Mildred Klugh Kirkpatrick
As the 1900s draw to a close, The Worldwide News honors WCG members 100 years old or older and those married 60 years or more.
EATON, Indiana--Mildred Klugh Kirkpatrick, 102, was born in a log cabin in Blackford County, Indiana, Oct. 10, 1897.
She attended one-room schools and the Muncie Conservatory of Music. Mildred was a piano and organ teacher for nearly 50 years and was a charter member of her community's home economics club.
She married Wilbur Kirkpatrick May 29, 1932, and they began attending the WCG in 1965. Mildred was baptized March 6, 1966, in Indianapolis, Indiana. They attended the Fort Wayne church until the Muncie church began in 1972.
Wilbur died in 1985. Mildred still lives in the same farmhouse they moved into in 1935. A neighbor woman drops by daily to help as needed.
Mildred has been unable to attend church for a few years, but keeps up with everything that is going on in the world and in the church. She is legally blind, but still reads a little with the help of special glasses. She listens to sermons on tape, and the PT and WN are recorded for her.
Mildred serves the Muncie congregation through the prayer chain and praying every week for church services. Elaine Caylor.
LAKE OSWEGO, Oregon--David J. Trummer, 101, of the Portland West church, was born April 16, 1898, on a cattle ranch in South Dakota.
In 1912, the family moved to Hayward, California. David earned a degree in mechanical engineering from Stanford University. He then entered a long career in engineering with management responsibilities, mainly working with elevators and escalators. He retired in 1969, but did consulting for the next 12 years traveling around the world.
He lives on a ranch 65 miles from the nearest church. He was married in 1926 and has one son, Bruce, two grandchildren, Brian and Vicki, and one great-grandchild, Katherine.
Mr. Trummer says he feels fine, realizing that God has blessed him throughout life. "I thank him continually," he said.
BOGALUSA, Louisiana--J.D. and Evie Mitchell celebrated their 74th anniversary Nov. 22.
They have one daughter and son-in-law, four grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Mitchell attended services in New Orleans, Louisiana, in the 1960s. Then they moved back to Bogalusa, and she attended in Hattiesburg and then Picayune, Mississippi.
Every day Mrs. Mitchell, 91, takes care of her husband, 93, who is bedridden. She asks for prayers.
CHICO, California--Melvin and Clare Dieter of Chico will celebrate their 74th anniversary Feb. 20. They have one son, George, also of Chico, three granddaughters, one great-granddaughter and a great-grandson.
The Dieters are both from pioneer families who settled in Lassen County, California, before the turn of the last century. Melvin was born Sept. 2, 1902 and Clare Jan. 13, 1904. They grew up in the Susanville and Honey Lake Valley region of northeastern California, where they married and lived for more than half of the 20th century.
Melvin first worked in farming and ranching, then later in the automobile and building trades. Clare has been a homemaker most of her life, but worked for J.C. Penney during World War II.
In 1956 the couple moved to Chico. Mr. Dieter became a member of the WCG in 1976 and has served as a deacon in the Chico congregation for most of its 25-year history. Larry Van Landuyt.
Frank and Annie Gage met when Annie was 12 and Frank was 17. They were married seven years later on Feb. 9, 1929, in Welland, Ontario, where they lived and raised their family.
Frank worked at John Deere until his retirement in 1965. He enjoyed fishing, and Annie raised tea roses in their leisure.
They raised six children. After 71 years, the family has grown to include 13 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
Frank still lives in their home, but Annie is in a nursing home. Karen Lavoie.
AKRON, Alabama--A.J. and Lottie Stokes celebrated their 70th anniversary June 8.
Early in their marriage, Mrs. Stokes received a Bible as a gift. Being an avid reader she started reading at Genesis 1:1. She began listening to the World Tomorrow radio broadcast and was baptized during a baptizing tour in the summer of 1955. She still occasionally attends WCG services in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and sometimes in the community where she lives.
