Remembrance

Ruth (VanDusen ’28) Tanner died March 19 at Sunset Lake Health & Rehabilitation Center in Venice, FL, after a brief illness. She was 99. Tanner taught school in New York, first in Hinsdale and Massena, and then was an English and Latin teacher at Auburn Central High School until her retirement in 1961. She and her husband maintained the family’s large dairy farm while she taught school. She was active in the New York State Retired Teachers Association, serving as vice president for several years. She was also active in the Scipio Community Church, whose history she wrote, and in the First Baptist Church in North Port, FL. She leaves behind several cousins and friends.

Velma (Harbeck ’32) Hewson of Cuba, NY passed away May 22, at Cuba Memorial Hospital’s Skilled Nursing Facility. Captain of the “Gold Women” team, she won the 220-yard dash with a time of 32.8 seconds, and the 75-yard hurdles with a time of 12.8 seconds in the 1931 track meet. A caption in the 1932 yearbook reads, “Harbeck carried off the lion’s share of the points; she is probably the fastest girl to ever perform on Houghton’s cinder path.” She also played basketball for the gold team and for the senior women’s team, and was awarded membership in the “Big H” club for lettering in three major sports. In 1935 she married Edwin S. Moses, who passed away in 1983. In 1985, she married Wendell C. Hewson, who died in 1994. She taught Latin and algebra at Addison Central School and coached the girls’ basketball team. She was office manager for E.S. Moses and Sons Cheese Co. in Cuba for seven years. She also served as a substitute teacher in Cuba and Olean, NY. She served broadly in her community, volunteering for many area organizations, for which she received a community service award from the Cuba Chamber of Commerce in 1978 and was listed in the 1977 edition of Community Leaders and Noteworthy Americans. Hewson was a member of the Cuba United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Western New York Council on Finance and Administration, the UMW Society, and the Olean District United Methodist Women. She was the president of the Houghton College Alumni Association and a member of the President’s Advisory Committee on Excellence. In 1980, she was a recipient of the Houghton Alumnus of the Year Award. Surviving are a daughter; two sons, including Robb Moses ’62; six grandchildren; a stepdaughter; two stepsons; and several step-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a brother, a sister and a grandson.

Genevieve (Matthews ’33) McCabe, of Haverstraw, NY, died at the age of 93, on June 29 after a long illness. “Gen” came to Haverstraw during the Depression to work as a kindergarten teacher. She married in 1941 and had a daughter in 1943. When her husband died suddenly in 1947, she took over his job as the village clerk of Haverstraw. She served in this capacity until her retirement. McCabe involved herself in community affairs; was on many committees and boards, and in many clubs. She was a member of the United Methodist Church. Surviving are her daughter, two brothers, several nieces and nephews and great and great-great nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, two brothers, and one nephew.

Willard E. Cassel ’41 died July 13. He graduated from Faith Theological Seminary following his graduation from Houghton College. An ordained clergyman, licensed with the Mennonite Brethren in Christ church, he ministered to several different locations. He also taught at Berean Bible School and served on the staff of Pinebrook Bible Conference in Stroudsburg, PA. His final pastorate was with Portland Baptist Church, but his ministry never ended. Cassel was an encourager, a great story-teller and a practical joker. He is survived by his wife, three daughters and a son.

Gerald G. McKinley ’41 died January 14 in Houston, TX. He was a veteran of World War II. He graduated from the School of Meteorology at New York University through a special Army Air Corps program, and taught meteorology at the air base in San Marcus, TX. He continued to serve in the Air Force Reserves following World War II, retiring at the rank of Lt. Colonel. He was employed by Royal Dutch Shell in its chemical research department, where he was responsible for the development of the “No Pest Strip.” He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, a sister and a grandson. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, a brother, five grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Rev. Paul H. Whitcomb ’41 died on April 26; he was 90. Whitcomb entered the ministry in 1942, spending 60 years of service in western New York and western Pennsylvania. He retired from full-time service in 1982. He was a member of the Western New York United Methodist Conference and its pastoral relations committee. He loved to travel with his wife, who survives, along with two daughters, six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by three brothers, three sisters and a niece.

Doris (Potter ’46) Carman of Mucksville, NC, died October 5, 2005. Originally from Jasper, NY, she taught organ and piano. She was the organist for the First Baptist Church of Mucksville. She was predeceased by her husband and daughter and is survived by a son.

Janice (Gracely ’48) Barnett died April 13, following cancer surgery in Brooksville, FL. She served, with her husband, Glenn Barnett ’48, on the mission field in Haiti from 1951-1967 and in a pastorate in Minnesota from 1974-1983. The couple then moved to Florida. Barnett earned her master’s degree in education in 1968 and taught public school for 25 years. She is survived by her husband of 58 years and their children: Kathy (Barnett ’69) Daake, Barbara (Barnett ’73) Daake, Ron Barnett ’79, Jonathan Barnett ’84 and seven grandchildren. She was predeceased by her daughter Marilyn.

