ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Births
• Engagements
• Weddings
• Anniversaries
• Obituaries
• Tribute: Elmer Conley
• Tribute: John S. Robinson
• Tribute: Harold Louis Treybig

Births

Stephen and Lori Amber (Schoolfield) Mapes of the Denver , Colorado , congregation are pleased to announce the birth of their son, Miles Walter. Miles was born in Vail, Colorado , on July 29, 2005, weighing 7 pounds 9 ounces and measuring 21 inches long. Miles was welcomed home by big sisters Jessica, Elizabeth and Alden and his niece, Sierra Johns.

Mike and Amy Wood of Poland , Indiana , and of the Terre Haute , Indiana , congregation, are pleased and proud to announce the birth of their first grandchild. Luke Allen Mishler was born Dec. 29, 2005. He weighed in at 8 pounds 5 1/2 ounces and was 21 1/2 inches long. The proud parents are Bryan and Amanda (Wood) Mishler also of Poland , Indiana .

Jenean and Joe Rivers of the Dallas , Texas , congregation are excited to announce the arrival of their first child, Cambria Jean Mackenzie Rivers. Cambria was born on June 19, 2005, at a whopping 2 pounds 7 ounces and 14 3/4 inches long. She was three months early due to Jenean having a severely ruptured appendix. Today Cambria is a thriving 12-pound adventurer. Jenean has also fully recovered, especially now that Cambria is letting her sleep more!

Proud grandparents are Bruce and Melissa Rivers of the Elkhart , Indiana , congregation and Bill and Jenny Bradford of the Brisbane , Queensland , congregation. Jenean and Joe would like to thank everyone who supported them with prayers and cards through their difficult situation.

Malcolm and Cassidi (Chapman) Murray would like to announce the birth of their fifth baby, Griffin Christopher Murray. He was born Dec. 18, 2005, weighing 8 pound 14 ounces and measuring 21 inches long. He joins his loving siblings Michael (7), Samantha (5), Wyatt (3) and Malcolm (18 months). Paternal grandparents are Malcolm and Francie Murray. Maternal grandparents are Christopher and Andi Chapman. The entire family attends the Flint , Michigan , congregation.

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Weddings

Fred and Susan Crow of San Jose, California, and Wilda McGaughey of McKinleyville, California, would like to announce the marriage of their children, Tamara Lynn Crow and Joshua Ray Reynolds.

The wedding took place on the cold, but beautiful evening of Nov. 26, 2005, amidst the majestic redwoods of the Santa Cruz mountains. Clyde Kilough, president of the United Church of God, performed the ceremony.

Tamara's matron of honor was Tracy Ogaz, sister of the bride. Katelyn and Caroline Roybal, cousins of the bride, and Shannon Smith were attendants. Joshua's best man was Tim Proctor. Tim Eldridge and Allen Merrow were attendants.

Tamara and Joshua are members of the Tucson , Arizona , congregation and reside in Tucson .

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Doug and Tanya Horchak of Dallas , Texas , are happy to announce the marriage of their daughter, Christine, to Jeremy Sehler of Fort Collins , Colorado . Christine and Jeremy were united in marriage on Oct. 8, 2005, in Dallas .

The wedding party included John Sehler, Jason Beers, Greg Horchak, Lisa Tymkovich, Becky Horchak and Jamie Sehler. The couple resides in Fort Collins .

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Johnathan Steven-Nelson Arnold and Chancy Paige Earles were united in marriage Nov. 26, 2005, in Critz , Virginia . The ceremony was performed by John Foster, pastor of the Roanoke , Virginia , congregation.

Bridesmaids included Kelly (Good) Diamond and Amy Earles. Maid of honor was Keturah Craft. Groomsmen included Joe Diamond and Nick Bizic. Best man was Joshua Arnold. In attendance were 151 friends and family members. The couple now resides in Martinsville , Virginia , and attends the Roanoke congregation.