WILLIAMSVILLE, New York--Max and Johanna Ilsanker were married March 1, 1930.
They met in a small German-speaking church in Buffalo, New York, that reminded them of their homeland and recent emigration.
Johanna was busy at home, and Max worked as a master cabinet maker and as a shipping clerk in industry. He has an ornate veneered desk in Buffalo's historical museum.
Johanna was baptized in 1972. Donald Ferguson.
WINTER HAVEN, Florida--Daniel Matthew Phillips and Hilda Mae Newsome were married 69 years ago on Oct. 12, 1930.
They have four children, Clara Sommerkamp, Carlton Phillips, Faye Bukowski and Wayne Phillips; 12 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
Dan, 87, was born in Samson, Alabama, Feb. 26, 1912, the fourth of 12 children; and Hilda, 85, was born in Coffee County, Alabama, Jan. 14, 1914. They grew up where their families grew their own food and picked cotton for a living.
Dan and Hilda worked as welders in the shipyards of Panama City, Florida, during World War II. In 1954, the Phillips family moved to Bartow, Florida, where Dan worked at American Cyanamid Mines as a maintenance worker and retired in 1974. Dan enjoys gardening, and he always has a garden growing to feed his family and share with his friends.
Dan has been a WCG member since 1961, and Hilda since 1968.
BIG SANDY, Texas--Lee and Florence Sefcak were married Jan. 29, 1933, in Taylor, Texas.
They first heard Mr. Armstrong's radio broadcast in 1947, and were baptized in 1951. In 1952, the Sefcaks moved from Texas to Azusa, California, to be close to a church.
The WCG hired Lee in 1954. He was one of the two original employees of the printing department. He was ordained an elder in 1974.
Throughout the years, the Sefcaks have done a lot of camping and rock collecting. Lee can cook a great Texas barbecue, and Florence has a green thumb and has always enjoyed plants. They have one daughter, Joyce Catherwood, who lives in Big Sandy, one son, Gary, who lives in Redlands, California, five grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
OTTAWA, Ontario, Canada--A friend and fellow teacher invited Marjorie to play bridge with her and her fiance. They also asked George, his roommate, to join in. That was how George and Marjorie Wilson met, and began a life together that has lasted more than 66 years.
George, now 93, and Marjorie, now 91, were married June 28, 1933. They have a son and a daughter, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
George worked as an actuary for the Sun Life Assurance Co. of Canada in Montreal, Quebec. After retiring in 1972, the Wilsons lived in South Africa for six months and the Philippines for three months. They then moved from Montreal to Ottawa to be near their children.
Marjorie first started attending church services in 1982, and soon after George came along too. "We're blessed to still be able to go," said Marjorie.
"I really like how Grandma and Grandpa respect each other," said Ann Perron of Ottawa, whose family have "adopted" the Wilsons as grandparents. "Grandma can offer everything from biblical to business wisdom. She can really get to the heart of the matter. And Grandpa is one sharp cookie. No one can count cribbage points faster than George Wilson!"
"Just fortunate, aren't we," said Marjorie. "Very!" agreed George. "We've had a good life." Edmond Hum.
STILESVILLE, Indiana--Raleigh and Lorene Whitt were married Sept. 30, 1933, in Virginia, where they lived until 1953.
He was a coal miner for 25 years. After moving to Indiana he worked for the railroad, and then for a roofing company. He retired in 1973 because of a back problem.
They have nine children, 22 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, six step-grandchildren, 12 step-great-grandchildren and five step-great-great-grandchildren.
Mr. and Mrs. Whitt were baptized in 1960 along with three of their children during a baptizing tour from Pasadena. Jan Wright.
HICKORY, North Carolina--Tommie and Corrie Daniels celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary Dec. 30. They went to school together as children. They were married Dec. 30, 1933, after 1 1/2 years of courtship.
Tommie will be 90 on Jan. 25. Corrie was 87 on Nov. 15.
