Alumni Obituaries

ALLISON - Ronald Gene (1967, MDiv) age 79, of Porterville died Wednesday November 2, 2011. He was a minister. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy.

BAKER - Reverend Donald R. (1951, BD) age 84, of Lancaster went home to be with the Lord Monday, November 7th, 2011. He and his wife, Betty L. Baker, celebrated 63 years of marriage in September. Born in Maplecrest, NY, he was the son of the late Walter C. and Dorotha Vining Baker. He spent his entire professional life as an ordained minister for the Free Methodist denomination serving 6 churches in Pennsylvania and New York over 41 years. In his spare time, he enjoyed a variety of activities including gardening, fishing, hunting, bowling, playing his guitar, watching and participating in all types of sports, and spending time mentoring his church youth. In addition to his wife, he will be lovingly missed by his three daughters: Louann Butch, wife of Jeffrey of Lancaster, Lynette Huggler, wife of Leonard of Beach Lake, PA, Lavonne Johnston, wife of Mark of Lancaster, PA; and a son, Larry Baker, husband of Cyndi of Noxen, PA; 9 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren; three brothers, Harold, husband of June Baker, Clifford, husband of Elvamae Baker, and Jere husband of Diane Baker, and a sister, Jean Bechtle wife of Stan.

FRALEY – Robert O. “Bob” (1949, MDiv) age 91, President of Development Association for Christian Institutions, went to his new home in Heaven Friday morning, November 18, 2011 in Tulsa. He was united in marriage to Leola Savage on June 6, 1944 in Minneapolis. He pastored Methodist churches in Greenwood Minnesota, Glenwood Indiana, Orange Indiana, and Falmouth Indiana. He was Vice President of Asbury Seminary for several years. In 1965 he and his family moved to Tulsa where he was Vice President of Development at Oral Roberts University. In 1969, he left ORU and started Development Association for Christian Institutions. He was a member of Epworth United Methodist Church for 46 years where he also served as a volunteer lay minister. He enjoyed being a minister and caring for people in time of need. He also loved visiting with people about living a healthy life. He had a soft spot in his heart for animals as well.

HINKLE - Steven E. (1982, MAR) 54 of Jacksonville, FL died October 6, 2011 in a local hospital. Mr. Hinkle was a native of Kentucky and a resident of Jacksonville since 1984. He is survived by his wife of 26 years Kathy Hinkle, one sister Rhonda Hinkle, three aunts, one uncle and several cousins.

OWSLEY – Clarence Torry (1946, BD) Clarence was a senior in high school when he fully committed himself to Christ. A few months later, he was called to preach and became licensed as a local preacher. He graduated from Adams State College, Alamosa, Colorado, August 1943, and from Asbury Seminary, Wilmore, Kentucky, May 1946. Clarence married Elizabeth Good in June 1947.
In 1948, after serving a four-point Methodist circuit, the Owsleys entered missionary service under OMS (at that time the ”Oriental Missionary Society”) in September 1948. When the doors to Colombia closed, they served in Haiti for 16 months before beginning ministry in Brazil. In 1958, they applied to serve under Free Methodist World Missions, and upon acceptance Clarence wrote, “We are rejoicing greatly and are anticipating joining heart and hand in the labors awaiting us there with fellow-missionaries.”
The Owsleys were engaged in evangelism and education ministries throughout Brazil. Clarence participated in preaching – sometimes as many as four times on Sunday, pastoral visitation, church and home services and extension evangelism. He helped start a number of churches. His pastoral ministry included teaching personal evangelism to local church workers to better equip them for evangelistic outreach. He also conducted Christian education seminars. At one point, the Owsleys were maintaining four children’s Bible clubs.
While the Owsleys returned to the U.S. in the early 1980s to care for Elizabeth’s mother, they pastored the Arcola, Illinois, FMC. They returned to Brazil for a short-term assignment, teaching and ministering in the seminary. Clarence worked with pastors and local churches in evangelism. In addition, he was supervisor and counselor for the men’s dorm and found time to assist with maintenance work. Their last formal appointment was at Hillsdale FMC in Michigan where Clarence served as minister of visitation. They retired in 1991, but retirement didn’t mean they stopped serving. Clarence and Elizabeth put their Portuguese language skills to work translating numerous letters between Brazilian children sponsored through International Child Care Ministries and their sponsors. They also made several short-term trips to Brazil.
“Clarence Owsley was my missionary colleague in Brazil. He sought God quietly and lived out God’s truth visibly. His relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ was evident in all areas of his life – marriage, family, pastoral ministry and times of relaxation. He shunned any hint of intrigue. He was simply a humble follower of Jesus – a servant of God who demonstrated leadership through servanthood. Clarence, I salute you, a man of God who visibly demonstrated the character of the Lord Jesus in all avenues of life. You are now with Jesus, and even now I can hear your exclamation, Gloria a Deus! And with you, I cry out, Glory to God!” - Clancy J. Thompson

SHEETS - Carl R. (1962, BD) 73, of Ballwin, Mo., formerly of Decatur, died Friday (Jan. 14, 2011) in St. John's Hospital, St. Louis, Mo. Services were held in Shrader Funeral Home, Ballwin. Carl was born Aug. 8, 1937, in Decatur, the son of Carl E. and Flossye Sheets. He retired from 3M after 33 years of service. He married Joann in December 1997. Surviving are his wife; son, David (Robin) Sheets; daughters, Janet (Eric) Sherman; Lorie; Leslie (Byron) Neese; Erin (Jeff); sister, Nelda (Robert) Strahle; 13 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Charles Sheets and Dale Sheets; and daughter, Debbie

YATES – Betty F. (Wife of Norman, MDiv, 1978) "Funeral Services for Betty Ann Flowers Yates, age 64, were held at First United Methodist Church. Betty Ann was born October 14, 1946 in Kings Mountain, NC. She was the daughter of Betty Sue Morgan and Marion B. Flowers. She was the granddaughter of Sara Jarvis and Paul Morgan of Bessemer City, NC and Stella Baity and Thomas H. Flowers of Kings Mountain, NC. Betty was preceded in death by her mother and father, two brothers, Marion Jr. and Michael B. Flowers, and grandparents. She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Dublin, GA where she was active for many years and served in various capacities. Betty Ann also served for more than 20 years as an executive administrative assistant in multiple locations, including the University of Kentuckys School of Dentistry, Island Creek Coal Company, a subsidiary of Occidental Petroleum Corporation in Lexington, KY, and Bankers Trust Company in Columbia, SC. Betty Ann moved to Dublin, GA in 1981 with her husband and shortly afterward began her educational endeavors at Georgia College & State University where she graduated in 1988. She was employed with the Laurens County School System and was a dedicated educator for more than 20 years. She was selected Teacher of the Year in 2007-2008 at East Laurens Elementary School. She loved her school children with a passion, and saw each students God given potentials, helping each of her students to strive for excellence. Betty is survived by her husband of 46 years, Norman Gene Yates, her daughter Elizabeth Yates Fletcher and son-in-law, Erik H. Fletcher, of Brunswick, GA, and several aunts, nieces, nephews and cousins. Pallbearers were Taylor Fletcher, Dr. Blake Walker, Dr. Mike Karoly, David Carr, Jason Carr, and Bert Willis. Honorary Escorts were the East Laurens Elementary School teachers and staff the she worked with and loved dearly.