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Anniversaries

Al and Vera Gordon had their 50th wedding anniversary Jan. 6, 2006. They have been blessed with seven wonderful children, Leslie (deceased), Christy, Todd, Andrew, Susan, Renee and Robert; and nine awesome grandchildren.

They were baptized in 1964 in the El Monte , California , congregation. They currently host the southernmost congregation in the United States in their home in Pahoa , Hawaii .

A surprise dinner was held in their honor with the Big Island brethren.

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On Jan. 7, the Bend , Oregon , congregation had a surprise 25th anniversary celebration for Pastor Larry Walker and his wife, Karen, in place of their usual potluck. The actual date of their anniversary is Jan. 10.

The small but mighty group secretly pulled together a wonderful chicken dinner with all the trimmings. It lacked only dessert. Now, anyone knowing Larry Walker knows how he loves to eat and has a special affinity for dessert. Being the ever-observant shepherd he is, he whispered to Karen during the meal that we must have all forgotten to bring a dessert.

Unbeknownst to them a beautiful cake sat waiting in another room along with a basket of flowers, similar to their wedding bouquet. A poster of wedding pictures was on display. Many friends and family members sent cards of congratulations and well-wishes.

One card in particular, from two of the Walkers' children, contained a very special gift—arrangements for Larry and Karen's overnight stay at the Sunriver Lodge, including champagne, chocolate-covered strawberries and breakfast the next morning. And best of all, it included a private sleigh ride on that snowy Sunday morning escorted by a costumed driver who furnished cozy blankets to keep them warm.

Member Barb Dundon wrote a special poem for the Walkers, championing their 25 years together in love, commitment and service to each other and the Church:

The road less traveled is the life you have chosen,
Not often paved with contentment and ease.
But the potholes of life teach us patience and pardon
Through the miles and years of trying to please
The ones we love most and the ones we love least.
May mile upon mile and year upon year
Bring comfort and happiness
And abundant good cheer
To the road you have traveled for 25 years.

Ken and Carol Rageth of Cottage Grove , Minnesota , will celebrate their 50th anniversary on Feb. 4, 2006. They have five children, Jeffry, Becky, Randy, Jerry and Barry; and eight grandchildren. They have been members of the Church of God for 42 years and attend the St. Paul, Minnesota, congregation.

Obituaries

Maria E. Ostrom of the Coos Bay, Oregon, United Church of God congregation, died Nov. 10, 2005. Maria was born Aug. 4, 1946, to Serafina and Teodora Gutierrez who preceded her in death (as did her brother Felix). She married Lowell Thomas Ostrom Dec. 17, 1978, in Pasadena, California .

Maria is survived by her loving husband, Lowell; her mother-in-law, Wilma, and brother-in-law, Ed, of Long Beach, California; sisters, Ampie, Cecilia and Marion, and two brothers, Henry and Arthur, of Yucaipa, California, as well as brothers Raymond, Robert, William and Richard of San Bernardino, California, and David of Hanford, California; and many nieces and nephews.

Maria worked as a secretary, and at home she enjoyed sewing, knitting, needlework, doll making and numerous crafts. Maria is remembered as a wonderful and devoted wife. Maria loved her God and was close to her brethren, loving all. She was a friend to everyone and will be deeply missed.

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Jacob B. "Jack" Smith, 81, died peacefully on Dec. 22, 2005, after a year-long battle with cancer. Jack was born on Oct. 4, 1924, in Baker, Montana , to Jacob and Pauline Smith. He grew up on the family farm and attended school in Mott, North Dakota .

After he graduated from high school in 1943, he entered the U.S. Army. From 1943 to 1945, he worked with West Construction Co. in Whitehorse , Canada , and in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska , for the Department of Defense. Later Jack attended trade school in Wahpeton, North Dakota, to become a linotype operator.

Jack married May Swift on June 24, 1950, in Glen Ullin, North Dakota . He worked in the printing trade for various newspapers in the region from 1945 to the mid 1960s.