They are the parents of one son, Waitsel Daniels (deceased), and one daughter, Hazel Hoyle. They have three grandchildren (one deceased) and three great-grandchildren.
Tommie has worked most of his life as a farmer (dairy, tobacco, corn and vegetables) with a short stint in a silk mill.
Corrie is a housewife and homemaker.
Tommie and Corrie are living examples of love and perseverance for the Hickory congregation. Tommie loves playing gospel music and singing with his Friends Quartet and anyone else who would like to join in.
Both Tommie and Corrie extend a standing invitation for any of us to "darken their door anytime." Corrie has prepared many wonderful meals for those who have accepted their invitations.
Their love for each other and all their brothers and sisters in Christ is evident in their lives and in their words. They are both generous with their love and encouragement toward others. Cathy McCoy.
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa--Larry and Angeline Grove have been married more than 65 years. Their anniversary is June 30. Larry was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and Angeline near Slater, Iowa.
Larry's advanced education started at Purdue University, where he earned a bachelor of science degree in floriculture. Then at Iowa State University, he earned his master of science degree on a teaching fellowship. Then followed a Ph.D. in horticulture on a research grant.
When Larry moved to Iowa State University, the first person he met was Angeline Feroe, who was secretary to the head of the Horticulture Department. By the time he was more than halfway through working on his Ph.D., they were married.
After graduation, he joined the Iowa Extension Service. When World War II broke out, the U.S. Civil Service and Iowa State University charged him with the task of conducting the Victory Garden program in all 99 Iowa counties.
Angeline had one year of college and worked at Iowa State University for a few years and later on, when the children were older, at Drake University as secretary for the dean of women.
After the war ended, Larry accepted an offer to work as a garden editor for Better Homes and Gardens magazine.
Larry and Angeline became members of the WCG in May 1971 and have served for a number of years. Angeline contributed to worship services by playing the piano. Larry helped with Silver Ambassadors activities for the seniors.
God has blessed Angeline and Larry with three children--Norman (his wife, Linda, is deceased), Carolyn Brown (son-in-law Barry) and Ronald. Grandchildren are Robert (wife Kim), David (wife Cathy) and Daniel Grove and Bryan, Melissa and Kristen Brown. Two great-grandsons, Ben and Nathan Grove, complete the family.
GRUNDY, Virginia--Clarence and Edith Ratliff Ramey celebrated their 64th anniversary April 16.
They were married in Paw Paw, Kentucky, by minister Dodge Coleman.
They have seven daughters, Pat Smith, Joan Stewart, Irene Ford, Billie Shuford, Phyllis Matney, Mary Creedon and Jane O'Neill; one son, Mike; 18 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.
Edith is a homemaker who loves to quilt. She has made quilts for all her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Clarence is a retired logger and coal operator. His hobby was woodworking, until his eyesight began to fail. He has made furniture for their home and for other family members.
They are members of the Pikeville church and attend services every week. Patricia Hogston.
UNIONTOWN, Pennsylvania--Gene and Hazel Miller celebrated their 64th anniversary in August. They met in high school and married when Hazel was 20 and Gene was 22.
Gene started his working career as a milkman and later accepted a position in the Post Office, a job he retired from in 1968.
The secret to their many years of marriage lies in the simple fact that they love and honor each other. That love and honor coupled with their strong belief and trust in God has helped them weather many storms in life. Family life was relatively peaceful, secure and happy.
Gene loves music and was the choir director in a Methodist Church and later in the WCG.
They have four children, Marcia Simpson and her husband, Don; Charles and his wife, Sally; Bob (pastor of the Birmingham and Good Hope, Alabama, congregations) and his wife, Ruth; and Elliott.
The Millers feel blessed with the life they have lived. They have been WCG members for more than 30 years and have enjoyed their church family. After retirement they traveled extensively and lived in California and Alabama before returning to Uniontown three years ago.
