Footnotes: In Memoriam

BYRL BONFOEY ’63 died August 11, 2010, at the age of 78. Born in Garden City, South Dakota, Byrl joined the U.S. Air Force, then enlisted in the Air Force Reserve for another three years and attained the rank of staff sergeant. Following his honorable discharge, Byrl attended Seattle Pacific and completed a business degree. He settled in Alaska in 1975 and became director of purchasing for the Alaska Railroad, followed by 15 years as director of purchasing for the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District. Active in the community, he was a member of American Legion Post 57, Santa’s Seniors in the town of North Pole, Alaska, and a member of the North Pole Church of the Nazarene, which honored him with a distinguished service award for his community involvement. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, JOYCE KLOCK BONFOEY ’62; three daughters; one son; two sisters; and two brothers.

MARGARET HANLEN BREITENBACH ’42 died October 30, 2010, at the age of 89. A long-time member of the Seattlean Club, she helped with the group’s philanthropic projects that enhanced life for many in Seattle. She and her husband, GUSTAVE BREITENBACH ’41, a professor of German at Seattle Pacific for 22 years, were faithful members of Seattle’s First Free Methodist Church. They gave generously to SPU, supporting such projects as the Miller Science Learning Center, and Margaret was a volunteer with the alumni phonathon. She is survived by her daughters, MARLENE BREITENBACH ’73, M.A. ’85, and SONJA BREITENBACH ’79, M.ED. ’82. Predeceased by her husband, Margaret lived at Warm Beach Senior Community in Stanwood, Washington, at the time of her death.

KENNETH “KEN” CHALLY ’77 died June 12, 2010, at the age of 57. Born and raised in Sacramento, California, he met his wife, DEBBIE POWELL CHALLY ’77, at Seattle Pacific. Following graduation, the couple lived on Seattle’s Queen Anne Hill and raised three daughters. A skier, runner, rower, and big fan of Formula One Racing, Ken spent many years in the computer business before becoming a bus driver with Gray Line of Seattle Tours. A lover of family, food, crossword puzzles, and the family’s Brittany dogs, he died after a long battle with multiple system atrophy, a rare neurological disease. Ken is survived by his wife of 33 years, three daughters, his mother, and three brothers.

STUART COLMAN ’82 died July 22, 2010, at the age of 50. Born in Italy and raised in Michigan, he painted houses and worked odd jobs to pay for his SPU education, which resulted in a Russian language degree. In 1985, Stuart — who family members described as someone with a quirky sense of humor and a willingness to help others solve their problems — began a 20-year career with the Seattle Police Department. He trained hard to maintain his position in the Bicycle Patrol, a job he loved and stayed with for more than 15 years. Afterwards, he was assigned to car-patrol duty in Seattle’s Magnolia neighborhood, where he spent time befriending the residents, getting to know their children, and being a helping presence. A boater, fisherman, and beachcomber, Stuart is survived by his wife, Tracy; three daughters; a sister; and a brother.

JANICE “JAN” MILLARD DOWNS ’79 died August 6, 2010, at the age of 53. Born and raised in Yakima, Washington, Jan earned a degree from Seattle Pacific and two months later married her college sweetheart, MIKE DOWNS ’77, M.A. ’82. She taught school full-time for three years, then shifted to supplementing the family’s income with part-time projects so she could focus on raising their four children. In addition to working for a daycare, substitute teaching, and job-sharing at Bellevue (Washington) Christian School, where Mike taught various grades, Jan enjoyed gardening, baking, teaching Sunday school, and watching sports. Her family says Jan’s attitude, even while battling ovarian cancer, was “better” over “bitter.” She is survived by her husband; her four children, including SPU senior JEFFREY DOWNS, SPU freshman DAVID DOWNS, and DANIEL DOWNS, an assistant SPU men’s basketball coach; her mother; and one sister.

CAMILLA DRAKE ’70 died April 24, 2010, at the age of 90. Born in Pickardville, North Dakota, she attended Los Angeles Bible Institute before working at Maranatha Children’s Home in Fairbanks, Alaska, and at the Navajo Indian School in Arizona. After earning her degree from Seattle Pacific, she taught elementary school in Bothell, Washington, for 12 years until her retirement in 1982. Preceded in death by four brothers and four sisters, Camilla is survived by one sister and many nieces and nephews.