Early in their marriage, Jack and May lived in West Fargo, North Dakota, then moved to Detroit Lakes, Minnesota , in 1956 where they owned and operated the Sun Lite Grocery on Little Floyd Lake.

Then after working in the printing trade, Jack also worked for Detroit Township as an independent maintenance supervisor until his retirement. For many years he owned and operated a rototilling business.

Jack was a Minnesota DNR fire warden for almost 40 years, was active in AARP and was a Minnesota ombudsman for nursing home residents.

Jack had a strong work ethic and believed in maintaining and leaving property in better condition than he found it. Jack and May remodeled three homes and built two new homes in the Detroit Lakes area. After health challenges took their toll, Jack and May moved to Moorhead , Minnesota, in 2005 after selling their home in rural Detroit Lakes.

Jack's hobbies included gardening, traveling, writing, studying nutrition and maintaining his prized Massey Ferguson 35 tractor. He was an active writer and had many articles published in Prime Life, a newspaper for senior citizens in northern Minnesota. Jack had an inquisitive mind and always felt he could learn and share something with everyone he met. Jack made several trips to Germany and Spain to visit his mother's family.

Jack was a longtime member of the Church of God, and he and May attended the United Church of God congregation in Fargo. As Jack faced his final days, he openly expressed his love and appreciation for his wife, family and friends, and for God's calling and hope of the coming Kingdom.

The funeral service held on Dec. 26 was well attended by family and friends.

Jack is survived by his wife, May; two daughters, Laurie Laney, Pasadena, California , and Jill (Jeff) Berg, Barnesville, Minnesota; one son, Garner Smith, Beijing, China; and two grandchildren, Sheena Berg and Sasha Berg.

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Darwin Ruggless, 72, a longtime member of the Church, died suddenly at his home in Arcadia , California , of a heart attack on Dec. 12, 2005. He was born in Prairie City , Iowa , June 3, 1933, where he grew up and went to school.

Darwin later joined the U.S. Army for two years and then moved to California while serving in the U.S. Air Force for another four years from 1959 to 1963. There he was called into the Church through an Air Force friend's interest. He then met and later married his wife, Julia Cooper, in 1964.

He began working for the College/Church in Pasadena in 1968, where he remained for many years as an electrician, then in air-conditioning and other maintenance as he was needed.

Darwin was much loved and respected by many. He was known for his hearty laugh, his generosity and his ability to fix or build anything. He was always fixing every kind of appliance and mechanical equipment for brethren, widows or just anyone who crossed his path who needed help, often without asking anything in return.

He was preceded in death by a son, Shawn. He is survived by his wife, Julia; four children, Jacob, Jon and Rebecca Ruggless and Amber Roos; three grandchildren, Jaryn and Jack Ruggless and Nicole Scoggin; and two great-grandchildren, Kelli and Aiden Scoggin.

His memorial service was conducted Dec. 18, 2005, by Robin Webber. As in his life, Darwin's memorial service cut across all barriers and brought together many people from every walk of life.

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John Patrick Perez died July 29, 2005, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. He was 40 years old. John had grown up in the Church in Louisiana and was a much-loved member of the Chattanooga , Tennessee , congregation.

He was employed by Chattanooga Business Machines, where he was employee of the year, and he was a Boy Scout leader with Pack 3256.

Survivors include his wife, Tammy; children, Ashley and Joshua; father, Orey Perez; mother, Margie Hebert; brothers, Gerald and wife, Melinda, David and wife, Rhonda; sisters, Vickie Abu-Shmais and Elizabeth and husband, Andy Borque; a brother-in-law, Michael and wife, Crystal O'Neal; father and mother-in-law, Danny and Gloria O'Neal; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were conducted on Aug. 1, 2005, by Roy Holladay and Dennis Wheatcroft. John will certainly be missed by all of us in the Chattanooga congregation who knew him.

