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Summer 2004 | Volume 26, Number 7 | Footnotes

In Memoriam

J. HARLEY ADAMS CC ’48 died September 24, 2003, at the age of 87. Born in Alberta, Canada, Harley graduated from Cascade College and then served for a long time as a minister in Friends churches throughout the Northwest. In 1936, he married Amy Bullington. She died in 2001, and in 2002 he married Phyllis Chandler. He is survived by Phyllis, two sons, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

GLADYS BAKER BODINE ’56 died October 26, 2003, after a four-year battle with melanoma. She was 69 years old. Born in Belvedere, Illinois, Gladys followed in her parents’ footsteps when she chose an administrative career in The Salvation Army. She earned an associate’s degree from Central Christian College in McPherson, Kansas, and a bachelor’s degree from SPC. Well-known for her soprano singing voice, she was a soloist in an a capella choir while an SPC student. Retiring from The Salvation Army as a lieutenant colonel, Gladys had helped establish one of the agency’s first professionally staffed programs for female addicts in San Diego, California. She and her husband, Bob, managed what became the agency’s largest alcohol and drug rehabilitation programs in the country. Gladys is survived by her husband of 46 years, two sons and 10 grandchildren.

DIANNA RICHEY-POPE BURTON ’69 died on May 23, 2004, after a 14-month battle with ovarian cancer. She was 57 years old. Born in Sunnyside, Washington, Dianna taught for 18 years in the Auburn (Washington) School District and for 12 years at White River High School in Buckley, Washington. She volunteered for 28 years with the National Ski Patrol, where she was a duty patrol leader and training director. She received numerous awards, the most recent of which was the 2004 Most Inspirational Award by the Snoqualmie Ski Patrol. Dianna is survived by James, her husband of 29 years; one daughter; two grandsons; her mother; and two sisters, including VELVA RICHEY MYERS ’76.

ROBERT “BOB” CHEEK ’51 died on May 11, 2004, at the age of 82. Born in Canon, Georgia, Bob was the second of three children and lived in California for a short time before moving to Seattle, where he spent the rest of his childhood. After high school, he attended a Bible school in Oregon, Washington and Lee University in Virginia, the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, and SPC. After four years in the U.S. Army during World War II, he returned to SPC. Following his marriage to SHIRLEY WELTY ’51 in 1950, he attended Southwestern Theological Seminary. During his career, Bob pastored eight churches in Canada and Texas. After retirement, he served as interim pastor for 24 churches. He also made mission trips to Brazil, Japan and Okinawa. Bob is survived by his wife of 54 years, five sons, three daughters, 24 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

STEPHEN CHRISTOPHER ’70 died on May 30, 2004, of a heart attack. He was 95 years old. A retired librarian, Stephen was predeceased by his wife, Barbara. He is survived by one son.

W. FRANCIS CRAM CC ’58 died Aug- ust 7, 2003, at the age of 71. Born in North Dakota, Francis served as a minister throughout the United States after graduating from Cascade College. He married Helene Einhorn in 1961. In 1979, he moved to Gresham, Oregon, where he was a custodian at Gresham High School. A member of the Street Team of East Hill Foursquare Church for 24 years, Francis played piano and sang gospel songs on street corners and in homeless shelters. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, one son, five grand-children and one great-grandchild.

JUDITH BEST ENNES ’68 died of cancer May 19, 2004. She was 57 years old. Born in Seattle, Judith graduated from SPC and began a 31-year teaching career in the Issaquah (Washington) School District, teaching second through sixth grades at Clark Elementary, Maple Hills Elementary and Apollo Elementary. Writing lessons to teach history led her to write a children’s book about a Washington state ferry, Kalakala Comes Home: No Dream Is Too Big. She was an active member of Washington Cathedral in Redmond, Washington, and helped form a writers’ group there. Judith is survived by her husband, John Ennes; four sons; two daughters; five grandchildren; a sister; two brothers; and her parents, HAROLD BEST ’38 and LOIS WATSON BEST ’56.

INGA-LISA FRANZON M.A. ’72 died June 20, 2004, at the age of 92. Born in Boras, Sweden, Inga-Lisa came to the United States after attending college in Sweden. She taught physical education in elementary through high schools, and went to the 1936 Berlin Olympics and to London for demonstrations of Swedish gymnastics. An SPC faculty member from 1958 to 1973, she was a member of the Swedish Cultural Center, Order of America, Swedish Cultural Society, Nordic Heritage Museum, Bellevue Athletic Club and Grace Lutheran Church. Inga-Lisa enjoyed singing, dancing, skiing, skating and swimming. She is survived by her husband of 48 years, Sven, as well as a sister and a brother.