MARGARET “PEGGY” ELDER ’61 died July 19, 2010, at the age of 71. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Peggy transferred from community college to Seattle Pacific in 1958. She went on to the University of Washington, where she earned a master’s degree in education and served as a residence hall advisor. She earned her doctorate in education from Washington State University in 1972. Her career took her to New Mexico State University, where she stayed 15 years and became assistant vice president, then vice president of student affairs. She was instrumental in the support of groundbreaking programs, some of which were the first in New Mexico, including services for women, and for gay and lesbian students. After moving to Seattle, Peggy supported opera and chamber music, and served chocolates for 16 years at the downtown See’s Candies store. Friends remember her as vivacious, outspoken, generous, and full of laughter.

LOIS BURLEY HALL ’53 died September 1, 2010, at the age of 80. Born in Langley, Washington, to parents who ran a dairy farm, she graduated from the Seattle Pacific nursing program. Two years prior to graduation, she married VERNON HALL ’52, who became a doctor of osteopathic medicine. They raised four children, and operated a medical practice in Portland, Oregon, until 1985. After several short-term missionary trips to Ecuador, the couple began full-time missionary work in Haiti where they managed Bethesda Medical Center outside of Cap-Haitien with One Mission Society International. Lois led the nursing staff and managed the pharmacy. After retirement, they taught school in Mozambique for several months before they circumnavigated the world visiting friends and family. The couple eventually settled in the Warm Beach/Camano Island area of Washington state. A faithful member of the Warm Beach Free Methodist Church, Lois was also a mentor and prayer partner for Mothers of Preschoolers, better known as MOPS. She is survived by her husband; her four children, including STEVEN HALL ’80; eight grandchildren; one great-grandson; and sisters GRACE BURLEY REED ’56 and RUTH BURLEY MITCHELL ’65.

HELEN ANDRUS HINDMAN ’46 died June 24, 2010, at the age of 91. Born in Madras, Oregon, Helen was the youngest of five children growing up amidst the Depression-era hardships of farm life. She took work as a secretary in a number of offices in Madras and Portland, Oregon, before attending Seattle Pacific. With her degree in hand, Helen taught in Oregon schools, including junior high school English and social studies. For 10 years, she was a school counselor. An inveterate globetrotter, Helen took leaves of absence to teach in U.S. Army-dependent schools in Germany. At the end of one school year, she traveled via Dutch freighter through the Mediterranean, the Suez Canal, and across the Indian Ocean, visiting Genoa, Penang, Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, and Japan. In 1967, she married Dale Hindman and became the adoptive mother to his young son. The couple enjoyed 26 years of marriage until Dale’s death in 1998, after which Helen moved to Iowa City, Iowa. She is survived by a son, three grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

SHIRLEY SHADBOLT KILLION ’57 died September 2, 2010, at the age of 75. Born and raised in Wenatchee, Washington, Shirley demonstrated artistic and musical gifts as a young woman. An accomplished pianist by the time she graduated high school, she was awarded scholarships by the Wenatchee Ladies Musical Club to attend Seattle Pacific College. At SPC, Shirley accompanied the Victory and Clarion quartets, sang in the A Cappella Choir, and served in the Falconettes. After college, she taught music in Wenatchee schools and mentored students in voice, keyboard, and other musical instruments. Shirley played organ for worship services in several Seattle-area churches. Her grandfather, Wenatchee orchardist Harry Mickey, served on the SPC Board of Trustees, 1924–33. Shirley is survived by two sisters, BEVERLY SHADBOLT BRANDT ’58 and DOROTHY SHADBOLT SAUERLAND ’61; by two nephews; and by two nieces, including WENDY WORRALL REDAL ’83.

LENA WILSON LUNNUM M.S. ’65 died September 9, 2010, at the age of 88. Born and raised in Gann Valley, South Dakota, Lena was the youngest of nine children. She commuted to high school 12 miles roundtrip in her brother’s Model T and later attended teacher’s colleges to gain her classroom credentials. She moved to Washington state, married her husband, Arnold, and eventually pursued a master’s degree in education and counseling at Seattle Pacific. Active in the Lutheran Church, Lena loved to write poetry and bake Norwegian and German specialties. Her long career in education included teaching elementary school in South Dakota and Washington, and working as a school counselor in Seattle elementary schools. Preceded in death by her husband, five brothers, and three sisters, she is survived by her son and many nieces and nephews.

HELEN MCCONNELL ’47 died August 13, 2010, at the age of 87. Born in Bremerton, Washington, she earned a degree in psychology from Seattle Pacific, a master’s degree in education from Washington State University, and taught in three different school districts. She designed and oversaw construction of her home in Auburn, Washington, where she lived for more than 50 years. Helen was a member of the Auburn Symphony Orchestra Society and the Seattle Genealogical Society, and she was a member and docent of the White River Historical Society. Her curiosity encompassed a wide variety of interests including quilting, Hawaiian documentaries, and genealogy seminars. Helen is survived by a brother, sister, and several nieces and nephews.