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Kay Hirschler of Aurora , Missouri , died Dec. 16, 2005. She was 67. Kay was baptized in 1969. She was married to Dan in 1958. He died in an auto accident in 1997. At age 58 she graduated from nursing school and began working in in-home nursing with premature babies and Alzheimer patients.

She is survived by six sons, Tim, Jesse, Vince, Mark, Brian and David; and six daughters, Wendy (White), Jolyn (Tate), Linda (Ross), Laura (Radtke), Lisa (Cross) and Lois (Rowell); along with 28 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Pastor Mike Blackwell officiated at graveside services in Verona, Missouri, on Dec. 20.

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Wendall "Bill" Meek died Dec. 12, 2005, at his home near Forsyth , Missouri , following a long battle with emphysema. He was 87 and a longtime member of the Springfield , Missouri , church. Bill moved to the Ozarks after retiring from his TV repair business in Washington state and enjoyed fishing in area lakes. He is survived by Kitty, his wife of 25 years.

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Juanita Merial Brewer, 76, died Aug. 27, 2005. She had been a member of God's Church since November 1974 and attended the Huntsville , Alabama , congregation. Mrs. Brewer had numerous health problems and situations over the years, but it was rare for her to miss services. She was always there if at all possible. She set an outstanding example of perseverance. The Church was family to her, and she is sorely missed as we await the resurrection.

She is survived by her husband of 45 years, Edward, a member; a son, Donnie Graham and his wife, Gloria; three grandchildren, Michael Graham (and wife, Amy), Matthew Graham (and wife, Laura) and Maria Graham; and five great-grandchildren, Makayla Graham, McKinley Graham, Lydia Graham, Leann Gillespie and Maria Gillespie.

The services were officiated by Rick Beam, pastor of the Huntsville , Alabama , congregation.

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Doris Foote, a member of God's Church in Vancouver , British Columbia , died Oct. 6, 2005, after a long stay in a nursing home. She was 99, having been called by God around the age of 78, after the death of her beloved husband, Fred. She was very sad at that time, having no family to comfort her and being away from her much-loved country, England .

She saw Mr. Armstrong on the television at that time, and it turned her life around, not only spiritually, but also physically, for she became part of several families who visited her and took care of her. She was a faithful member of the Church, but eventually she was unable to attend due to her age. Nevertheless, a visit with her was to feel very loved and privileged to know such a lady, who was so caring and of a very positive outlook. She then kept in touch with other ladies of similar age around Vancouver . Through the phone they encouraged one another through numerous health problems and family ups and downs.

She died very peacefully to await her reward, but she will always be in the hearts of those privileged to have known her. She would have been 100 this April.

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James Edwin Gayman, 68, died Aug. 18, 2005, at his home in Roswell , New Mexico . He was born in Senica County , Tiffin , Ohio , Oct. 31, 1936, to Lowell W. Gayman and Mildred A. Royer, who preceded him in death, as well as a brother, Lowell R. Gayman.

James was a construction electrician and plant engineer. He also served in the U.S. Navy from January 1955 to June 1957 as an electrician's first mate aboard the submarine U.S.S. Clamagore. He stayed in the reserves until 1962 and was recalled to serve on the surface ship U.S.S. Greenwood from October 1961 to August 1962.

Jim is survived by his wife, Louann Noble Gayman, whom he married June 22, 1968, in Mansfield, Ohio, as well as their son, Aaron James Gannon, and his wife, Michele, of Anthem, Arizona; daughter, Diane Renee, and her husband, Wade C. Higgins, of Weiser, Idaho; and two sisters, Alverna J. Hentges of Toledo, Ohio, and Alice C. Kress of Mansfield, Ohio. Jim also leaves behind four precious granddaughters, Kaitlyn R. Higgins, Christy J. Higgins, Rose Marie C. Higgins and Chelsea B. Gannon. He leaves two nieces and four nephews.

