Alumni Obituaries, March 2013
ADKINSON – Howard (1967, MDiv), 76, passed away on January 30, 2013. Born in Pensacola, FL, January 11, 1937, Howard Adkinson was educated at Emory University in Atlanta, Birmingham Southern, and Asbury Seminary in Kentucky. There were many adventures in the life of this bond-servant of Jesus Christ. Among them was a year long trip free of charge from the government to Korea (the army). After teaching math for a year in Panama City, Panama, he felt called to serve in Campus Crusade for Christ, and later a lay ministry in Corpus Christi, Texas. It was in Corpus that he met his future wife, Marilyn. Together they served the Lord as pastor and wife at Snook Brethren Church. He pastored for 11 years at Community Bible Church in College Station, followed by 18 years serving as a chaplain with Marketplace Ministries. One of the greatest highlights of his life was ministering with his wife on the Mercy Ship in Honduras and then the Dominican Republic. The loves of his life included his wife, his three children, his grandchildren, tennis, chess, water sports, and teaching and reading God’s Word. Above all else, his desire was to share the truth that had changed his life – “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Those who rejoice in his graduation are his daughter Jennifer Drake and her husband Brian, son Matthew Brown and his wife Hanna, son Aaron Brown and his wife Andrea, nine grandchildren, sister Marian Guthrie, sister Eleanor Rothrock and her husband Gary, and nieces and nephews. His mission will be carried on by his “Sweet Baby”, Marilyn.
CHAMPLIN- Herbert Leigh (1958, MDiv), 79, went to be with the Lord December 31, 2012.
HENRICKSON – Evertt (1957, MDiv), 79, entered into rest January 13, 2013, in the Orchard Manor of Medina. Born June 10, 1933, in Inwood, Long Island, he was the son of Jesse and Edith Baily Hendrickson. Rev. Hendrickson graduated from Shelton College and went on to receive his Master of Divinity degree at Asbury Seminary in 1957 in Wilmore, Ky. In 1958, he began his ministry in Belfast, where he married the former Diane Rich in 1963. From there, he served the United Methodist Church in Salamanca. Then he received a call to the Middleport United Methodist Church, where he served for 17 years with wife, Diane. From there they made their way to Lockport, where he pastored the Clinton Street United Methodist Church and celebrated his 50th anniversary in ministry in 2008. He retired in 2010. He was predeceased by his wife, Diane, in 2002. Rev. Hendrickson enjoyed gardening, traveling, reading and the loves of his life – his Lord, serving his congregations and his beloved Diane.
NULTON – Virgil W. (1974, BD), 90, passed away on Saturday, December 15, 2012 at Appleton Medical Center. He was born 90 years ago on October 22, 1922, the first baby born in Lakeside Hospital in Rice Lake, WI. His parents were C. Paul Nulton of Coloma and Ethel Bemis Nulton of Waupaca. He grew up in Cameron, Shell Lake, Boyceville, Colby, and Elmwood WI and attended John Fletcher College in Ottumwa IA, University of Wisconsin Madison, and Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore KY. He married Dorothy Watson in Minneapolis in June, 1947. His home church is the Wisconsin Conference of the United Methodist Church. Within it, he was ordained in 1946 and served as pastor of local churches in Ridgeway, Whitehall and Independence, Neillsville, Granton, Christie and Pleasant Ridge, Rice Lake and Weyerhauser, Sparta and Big Creek, Superintendent of Southwest District, West Bend and Ripon. Virgil served as Conference Secretary for many years. He also served on Boards of Directors at Lakeside Methodist Hospital in Rice Lake, Methodist Hospital in Madison, Schmidt Home in Richland Center, Morrow Home in Sparta, and Evergreen Retirement Community in Oshkosh. He was an active volunteer after retirement in prison ministry at Oxford, WI. and substitute pastor at the Hope United Church of Christ in Fremont. Since retirement he has lived in Waupaca, Ripon and most recently at Evergreen Retirement Center in Oshkosh. He especially enjoyed the quiet times with nature at the family cottage his grandmother established on Stratton Lake near Rural. Virgil Nulton is survived by a son Rev. Paul (Shelley) Nulton of Appleton, daughter Kathy (Lee) Ware of Powhatan VA, grandchildren Karen Chandler, Robert Ware, Thomas (Lesley) Ware, Jeb (Rachel) Ware, Abby (Andrew) Schmidt, Sam (Jillian) Nulton and 5 great-grandchildren. He is survived as well by a sister Eunice Lawrence and brother-in-law Ed Schroeder. He is pre-deceased by his wife Dorothy Watson Nulton, son Randall S. Nulton, sisters Frances Hoftiezer and Mary Schroeder and brothers-in-law Henry Hoftiezer and Donald Lawrence. Virgil’s caring nature has led many to grow in faith and love for the Lord Jesus Christ.
TWISS – Richard, Tayoate Ob Najin “He Stands with his People,” (2011, D. Miss), 58, passed from this life and into the next, February 9, 2013 while in Washington, D.C. for the President’s prayer breakfast. He was in encircled by his wife, Katherine, and sons Andrew, Phillip, Ian, and Daniel. Richard was born on the Rosebud Reservation, South Dakota among his mother Winona (Larvie) LaPointe’s people, the Sicangu Band of the Rosebud Lakota/Sioux. Richard’s father, Franklin (Buster) Twiss (deceased) was Oglala from the Pine Ridge Lakota/Sioux Reservation also in South Dakota. Until age seven, Richard lived in Rosebud, a town of 600, on the reservation. In 1961, Richard’s mom moved the family from the reservation to Denver, then Klamath Falls, and eventually to Silverton, Oregon where Richard attended the third through twelfth grades. Richard’s mom ensured they made regular summer visits back home in order to stay connected with family and culture. After graduating from high school in 1972, Richard moved back to Rosebud to attend Sinte Gleska, “Spotted Tail” College. It was here that he became involved in the American Indian Movement. During this tumultuous time Richard strengthened his connection with relatives, and deepened his appreciation for Lakota culture. Richard wandered for a while, ending up on the island of Maui in Hawaii, where late one night, alone on a deserted beach, Creator responded to Richard’s desperate prayer, making Himself known to him. From that night in 1974 until his passing, Richard was on a spiritual journey to live a meaningful life as a Lakota follower of the Jesus Way. Richard met and fell in love with Katherine Kroshus, of Vancouver, WA, wedding her in 1976. Richard’s proudest legacy is his four boys: Andrew (Diana), Phillip, Ian (Toni), Daniel, and grandsons, Ezra and Leo. In February 1997, Richard and Katherine founded the non-profit ministry of Wiconi International. Through Wiconi, Richard and Katherine touched the lives of many thousands of people. Richard also co-founded NAIITS (North American Institute for Indigenous Theological Studies); he was chairman of the board for My People International, a member of the CCDA (Christian Community Development Association), and co-founder of Evangelicals4Justice. In 2011, Richard earned his doctorate, a D.Miss. from Asbury Theological Seminary. Until his passing, Richard continued his teaching career through the NAIITS program, Portland State University, and other institutions of higher education. Richard authored a number of books, pamphlets and articles over the years. His first book, One Church, Many Tribes, reached many people with the message of an inculturated faith in Jesus. Richard’s mother Winona LaPointe, sisters Elaine & Laurie LaPointe, nieces Stacy (Mark), Melissa (Tony), Jana, and their children remain to continue his memory. His brother Tom passed before Richard in 2010. Christianity Today published an article about Twiss’ life on February 16. Click here to view the article. In the Lakota tradition, there is no word for goodbye. Instead, we say, “Toksa ake (We’ll see you again), son, husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend!”