BRANDON, Manitoba, Canada--Earl and Nora Lynch embarked on their journey of forever together Feb. 12, 1936. They raised their five children on a farm in southeastern Saskatchewan.
Earl and Nora enjoyed music and dancing. Earl has struggled with declining vision. This prompted them to sell their farm and move to Manor about 30 years ago.
Earl and Nora were determined to keep active. Together they grew a garden and were seen walking so often they were called the walkers. When Earl could no longer see to walk to the garden he would follow along a rope between the house and garden. In the garden he would do the weeding by distinguishing weeds from vegetables by feeling the plants.
Earl and Nora moved to Brandon 15 years ago. They continued to enjoy their independence, church activities and daily walks for several years. They now reside in Fairview Personal Care Home.
Earl and Nora have been members of the WCG since 1976 and still participate in church activities if possible.
BENDIGO, Australia--Lorna and Percy Gust are members of the Bendigo congregation.
Born around the end of World War I, Lorna faced several sad challenges as her mother, two siblings, then her father all died between her third and seventh birthdays. She has positive memories of the support she received from the Catholic Church as she mothered the remaining younger siblings through their childhood.
In her late teens, she met Percy, who had just been discharged from the hospital needing tender loving care. They decided to marry in 1936, and set about saving the three pounds ($6) needed for the marriage ceremony--a big sum in those days.
She served the Swan Hill community with the St. Johns Ambulance Organization for many years. In 1960, Lorna's younger sister heard the radio broadcast and told Lorna about it. Percy was attracted to the fellowship through the friendly men who helped him park the car at the festival while he dropped his wife off for services.
They know the vital importance of the loving bond developed between a mother and baby. They say that they have never had a tear of sadness in their married relationship. Ken Slade.
MEDFORD, Wisconsin--John and Florence Stauber celebrated their 63rd anniversary Oct. 10. They attend the Wausau, Wisconsin, church.
BIG SANDY, Texas--Doyce and Velma Bullock were married Jan. 19, 1937.
They have been in the church for 37 years.
They have two children, Lois Ballance and Allen Bullock.
RUTLAND, Vermont--Henry and Evelyn Senecal celebrated their 62nd anniversary June 28.
They have two sons, Charles and Raymond, eight grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
They were involved in farming until they retired. They also did extensive business gathering sap with a team of horses, boiling it and selling maple syrup, at first at 50 cents a gallon. They eventually started shipping it to Texas for $5 for half gallons.
Mr. and Mrs. Senecal have attended the Montpelier, Vermont, church since 1972.
GENTRY, Arkansas--Cecil Stout and Velma Turner were united in marriage Feb. 1, 1938, in Durham, Arkansas.
They have two daughters, Joyce McGaugh and Lois Adler, five grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, four step-grandchildren and three step-great-grandchildren.
DILLINER, Pennsylvania--Gordon and Helen Miller were married June 4, 1938. They have three children, Fred (deceased), Bill and David, and five grandchildren.
Gordon is a World War II Navy veteran who saw action in the Pacific and is a retired coal miner.
They have attended the WCG since 1964. They attend the Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, congregation, where they have served as deacon and deaconess for many years.
UNDERWOOD, Washington--George and Margaret Dewilde were married June 12, 1938, in Claremont, California. They went to Washington state on their honeymoon and never went back.
They made a good living in the logging and sawmill business. They were blessed with two children, Deanna and Ron; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
They have been members of the Worldwide Church of God for 25 years. They have made many friends over the years from attending festivals in Israel; Salt Lake City, Utah; Squaw Valley, California; Hawaii; Tucson, Arizona; Eugene, Oregon; Chattanooga, Tennessee; Hot Springs, Arkansas; and Seaside, Oregon.
Both are 84 years old and are still getting around. They enjoy the view from their home on a bluff above the Columbia River.
SUMMERLAND, British Columbia, Canada--Dave and Jessie Williamson celebrated their 61st anniversary Aug. 19.