Jim was baptized in Cleveland , Ohio , in October 1972 and attended services there, in Akron , Ohio , and Mansfield , Ohio , before moving to Roswell in October 2000. He loved the Lord and enjoyed sharing that love with others. He had a positive attitude in spite of a severe trial and expressed his thankfulness to God for a good life and his faith and his love.

A memorial was held Aug. 21 in Roswell , conducted by Tom Damour, his pastor, from Lubbock , Texas .

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Thomas Lee Fox, a longtime member in Ann Arbor , Michigan , died Nov. 7, 2005, right after returning home from the Feast. He had fulfilled a lifelong dream of keeping the Feast in the Middle East and visiting Israel . His death resulted from a heart attack induced by a blood clot.

Tom was born on May 7, 1948, and was a lifelong resident of Ann Arbor . He is survived by two brothers and a sister. Tom was baptized in January 1972. Like the apostle Paul, Tom was a tentmaker, being employed at a family-owned tent making business his entire adult life.

Tom loved studying the Bible and owned an extensive library of Bibles and Bible helps. His other great joy was to attend services and the Feast and to fellowship with God's people. Tom was a quiet, loving man who will be missed and remembered by family, friends and brethren.

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Clayton Sweatt, 80, of Bethel , Maine , died Dec. 27, 2005. Born Jan. 8, 1925, Clayton lived for most of his 80 years in the house in which he died.

He led a very busy and successful life devoted to his three main interests: Mary, his wife of over 30 years; his service as a deacon in God's Church; and his love of electronics and all things electrical.

He served his country in the Navy during World War II and afterward attended a radio electrical school. Following a career in electronics as a TV and radio repairman, he worked for the town of Bethel for some 15 years.

Clayton will be long remembered as an avid collector of "stuff." Many people who needed something knew that they could go to Clayton's home and probably find it.

He is survived by his wife, Mary; his younger brother, "Skip"; two nephews, Jeff and Dale; a niece, Sharon; a half brother and two half sisters from his father's second marriage; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

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Ada Cardott died on April 1, 2005, after a long battle with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Ada attended and served in the Church in the Portland , Oregon , congregation.

Ada was born at home on July 17, 1938, to William and Francis Morris in the small town of Elk Two Mile, West Virginia . She grew up there until the age of 5, when her parents moved the family west to Vancouver , Washington , where Ada finished growing up along with four sisters and two brothers.

Ada attended a local business college and worked at a bank before marrying and starting her family. As her children grew, she went back into the work force and continued her education in accounting and accounts payable.

Ada met her husband of nearly 46 years, Perry Cardott, in high school. He was attracted to her outgoing nature and infectious laugh. Ada and Perry married in August 1959 and continued living in the Vancouver area. They started their family in the fall of 1960 with the first of four children, a son, Neil Cardott, who was followed by three daughters, Nicole Wubben, Natalie Cardott and Nadine Messerly, all of Vancouver .

Her love for her family grew with the addition of each son and daughter-in-law and each of her 11 grandchildren. She was a wonderful mother who encouraged her children to seek God and His truth. She loved to see them become accomplished in their endeavors and truly loved to see their happiness in life.

She was active in the Church and would organize the potlucks, coffee crews and food for wedding and funeral receptions. She also wrote a local church newsletter to keep everyone abreast of events and how to contact the local elderly members who were unable to attend.

She loved God and His truth passionately, and it reflected in her faithful service at church and for the people. She cared deeply about each of them and always made it her goal to know each of them personally.

Ada 's service to her husband, her family and God never wavered until her health began to fail her in the fall of 2001. She continued serving even as she started to need the use of a walker and began to endure what would be a year of tests, doctors and uncertainty. Neither Ada nor Perry retired from work until January 2003 when Ada 's declining health forced the issue for them. She did not receive a diagnosis of ALS until March 2003. Her husband made looking after her care his full-time job, which he did with such love and compassion. He was helped in her care by all of their children. Ada and Perry were always greatly encouraged by the constant cards and prayers from the brethren.

