ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Births
• Engagements
• Weddings
• Anniversaries
• Obituaries

Births

Sean and Kristin (Webber) Yarbrough of the Tampa, Florida, congregation are happy to announce the birth of their daughter, Katherine Rose, on May 15, 2007. Katie was born at 3:44 p.m., weighed 7 pounds 2 ounces and measured 18 inches long. She was warmly welcomed by grandparents Eugene and Diane Webber of LaGrange, Ohio, and Jim and Pam Yarbrough of Hilliard, Ohio.

----------

Caleb Jorge Hooser surprised his parents, Oliver and Clarissa (de Campos), by arriving two weeks early on the Last Day of Unleavened Bread, April 9, 2007. Caleb weighed 7 pounds 9 ounces and measured 21 inches in length. Oliver and Clarissa are very thankful to God for the blessing of their first child.

Caleb is the first grandchild of overjoyed grandparents Jorge and Kathy de Campos (Cincinnati, Ohio) and second grandchild of Randy and Tina Hooser (Fort Worth, Texas).

The happy family attends the Dallas, Texas, congregation.

----------

Rusty and Maria Petty are thrilled to announce the safe arrival of their fourth child, Priscilla Maria, on May 24, 2007. She was 7 pounds 2 ounces and was 20 inches long. She joins big brother, Russell, and big sisters, Christina and Angela. The Petty family lives in Waxhaw, North Carolina, and their local congregation is Charlotte, North Carolina.

----------

Alan and Christina (Charles) Weaner of Akron, Ohio, are please to announce the birth of their third daughter, Lydia Ruth. Lydia arrived Jan. 12, 2007. She was 6 pounds 12½ ounces and 19¼ inches long. Big sisters Kayla, 17, and Julia, 11, dearly love their sweet sister. Grandparents Daniel and Jeanette Charles of Lititz, Pennsylvania, and Richard and Connie Weaner of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, are also pleased to welcome their newest grandchild.

[back to top]

Engagements

Fred and Sue Whitlark of the Fort Worth, Texas, congregation, are happy to announce the engagement of their daughter, Debbie, to Greg Baker, son of Howard and Sarah Baker of the East Texas congregation. The couple is planning a December wedding.

----------

Bart and Joan Bornhorst from Dayton, Ohio, and Hal and Linda Henderson from Cleveland, Ohio, are pleased to announce the engagement of their children Sarah Marie Bornhorst and Andrew John Henderson.

The couple met at the Gatlinburg, Tennessee, Feast of 2002 and attended ABC 2006 together. Sarah is working toward her degree in early childhood education and Andrew is finishing up his degree in diagnostic cardiac ultrasound. They are planning for a wedding in June 2008.

[back to top]

Weddings

Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Zollner and Mr. and Mrs. Collyer Wells are pleased to announce the marriage of their children, Carolynn Rose to David Jonathan. The wedding, officiated by Carolynn's father, took place on March 11, 2007, in Forest Park, St. Louis, Missouri. David and Carolynn currently reside in St. Louis and attend the Fairview Heights, Illinois, congregation. David works as an accountant for the government, and Carolynn works as an engineer for Boeing.

[back to top]

Anniversaries

The East Texas congregation hosted an enjoyable reception in honor of Melton and Jacque McNeely's 50th wedding anniversary after services on April 28, 2007. Guests enjoyed cake and punch, along with a wide variety of finger foods.

Melton married his best friend, Jacque Welch, 50 years ago on April 6, 1957, in Abilene, Texas. Melton was Jacque's first date at a football banquet, and the two lived just two blocks apart.

Melton and Jacque moved to Farmington, New Mexico, after their marriage, and in May 1959 Melton clipped out and sent in an advertisement from Capper's Farmer for The Plain Truth and United States and British Commonwealth in Prophecy. In September 1959 they "happened" to hear Herbert W. Armstrong on the radio. They tuned in nightly to the World Tomorrow broadcast on XELO and ordered any literature they heard about. Even though they had never attended a church service, they drove to Pasadena, California, in March 1960 for counseling and were baptized in the Ambassador College Lower Gardens.

In 1962 Melton, Jacque and their two children, Stephen and Deborah, moved to Pasadena, where Melton was accepted as a freshman to Ambassador College. Their third child, Pam, was born Melton's senior year of college. He graduated in 1966.

Melton served at the Church headquarters for 16 years in the business area until 1978, when the family moved to Dallas, Texas. He started a CPA firm, which he sold in 1981, and then the family moved to Big Sandy, Texas. Melton was the business manager of Ambassador College for 15 years until he left in 1995. He and Stephen now operate their CPA firm, McNeely and McNeely, which is located in downtown Hawkins, Texas.

Melton and Jacque are blessed with their three children; daughter-in-law, Mary; son-in-law, Michael Machin; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

----------

On Sabbath, April 14, 2007, the Jefferson, Georgia, brethren were happy to share in the 60th anniversary celebration of Fred and Mary Sorg. The longtime Church members were married April 16, 1947, and Mr. Sorg serves as a deacon. They have three children, Carl Sorg, Ellen McCully (and husband Cliff) and Mike Sorg (and wife Ginger). They have five grandchildren. The McCully family served cake and coffee at the church potluck after services in honor of the Sorg's 60th anniversary.