VIRGINIA “GINNY” FREEMAN ’43 died November 28, 2004, after a long illness. She was 83 years old. Born in Tacoma, Washington, Ginny graduated from SPC and went on to a 30-year career at the University of Washington Gallagher Law Library. She is survived by three sisters.

R. ALLEN HESTER CC ’51 died February 5, 2004, at the age of 75. Born in Ridge Farm, Illinois, he moved to Portland, Oregon, in 1949. After graduating from Cascade College, he earned a master’s degree from the University of Oregon. Allen served as a principal in the Reynolds (Oregon) School District. He is survived by his wife, Eudora; two daughters; three sons; and nine grandchildren.

WENDEL HOLBOY ’66 died April 19, 2004. He was born in Wyoming in 1938. After graduating from SPC, he began a 32-year teaching career at Stanwood (Washington) High School, where he taught English, history and social studies. Wendel made important contributions while he was with the Stanwood/Camano School District, not only in teaching but also by participating as president and chief negotiator for the Stanwood Education Association, constructing the Stanwood teachers’ collective bargaining agreement and starting the driver’s education program. Wendel is survived by his wife, Naomi; three sons; and five grandchildren.

CALVIN HULL CC ’46 died Septem- ber 2, 2003, at the age of 87. Born in Oklahoma, Calvin married Lela Hawley in 1940. They moved to Portland, Oregon, where he attended Cascade College. After graduation, he pastored churches in Washington and Iowa. Calvin is survived by three daughters, 12 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren.

ALVIN LOBB ’38 died February 24, 2004, at the age of 84. Born in Napa, California, Alvin came to Seattle in his teens, when his father, a pastor, was called to a Seattle-area church. After graduating from SPC, Alvin married Maxine Dilworth in 1941, and then went to work at the Boeing Company for 41 years, most of the time as a welding engineer. He was active in his church, West Valley Advent Christian Church in Auburn, Washington, and he committed to helping the homeless through organizations such as Operation Nightwatch. He enjoyed classical music and sang bass in church and community choirs. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, three children, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

LORNA RIGGS NASH ’53 died February 25, 2004, at the age of 72. Born in Salem, Oregon, Lorna taught in several towns in Oregon, including Salem, Spray, Fossil, Phoenix, Talent, Parkdale, Hood River and Cascade Locks. She married Thomas Nash in 1954, and the couple divorced in 1992. Lorna is survived by one daughter; two grandchildren; one sister, DIANA RIGGS VAUCHER ’52; and one brother, ROBERT RIGGS ’56.

ELEANOR LOIS NAZARENUS ’41 died April 26, 2004. She was 86 years old. Born and raised in Seattle, Eleanor attended SPC and the University of Washington. She then earned a master’s degree at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, and graduated from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston. An ordained Methodist minister, she pastored three churches in Nebraska and was the associate pastor at a church in Yakima, Washington. When Eleanor retired from the ministry, she earned teaching credentials and taught honors English at Everett High School in Everett, Washington, until retiring in 1982. She was a member of the honorary teachers association, Pi Lambda Theta, and after retiring, she funded the Eleanor Nazarenus-Nelson Mandela Scholarships at Seattle Central College and the Eleanor Nazarenus Scholarship Endowment at SPU. Eleanor is survived by three sisters and one brother.

BILLIE WEITZ BENNETT NEWTON ’62 died November 7, 2003, after an extended illness. She was 66 years old. Born in Oklahoma, Billie and her family moved to Oregon soon after she was born. The family moved to Seattle in 1954, where she finished school. After earning her teaching certification from SPC, she taught elementary school in Bothell, Washington, and Merced, California. She completed graduate study at Central Washington University and taught several generations of children in Sunnyside, Washington, until her retirement in 1992. Predeceased by two husbands and a daughter, Billie is survived by one sister, one niece, one nephew and four grandnephews.

MABEL REESE ’44 died December 16, 2003. She was 85 years old. Mabel was born in Shawmut, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Chesbrough Seminary (now Roberts Wesleyan College) in Rochester, New York, before attending SPC. After graduation, Mabel returned to Pennsylvania, where she taught high school and later became a librarian, earning a master’s equivalent certificate in library science from Clarion State College. She was the first president of the Northern Area Education Association, in addition to participating in other educationally related associations. Mabel was a member of the Women’s Missionary Fellowship International and the Free Methodist Council for Social Action, and she was a Fellow of Roberts Wesleyan College. She is survived by one niece and two nephews.

As Missionary, Dean and Professor, Alice Reid Encouraged Others

ALICE REID, professor emerita of biblical studies and missions, died May 28, 2004, from complications due to Alzheimer’s disease. She was 91 years old.

“Professor Reid was an encourager,” remembers LAILA OLSEN SHARPE ’73, one of the many students Alice taught during her 18 years at Seattle Pacific. “When we had a panel discussion, for example, she encouraged each of us to share our thoughts and share our faith.”