At the beginning of this final trial, she wrote a letter to her family. She expressed her deep love for them all and her love of God and His way of life. She loved everything about her life but was able to accept this final road with her characteristic strength and poise. She was looking forward to the Kingdom and being healed so she could walk again with her husband and all of those she loved.

The funeral was officiated by minister and friend Robert Dick.

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Tribute: Elmer Conley

Elmer Conley died Dec. 30, 2005, at the age of 86. He was a longtime member and elder of God's Church.

Mr. Conley was born Oct. 14, 1919, in Blue Mound, Oklahoma . He served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps during World War II. In the summer of 1944 he received the Bronze Star for bravery during the battle on the island of Saipan in the Pacific.

Mr. Conley owned and operated a cement construction company from 1956 until his retirement due to failing health in 2000.

He is survived by one son, Bill Conley and his wife, Laura, of Clarksville, Arkansas; four daughters, Patricia Forrest and her husband, Rodney, of Big Sandy, Texas; Donna Surratt and her husband, Alec, of Cincinnati, Ohio; Barbara Burke and her husband, Guy, of Wichita Falls, Texas; and Ruth Roberts and her husband, James, of Booker, Texas; 16 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Elsie, who died July 1, 2004.

His son-in-law Guy Burke conducted the graveside service Jan. 3, 2006.

—Donna Surratt

 Tribute: John S. Robinson

John S. Robinson, 60, died Jan. 5, 2006, in Austin, Texas , from complications of prostate cancer. He was born Feb. 11, 1945, and was reared in the faith since age 5. Most recently he served as chief executive officer of Dynamic Resource Group, a company that oversees the publishing and fulfillment companies owned by the Muselman family of Berne, Indiana .

For almost 35 years he had been involved in the publishing industry in a variety of positions. Mr. Robinson was founding editor of The Worldwide News, and later In Transition. In addition to his business pursuits in the 1980s, he served on the faculty of the University of Texas at Tyler, teaching journalism, public relations and graphic arts classes.

His undergraduate degree is from Ambassador College, Big Sandy, 1966, and he served on the faculty there. He also earned a master's degree in journalism from Texas A&M University, Commerce, and had completed other graduate work at the University of Southern California. After moving to Berne in 1989, he was an adjunct professor in journalism at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, teaching a magazine class.

UCG IA President Clyde Kilough writes, "John was a great teacher in everything from photography to writing to newspaper layout. I learned a tremendous amount from him, as both a journalism instructor and a boss, when The Worldwide News first got off the ground, and count those days among my most memorable at Ambassador College ."

Scott Ashley, managing editor of The Good News and booklets, writes, "John Robinson was a crucial and visionary figure in Church of God publishing efforts. He helped shape a generation of writers and publication professionals who have gone on to successful careers in many fields. I appreciate John most for his deep love of truth—for the commitment to accuracy and excellence he instilled in those of us who worked for him as well as his commitment to the truth of God to which he had dedicated his life."

Mr. Robinson, who was born in Glasgow, Scotland , was a U.S. citizen as well as a British subject. He was a member of the United Church of God in Fort Wayne , Indiana .

He was ordained in 1969 and pastored several congregations in Texas and Ohio . He spoke fluent Spanish, and listed travel as his principal hobby. He has spent time in all 50 states of the United States and has traveled to 25 countries on five continents.

He is survived by his wife of 38 years, the former Alice Rothery; his mother, Margaret Robinson of Tulsa, Oklahoma; sons John David and Stephen and daughter, Rachel, all of Austin; brothers Mark Robinson of Plano, Texas, and Robert Robinson of Palestine, Texas; and sisters Felicity Reedy of Tyler and Mary Robinson of Tulsa; and seven grandchildren.

Indianapolis and Fort Wayne pastor Darris McNeely officiated at the funeral Jan. 9 in Austin, and burial was in the Robinson family section of Latham Cemetery, near his hometown of Alice, Texas. Preferred memorials are to the American Cancer Society. The Robinson family receives mail at 3521 Mocha Trail, Austin, Texas 78728 .

