his wife of 60 years; 10 children; 29 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

BONNIE JEPSON ’45 died July 3, 2004, at the age of 81. Raised in Seattle, Bonnie lived on the same street for 77 years. After graduating from SPC, she began a long teaching career, much of which was spent at Catherine Blaine Junior High School in Seattle. She was also a certified counselor. Bonnie served as a board member of Christa Ministries and was a member of Alpha Delta Kappa. She also helped in the early organization of Overseas Radio and Television (ORTV). Bonnie is survived by her sisters, RUTH JEPSON ’46 and SARAH JEPSON COLEMAN ’68, and by her brother, ALVIN JEPSON ’55.

MICAH KELLCY ’04 died in a motorcycle accident September 26, 2004. He was 23 years old. While at SPU, Micah competed for three seasons in track and field, running both the 400-meter hurdles and relays. As a junior, he finished third in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) championships in the intermediate hurdles. He ran the leadoff leg for the 1600 relay team, which was GNAC runner-up in 2002 and 2003. He completed his career ranked No. 5 in the 400 hurdles and a member of the No. 2 all-time 1600 relay. Micah is survived by his parents and two older brothers.

FRANCES PICKERING LONGENECKER ’42 died June 23, 2004. She was 84 years old. Born in San Antonio, Texas, Frances met JUSTIN LONGENECKER ’39 while attending SPC, and they married soon after she graduated. In 1955, they moved to Waco, Texas, where her husband taught at Baylor University. Frances played violin for the Honolulu Symphony and Baylor Symphony, and she taught piano lessons for many years. She was an active member in the Alliance Bible Church for more than 45 years. She is survived by her husband, Justin; three daughters; seven grandchildren; and sister ELIZABETH WALLS ’53.

GENEIVE MCMULLIN KIMM ’39 died October 26, 2003. Retired from the Edmonds (Washington) School District, she is survived by one daughter.

MARGARET BOERHAVE MCCOY ’42 died June 25, 2004, on her 59th wedding anniversary. She was 83 years old. Her husband, Richard, died one month earlier. Born in Lynden, Washington, Margaret worked in Walla Walla, Washington, after graduating from SPC. There she met her future husband, although they did not marry until he returned from duty in World War II. Margaret taught grade school at Lynden Christian School and Sumas Christian School. She was a member of Bethel Christian Reformed Church and an avid gardener. Margaret is survived by one son; two daughters, including NANCY MCCOY ’70; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

PAUL PERRY ’78 died unexpectedly August 29, 2004. He was 49 years old. Paul was born in Sacramento, California, where he lived until his family moved to Lake Forest Park, Washington, during his school years. He attended Shoreline Community College in Shoreline, Washington, prior to enrolling at SPU. After graduation, he attended dental school at the University of Washington. In 1982, Paul served in the U.S. Army, where he completed a residency program in dentistry. After serving in active duty, Paul remained in the reserves while he established his own dental practice in Snohomish, Washington. He was a snowboarder who also enjoyed hiking and photography. Paul leaves behind his wife of 21 years, Marilyn; one son; and one daughter.

CLAUDE PIKE CC ’41 died July 21, 2004. He was 85 years old. Born in Kent, Washington, Claude and his wife, Hylda, began an independent traveling ministry in the United States. They also launched a magazine called Crisis and produced a daily radio broadcast called the “Claude Pike Report,” which commented on world events from a Christian perspective. In 1969, Claude and his family purchased the Big Sky Youth Ranch in Oregon City, Oregon, as a refuge for inner-city youth. In 1980, he and his sons flew a restored 1929 bush plane cross country to Washington, D.C., promoting a National Day of Prayer. President Ronald Reagan was enthusiastic about the idea, and the first Thursday in May is now widely observed as a National Day of Prayer. Claude is survived by two sons; one daughter; three grandchildren; two brothers, PAUL PIKE CC ’52 and JOHN PIKE CC ’43; and four sisters, including DOROTHIE PIKE MACY CC ’38 and GRACE PIKE BLETSCHER CC ’47.

JOHN ROBERTS CC ’37 died on May 16, 2004, at the age of 88. Born in Riverside, Idaho, John attended Greenleaf Friends Academy, a small Quaker school. He continued his education at Portland Bible Institute, which later became Cascade College. After working for a time in Caldwell, Idaho, and Omaha, Nebraska, John and his wife, Grace, returned to Greenleaf, Idaho, where they owned and operated a general store from 1950 to 1983. A lifelong amateur photographer, John enjoyed singing and performed with a quartet on “The Quaker Hour,” a weekly radio program that ran from the 1940s to the 1960s. He served as a board chairman for Greenleaf Friends Academy, spearheading a major building campaign. John is survived by his wife of 66 years, two sons, two daughters, 10 grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

NELLIE GWINN SCHNEIDER ’43 died July 31, 2004, at the age of 83. Born and raised in the Seattle area, Nellie taught for many years in the Seattle Public Schools. She married James Schneider in 1948. Active in her church, Nellie enjoyed bowling, trips with the Rock Club and Trailer Club, camping, and spending time with her family. She is survived by her husband, four children, seven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

RICH WALSH ’69 died August 14, 2004. He was 66 years old. Confined to a wheelchair for 27 years after a Jeep accident left him a quadriplegic, Rich devoted his career to aiding others living with disabilities. He once said that “God used my broken neck to help people.” In 1984, he founded the Resource Center for the Handicapped, a school that helped severely physically and mentally disabled people find training and employment. In its 15 years of existence, the center prepared 1,500 individuals for careers in technological fields. Rich published an autobiography, The Chase, and he spoke at the 1992 Republican Convention about “making life accessible.” President George H.W. Bush presented him with a Points of Light Award that same year. Rich is survived by four daughters and eight grandchildren.

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