Born in Wisconsin and raised in Wheaton, Illinois, Alice received a bachelor’s degree from Wheaton College and a master’s degree from New York University and Biblical Seminary. In 1943, while attending school in New York, she was a contralto soloist at the renowned Carnegie Hall.

Before and after World War II, Alice served as a missionary to India. She was dean of women at Wessington Springs College in South Dakota, and a faculty member at Whitworth College in Spokane, Washington, before joining the Seattle Pacific faculty in 1960.

When she retired in 1978, the SPU Board of Trustees commended her for “exceptional competence, energy and devotion.” They went on to say that “her scholarship and piety have been a model for many young men and women who have studied under her, and her enthusiasm has inspired these students to pursue further studies in these disciplines [of biblical studies and missions] ...”

Outside of the classroom, Alice enjoyed gardening, archaeology and West Highland white terriers. She was a member of the Holly Society of America, an organization that promotes the study and research of the genus Ilex. She is survived by one sister.

BERTHA ANDERSON ROCKNESS ’32 died January 11, 2004. She was 91 years old. Bertha was born and raised on Vashon Island, Washington. Following graduation from Vashon High School, she attended SPC, after which she worked as a nurse at Tacoma General Hospital. In 1935, she married Omar Rockness, and they started a family. During her life, Bertha used her talents to sew, knit and crochet for missionary families and her own grandchildren. She also enjoyed cooking and hosting friends and family. Bertha was predeceased by her husband in 2001. She is survived by two sons, two daughters, 12 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren an one great-great-grandchild.

NORMAN THORSEN ’81 died May 3, 2004, as a result of complications from injuries sustained in a 1988 automobile accident. He was 46 years old. Born and raised in Turlock, Washington, Norman was an active golfer and skier, and enjoyed camping and traveling. A music lover, he also enjoyed attending concerts. After graduating from SPU, he became business manager of Thorsens Inc., a family-owned-and-operated business for plumbing, heating and air conditioning. After the car accident left him a quadriplegic, he continued to manage the business for 16 years, outliving all medical expectations. Despite his physical challenges, Norman continued to support various charities such as Campus Crusade for Christ. He is survived by his parents; sister JUDY THORSEN ENCHELMAYER ’70; two brothers, including CARL THORSEN ’74; and several nieces and nephews.

AGNES “LOIS” TISH CC ’37 died March 6, 2004, at the age of 90. Born in Caldwell, Idaho, Lois attended Portland Bible Institute (later Cascade College) and Northwest Nazarene College in Nampa, Idaho. She then received library training from the University of Washington. Her first teaching job was in a one-room schoolhouse in Idaho, but she spent most of her career as a librarian at Cascade College and at Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon. She enjoyed gardening, travel and crafts. She also played a role in starting the McMinnville Friends Church. Lois is survived by a brother and numerous nieces and nephews.

MARLYN DALE TOLAND ’65 died on March 29, 2004, after a battle with brain cancer. He was 61 years old. Born in Wapato, Washington, Dale graduated from SPC and earned a master’s degree from Eastern Washington University. A longtime teacher, Dale began his career in the East Valley School District in Spokane, Washington. He then went to the Yakima (Washington) School District, where he taught for several years before becoming principal. He retired in 1992. After retirement, he worked for the Yakima County Juvenile Court. Dale was a longtime member of Yakima’s Westside Baptist Church, and he and his wife, Kathleen, enjoyed several cruises over the years. Dale is survived by his wife and two sons.

TERRY WILLIAMSON ’76 died May 27, 2004. He was 53 years old. Born in Roseburg, Oregon, he married Ruth Warner in 1972, studied at Vennard Bible College in Seattle and then graduated from SPC. In Seattle, he worked in church ministry for nine years and as a master automotive technician at Smart Service for four years. A member of Poulsbo (Washington) Church of the Nazarene, he enjoyed music, drawing, sailing, architectural design and drafting, and rebuilding cars. He is survived by his wife, two sons, one daughter and five grandchildren.

HENRY WILSON ’29 died April 20, 2004, at the age of 98. A resident of Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood for 50 years, Henry returned to SPC in the 1940s to earn a teaching certificate. Prior to that, he’d been in Alaska teaching and serving as a missionary. Painting was a passion for Henry, especially in the latter half of his life, when he also continued to be an enthusiastic supporter of SPU athletics. Predeceased by his wife, PEARL KETCHAM WILSON ’29, and by his daughter, LOUELLYN WILSON POST ’54, Henry is survived by one daughter; one son, WILLIAM WILSON ’66; 13 grandchildren, including RON POST ’78 and DEBBIE POST HAMLIN ’79; and nine great-grandchildren.

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