 Tribute: Harold Louis Treybig

Harold was born on the family farm in Oldenburg , Texas , to parents Ewald and Aline (Stork) Treybig on Oct. 22, 1920. His parents were of German descent and Harold spoke German at home and had to learn English in order to attend school.

Harold spent his youth working on the farm, where the family raised hogs, chickens, cattle and a variety of crops. His father plowed with mules and Harold remembered his most difficult job as a young boy—picking cotton!

After graduating from high school, Harold moved to Houston, where he began attending business school. His first job in the big city was at Allbritton's Cafeteria as a breakfast cook. He slept on a cot at the cafeteria in order to be on site to open for business each morning. After a full morning of cooking, it was off to school in the afternoon and evening. He eventually was able to purchase a car and visited home on the weekends.

Harold later went to work as a stenographer for Corbett Corporation, a supply house for pipe and pipe fittings. When World War II broke out, he was drafted and, due to his office skills, he was assigned to the Army Air Corps and eventually ran teletype machines and worked with communications. Near the end of the war, he served in Italy , where he remembered being so cold that, in spite of sleeping in his clothes, he caught pneumonia.

Following the war, he returned to Houston and attended the University of Houston on the GI Bill. He and three of his war buddies decided to become accountants and, of the four of them, Harold was the only one who became a Certified Public Accountant.

Like most people of German descent, Harold grew up as a Lutheran and continued in that tradition through his college years. It was there that he would meet his future wife, Jeanette Brandt, a young lady from Columbus , Texas . Harold and Jeanette were married on April 10, 1948, and blessed with three children: David, born in 1950; Kenneth, born on Mother's Day in 1952; and Karen, born in 1956.

The young couple's contact with the Church came during a visit Jeanette made to her parents' home, where she happened to pick up a copy of The Plain Truth. Soon after that, they began listening to the radio program and receiving literature themselves.

They attended their first church service with the Radio Church of God in May of 1953, during Pentecost weekend, in Big Sandy, Texas, where they were baptized by Rod Meredith and had the opportunity to meet and talk with Herbert Armstrong.

Since there was no congregation in the Houston area, Harold and Jeanette studied by themselves for several years, traveling to Gladewater about once a month to attend services (a six-hour drive each way at the time).

In the fall of 1953, Harold and Jeanette attended their first Feast of Tabernacles in Big Sandy, Texas. Not knowing what to expect, they left their two young sons with Jeanette's parents. They were pleasantly surprised to find other children attending the Feast and brought David and Ken the next year.

Finally, on March 9, 1956, a congregation was started in Houston by Wayne Cole. Houston was to become part of a three-church circuit consisting of San Antonio , Corpus Christi and Houston . Fourteen people were present at that first service, including the Treybigs and their two sons. Karen was born in December of that year and has the distinction of being the first baby born in the Houston congregation.

Shortly after the local church was established, Harold and Malcolm Martin were ordained as deacons. In 1964, Harold was ordained as an elder—the 100th elder ordained in the modern era of the Church. Over the years, Harold served the Church in many ways, including as a member of the Board of Regents for Ambassador College (later, University). He served as business manager at various Feast sites and was the treasurer for his congregation.

Harold was a devoted husband and father, a hard worker and a thoroughly committed member of the Church. Beginning with his first Feast of Tabernacles in 1953, he never missed a Feast and rarely missed a Sabbath service. As a pillar in the Houston congregations and the inspiring patriarch of the Treybig family, he will be sorely missed.

Harold finished his race on Dec. 18, 2005, and is survived by his wife of nearly 58 years, Jeanette, of Houston; son, David, of Tampa, Florida (pastor of Tampa and St. Petersburg); son, Kenneth, of Gladewater, Texas (pastor of East Texas and Texarkana); and daughter, Karen Doig (wife of Glenn Doig, elder in Houston North); seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.