[ back to top ]

Obituaries

Larry Dueitt Jr., a deacon in the Corpus Christi, Texas, congregation, died Sunday, April 29, 2007. His funeral was held on May 3.

Larry will be remembered for his kindness, willingness to serve and love for God's way. Many of the customers Larry helped in his auto repair business have expressed their appreciation for his thorough and kind service. Larry was deeply loved and will be greatly missed by his family and the members in Corpus Christi.

He is survived by his wife, Laura; daughter, Shelby, age 10; and son, Garon, age 7. Other family members are his parents, Larry and Evelyn Dueitt; his brother, Wade, and his wife, Judy, and children, Alex and Jonathan; his sister, Kelly Rodriguez, and her children, Ryan, Dina and Hannah.

----------

Hazel Hutchinson died peacefully in her sleep on Feb. 17, 2007. With her passing, nearly 93 years of life and 30 years of converted service to the Father and Jesus Christ came to a close. She was born March 9, 1914.

Though housebound and unable to attend Sabbath services for some months prior to her death, she remained a vibrant part of the congregation. The spirit and energy that emanated from her frail and diminutive body left a lasting impression with us all. Those visiting with her needed to be prepared with the latest news of the work, and how prophetic scriptures were presently unfolding in the different areas of the world.

Just before she died, she told family and brethren, "I'm ready to go," reflecting the trust she had in our Father to complete her destiny at the resurrection of the just.

She is survived by her husband of 72 years, Hutch, and son, Jan. The family moved to the Kalispell, Montana, area 35 years ago. All three were baptized in the late 1970s and have remained active members.

----------

Joan Marilyn Duffield, a member of the Murfreesboro, Tennessee, congregation, died on May 5, 2007. She was a native of Lamoille, Illinois. Joan married Wilbur (Duffy) Duffield on Nov. 25, 1949. She was baptized on Jan. 6, 1973, and was a faithful member. Joan and Duffy were famous for their annual wiener roast that was held after the Feast each year. She also did the bulletin for the Murfreesboro congregation each week until she became unable to do it any longer. She and Duffy have been a very important part of the Murfreesboro congregation for many years, and she will be missed by family, friends and brethren.

Joan is survived by her husband, Wilbur Duffield; sons, Bruce Duffield of League City, Texas, Thomas Duffield of Marseilles, Illinois, Neil Duffield of Clermont, Florida, Tim Duffield of Antioch, Tennessee, and Daniel Duffield of Abingdon, Virginia; daughters, Carol J. VanPelt of Altadena, California, and Jackie Johnson of Hendersonville, Tennessee; plus one sister; 12 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. Joan was a homemaker, an active member of the United Church of God and a beloved wife and mother.

----------

Robert Torgeson, 70, of Braham, Minnesota, died April 27, 2007, at his home.

He was born July 30, 1936, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Oscar and Marie Torgeson. He was raised in New Brighton and graduated from Mounds View High School. In 1957 he married Janice Waller and they lived in Minneapolis for a short time and then moved to Chicago, where he was a commercial window cleaner. On May 9, 1970, he married Linda Daproza in Illinois. In 1973 they moved to Braham. He was self-employed with his sons as commercial window washers.

Mr. Torgeson loved his family and all of the family activities. He also enjoyed hobby farming and gardening. He was a charitable person and loved doing things for others. He was a member of the United Church of God. He fought a courageous battle with cancer for 2½ years and still continued to think of others instead of himself. He had a strong faith in God and knew there was a reason he had to suffer. He will be deeply missed by family and friends. He was loved by all and was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Merton, and brothers, Ernest, Merton, John and Daniel.

He will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Linda; children, Justine Schindeldecker and Mikeael (Sheila) Torgeson; 10 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; brothers, Ted Torgeson and Mike (Judy) Torgeson; sisters, Betty Macias, Mary Fernandez, Myrna Demaio and Madeline (Kermit) Folden; mother- and father-in-law, Leo and June Daproza; and many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held May 2 with Jim Servidio officiating.

----------

John Orville Hall, 82, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, died Jan. 31, 2007. He was born June 13, 1924, in Kansas City, Missouri. He was a retired stonemason and a World War II veteran who had spent time as a POW. He was highly decorated, including the Purple Heart.

Mr. Hall was baptized in August 1960 and was a faithful member these many years. The last few years he was unable to attend services due to failing health. But his hunger for the truth and the coming Kingdom of God remained unabated. He had a voracious appetite for the things of God. He set quite an example for the membership and the hospital staff with his upbeat personality and sense of humor. He is truly missed.

Mr. Hall is survived by his two sons, Gary (and Freda) Hall, who are members of the Paducah, Kentucky, congregation; and Mark Hall of Grandin, Missouri. Also surviving him are two sisters, six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. His wife, Marcella, preceded him in death Aug. 21, 2004. His memorial service included military honors.

Mr. Hall was a successful veteran of the spiritual wars, and we look forward to seeing him again at the resurrection.

[ back to top ]

Announcements: Members are welcome to submit announcements of the births, engagements, weddings, significant anniversaries (25, 40, 50, 60, etc.) and obituaries in their families. Please include a self-addressed envelope if you would like photos returned. Most items are 50 to 100 words and should not exceed 250 words. Please e-mail (preferred) or give them to your local pastor to forward to United News.