JOAN HARTMAN MILLS ’51 died January 31, 2010, at the age of 80. Born in Portus, Kansas, during the hardships of the Dust Bowl, she came west with her family in search of a better life in California. Joan left California to study English and minor in education at Seattle Pacific College, after which she embarked on a teaching career. Three years later, marriage and a family meant cutting back to part-time teaching assignments until 1965, when she again returned to the classroom full-time until her retirement in 1989. Beyond the public classroom, Joan taught Sunday school, Good News clubs, and Bible school. A leader in the Prosser (Washington) Church of the Nazarene, she served on the church board and in the mission program. She also held various leadership positions for her local Christian Women’s Club. Joan was a world traveler who enjoyed a trip to the Holy Land; retraced the travels of the Apostle Paul in Greece and Western Turkey; and explored Australia, New Zealand, and Peru. She is survived by her husband, Harlan; a son and three daughters; 13 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; two brothers, including BOB HARTMAN ’66; and two sisters, including DELORES HARTMAN SIMMONS ’51.

ANASTASIA “STASA” PRODROMIDES MINTER ’95 died September 29, 2009, at the age of 36. Raised in Rolling Hills, California, Stasa went on from SPU to earn a master’s degree in education from Western Washington University. She took what she learned and became an academic advisor at Boise State University and at the University of Washington. Stasa is survived by her husband, Donald; her two sons; her parents; and her four brothers and three sisters.

DONALD “DON” READ, former SPU associate dean of continuing education (1986–88) and associate professor of human resources (1988–91), died April 9, 2010, at the age of 84. Born in Webster Groves, Missouri, he served in the U.S. Army during World War II before completing an engineering degree at Washington University in St. Louis. After committing his life to Christ, Don earned a master’s degree in theology from Dallas Theological Seminary while continuing to serve in the Army Reserves and the National Guard, where he attained the rank of lieutenant colonel. In the early 1960s, he worked for Sun Oil Company before becoming the executive director at Sky Ranch in Texas, a camp to build Christian character in youth. He was known affectionately as “Daddy Don.” After earning a second master’s degree in psychology and a doctorate in higher education from the University of North Texas, Don served as associate dean of students and professor at Dallas Baptist University, and as vice president and professor at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, before coming to work at Seattle Pacific. Then, it was back to Texas in the early 1990s to take an adjunct teaching position at the University of Texas at Arlington. Don was faithful in several church positions and in community activities, always a role model to many. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Fontaine; a daughter; two sons; and nine grandchildren.

KATHLEEN RYAN-GAFFNEY M.S.N. ’03 died July 18, 2010, at the age of 54 from pancreatic cancer. Born in San Diego, California, Kathleen earned her master’s degree in nursing from SPU. Among her accomplishments was establishing the first advanced medical facility in Saudi Arabia during the early 1980s. Back in the United States, her work culminated in the position of vice president at Seattle’s Pacific Medical Center in charge of the U.S. Family Health Plan for members of the military and their families in the Northwest region. Kathleen had a deep respect for military personnel and she worked to ensure they received the care they deserved. Kathleen volunteered with a number of organizations, including the Snohomish County (Washington) Courts as a special advocate for child victims of abuse or neglect. Her compassion for animals led Kathleen to own many dogs, including two rescued greyhounds. She is survived by her husband, Richard, and by her mother, two brothers, and four sisters.

OPAL “TOWNIE” TOWNSEND ’62 died November 4, 2010, at the age of 104. Born in Harmon County, Oklahoma, Opal became a Christian in 1941, earned her college degree in psychology and education at age 56, and traveled to more than 25 countries, including Russia, India, and Iraq. She served 12 years as director of released time education in Long Beach, California; for 20 years in Seattle Pacific’s Office of Residence Life; and for more than 20 years with International Students Inc., where she managed an international friendship house and taught English as a second language. In retirement, Opal continued to teach Bible studies at the Warm Beach Senior Center, in Stanwood, Washington.

INA FOSS WEBER ’41 died September 3, 2010, at the age of 93. She was born on Bainbridge Island, Washington, pursued a degree in education at Seattle Pacific, became a teacher, and eventually met her husband, Vaughn, when they were both teaching in Tenino, Washington. The couple married and moved to Anacortes, Washington, where they continued to teach for the Anacortes School District. An avid Seattle Mariners baseball fan, Ina is survived by two daughters and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.