They have a daughter and son-in-law, Bob and Marilyn Gibbs; two grandchildren, Brian Gibbs and Lynda King; and two great-grandchildren, Kristin and Jason King.
Mr. and Mrs. Williamson attend the Penticton, British Columbia, church.
BRAY,Ireland--Eagar and Ruby Hickson were married Dec. 21, 1938, in St. Patrick's Church, Dalkey, Ireland.
Mr. Hickson was a science teacher and university lecturer in mathematics at Trinity College in Dublin. He retired in 1989.
Mr. Hickson has been a deacon for many years. Mrs. Hickson is still a nominal member of the Church of Ireland. She has been ill for a number of years.
They have two sons, Teddy and Roddy, and one daughter, Elizabeth "Libby"; 12 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Mr. Hickson looks after his wife at home with the help of care givers.
BAKER CITY, Oregon--Chester and Carol Johns celebrated their 60th anniversary June 25.
They have two sons and daughters-in-law, Gary and Sonja and Kelly and Linda; one daughter and son-in-law, Virginia and Blaine Kendall; one daughter, Dixie (deceased); seven grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
SIKESTON, Missouri--James and Hearold Adams celebrated their 60th anniversary Sept. 25.
They were both born in Newton County, Arkansas, and moved to Missouri in 1941.
Health problems prevented Mr. Adams from entering the military service during World War II. During that time his factory work helped produce the necessary materials for fighting and winning the war.
After the war he returned to farming for the rest of his working days. He retired in 1978.
Mr. and Mrs. Adams live on their farm near Sikeston, and attend the Cape Girardeau, Missouri, church. Haydn A. Fox Sr.
BRANDON, Manitoba, Canada--Cliff and Sadie Munro were married Nov. 8, 1939, in the community of Brandon.
Cliff found work with the Canadian Pacific Railway, which he continued for 33 years until his retirement in 1975. They raised four children, and gave each of them an opportunity to be members of the YMCA, starting them into healthy life-styles, which they all continue today. Not to be outdone by their children, Cliff and Sadie walk about five miles a day, which has helped them to remain young beyond their years.
For other recreation during their retirement years, Cliff and Sadie have spent several winters in the warm climate of Yuma, Arizona, with other Canadian and American snowbirds.
Cliff remembers riding on the old locomotive steamers on the railway, and at times these steamers reached 100 miles per hour.
Cliff and Sadie love gardening and having delicious homecooked meals with family and friends. Cliff and Sadie started attending the WCG in 1969 in Moosomin, Saskatchewan, and now attend in their home city of Brandon.
HAWKES BAY, New Zealand--Geoff and Joy Bignell, members of the Hawkes Bay, New Zealand, congregation, were married Dec. 20, 1939.
They started their married life on a farm that Geoff managed for his mother, but had to leave after only one year when the farm was sold. Then followed several moves to other parts of the country, one of these necessitated by Geoff's health.
Eventually they moved to Wanganui, where, for eight years, Geoff managed a motor camp, followed by 20 years in garage work. When the children were grown and had left home, Joy worked for the Education Board. They finally retired to Hawkes Bay and have lived in this area for the past 20 years.
Life was a struggle in the early years, bringing up three children on a low income, and it was only when the children were older and Joy also had employment that they managed to make headway. Their philosophy on marriage: give and take, and honor the commitments made before God; also, understand and be grateful that a good parental example of marriage sets a solid pattern for the children and grandchildren to aim for.
PASADENA--Juan and Maria Rodriguez of the Pasadena Spanish congregation celebrated their 63rd anniversary April 10. They have been WCG members for 25 years. They have four children, 30 grandchildren and 53 great-grandchildren.
SHEFFIELD, England--Mr. and Mrs. A.V. Rawlings celebrated their 61st anniversary July 24. Mr. Rawlings has been a church member since 1975 and was one of the original members of the Sheffield church, where he still attends. They have two children, five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Copyright © Worldwide Church of God, 2000