Winifred “Winnie” (Rhebergen ’48) Lewellen died February 20 at the age of 78. A double-major in Latin and psychology, with a minor in education, Lewellen taught Latin at Maple Grove (NY) high school. In 1989 she left to teach English to Chinese students in Chengdu, China. Returning to the western New York area, she taught remedial English as an adjunct faculty member at Jamestown Community College. She loved the Chautauqua Institution all her adult life, and served for decades as the hostess to the official guest house for the speakers, performing artists and other guests. Survivors include three children, several grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

John Henry Mulholland ’50 passed away May 27 after a six-year illness. After he graduated from Houghton, Mulholland continued his education at Dallas Theological Seminary, where he earned his master’s and doctoral degrees. He went on to be part of the faculty of Washington Bible College beginning in 1957, and was a significant part of the foundation of Capitol Bible Seminary. He served as a professor of theology for more than 41 years at those schools until his retirement in 1998. Survivors include his wife, Helen (Lawrie ’51) Mulholland; a daughter; a son and four grandchildren.

Hugh Manning ’56 died May 29 at age 72 after suffering a heart attack and stroke. He worked as a rocket scientist for The Boeing Company, played tennis and pole-vaulted, was a runner, snow skier and carpenter. He also devoted time to the Interfaith Mission Fund, Hurricane Quatrain relief, Kentucky Mission, Habitat for Humanity and Kids’ Space. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Catherine (Heider ’56), and five children.

Robert F. Kreidler ’57 died on April 14 after a month-long hospitalization. Kreidler majored in botany and Bible at Houghton College, and then worked for the Boy Scouts of America and the Salvation Army. He and his wife retired to Florida in 2001. Survivors include his wife Luba; his two daughters; a son, Mark F. Kreidler ’81; and six grandchildren.

Mary Louise (Downie ’68) Short died unexpectedly December 28, 2005 in East Syracuse, NY. She was a member of Biltmore Baptist Church and sang in the choir. Short was known as a portrait artist in the town of Etowah, NC, where she resided. She is survived by her husband of 35 years, Stephen; two daughters; a son; two grandchildren; two sisters; and four brothers, including James Downie ’70 and Frederick Downie ’68.

Judith Anne Nedrow ’75 passed away May 2 in Rochester, NY, surrounded by her family. Nedrow’s most recent employment was with the Integrated Pest Management Program at Cornell University in Geneva as a technical support specialist. She also worked at the Department of Entomology at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, the Farm Credit of Western New York in Canandaigua, and Old Fox Chemical in Waterloo. For many years she operated her own business, DataTrak Solutions. She provided computer software support for agricultural businesses and farmers across western and central New York. Her love for nature was apparent in both her professional and personal life. Nedrow is survived by three siblings, including Sharon Nedrow ’67; three nieces; many cousins; and several aunts and uncles.

Friends

Doris K. Ferns, 95, of Wells, ME, died October 27, 2005 at The Monarch Center in Saco, ME. In December 1947 Doris married Melvin A. Ferns, who served for many years on the Houghton board. He died in January of 1985. Doris was a teacher for 41 years, retiring in 1973. She was a member of the Plattsburgh United Methodist Church, and several community organizations. Survivors include one son, Robert J. Ferns ’72 and his wife, Wendy (Mason ’72); and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband, Ferns was predeceased by her sister and her brother.

Former Faculty

Marjorie Ortlip Stockin died August 13 in the Waters of Houghton Nursing Home. She was 92. Ortlip excelled in art and French at Fort Lee (NJ) high school, where she graduated as salutatorian of her class. She studied at Asbury College, Columbia University and the Newark (NJ) Normal School before teaching art at her high school alma mater. In 1938 she did graduate work at the National Academy of Art, taking a first-place medal in figure drawing. In 1939 she accepted an invitation to join her sister, Aileen Ortlip Shea, on the Houghton College faculty to teach art. When enrollment dwindled due to World War II, Ortlip taught part time, and on a voluntary basis. Ortlip married classics professor F. Gordon Stockin in June of 1941. She was joined on the faculty by her parents, H. Willard and Aim�e Eschner Ortlip in 1948, all three teaching part-time. Her own studies and painting were deferred to teaching, domestic obligations (raising four children), service on campus and church committees and perpetual hosting of relatives, returning missionaries (often also relatives), alumni and students. According to a remembrance written by her daughter Audrey, she became known as an unflappable host to as many as 40 for dinners and family gatherings, earning the title of “Marge in charge” from her brother Stephen. When her children were grown, Stockin spent additional time painting. In 1994 a retrospective exhibition of over 80 of her paintings “astonished even the artist herself at her technical range and accomplishment,” according to her daughter’s remembrance. That same year, Houghton College awarded her an honorary doctorate of fine arts, just months after her husband had passed away. Stockin was a member of the Houghton Wesleyan Church and Christians in Visual Arts. Surviving are her children: Audrey (Stockin ’64) Eyler, Philip Stockin ’67, Judith (Stockin ’70) Ganch and Lora Beth (Stockin ’77) Norton. Also surviving are seven grandchildren, including Kathleen (Stockin ’92) Prevost, Keren (Stockin ’92) Davidson and Marjorie “Meg” (Stockin ’01) van Heerden; seven great-grandchildren; a sister, retired art professor Aileen (Ortlip) Shea; three brothers, including Stephen Ortlip ’42 and Paul Ortlip ’88; and many nieces and nephews, including A. Jonathan Shea ’63, Eila Shea ’66, Associate Professor of Missions Paul Shea ’69, Assistant Professor of Sociology Karen (Ortlip ’69) Daugherty, David Ortlip ’75, Jonathan Ortlip ’81 and Daniel Ortlip ’86. She was predeceased by her husband, a sister and a brother, W. Henry Ortlip ’40.

Milieu welcomes readers' comments.—Ed.