ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Births
• Weddings
• Anniversaries
• Obituaries

Births

Aaron and Linda (Aguilar) Farnon of the Stockton, California, congregation are happy to announce the birth of their second child, Noland Aquila Farnon. He was born on Oct. 7, 2006. Noland weighed 9.2 pounds and was 22 inches long. Big sister Dalyce is enjoying teaching him a few baby signs along with nursery rhymes. Noland enjoys music, especially drumming on toys, and playing with wooden puzzles.

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Kirk and Kristine (Williams) Talbott of the Garden Grove, California, congregation (soon to be Austin, Texas) are ecstatic to announce the birth of their fourth child, Victoria Tegan Talbott. "Tori" was born Aug. 20, 2007, and weighed in at 8 pounds even and 20 inches long. Grandparents Jean Talbott of Dallas, Texas, and Richard and Marty Scholz of Worchester, Massachusetts, are looking forward to seeing their new grandchild soon. Her brother Addison and sister Zoë had high hopes for a younger sibling, and so far neither have been disappointed.

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Thad and Kim (Hemsley) Roemer, along with their son, Nathaniel, are very happy to announce the birth of Emilia Paige. Emilia was born March 19, 2007, weighing 6 pounds 7 ounces and measuring 18 inches long. She is happy and doing very well. Emilia is the third grandchild for both sets of grandparents, Dave and Pat Hemsley from Dayton, Ohio, and Earl and Carol Roemer from Anchorage, Alaska.

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Maribel and Charlie Larkin of the Williamsburg, Virginia, congregation are very happy to share the joy of the birth of their first child, Ian Sebastian. Ian was born on Dec. 31, 2006, weighing 7 pounds 1 ounce and measuring 20½ inches in length.

He is the first grandchild of Alfonso and Consuelo Herrera Alonso of the Lima, Peru, congregation and Charles and Jane Larkin of Westerly, Rhode Island. Ian is a very happy and curious niño who takes great pride in keeping his parents up late at night.

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Ron and Lori (Lambert) Holloway are pleased to announce the birth of their second child, Mason Joe Holloway, born Feb. 1, 2007. Mason weighed in at a healthy 8 pounds 10 ounces and was 21 inches long. Big brother Jackson is Mason's biggest fan. The family attends the Elmira, New York, congregation along with proud grandparents Johnnie and Hazel Lambert.

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Jeffery and Tzintziki Kramer are pleased to announce the birth of their son, Johnathan Justus Kramer. Johnathan was born on May 1, 2007, weighing 5 pounds 15 ounces and measuring 19½ inches long. The family lives in Phoenix, Arizona, and attends the Phoenix Northwest congregation. They are enjoying every minute of their first child.

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Brian and Rebecca (Olmstead) Babcock are pleased to announce the birth of their daughter, Rylie Claire, born July 6, 2007. Rylie is the fifth grandchild of Audrey and the late William Babcock of the Huntsville, Alabama, congregation and the ninth grandchild of George and the late Carol Olmstead of the Chicago, Illinois, congregation. The Babcocks attend the Minneapolis, Minnesota, congregation.

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José Roberto and Barbara (Nickels) Parada of Auburn, Washington, are happy to announce the birth of their first child, Hannah Jordan Rose Parada. Hannah was born June 7, 2007. She weighed 6 pounds 11 ounces and was 19 inches long. Hannah is the first grandchild of proud grandparents José and Teresita Parada of San Salvador, El Salvador, and the second grandchild of Shirley Nickels of Battleground, Washington, and the late Richard Nickels. Hannah has a gentle spirit and loves meeting new people. She is fourth generation in God's Church on both her mother's and father's sides of the family.

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Mike and Amy Wood of the Terre Haute, Indiana, congregation are very happy to announce the birth of their second grandson, Beau William Mishler. Beau was born Aug. 30, 2007, and he weighed 8 pounds 3 ounces and was 20½ inches long. Proud parents are Bryan and Amanda (Wood) Mishler. Beau is their second child. Luke, age 22 months, is now a big brother.

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Weddings

Dale and Twila Yates of Zephyrhills, Florida, are pleased to announce the May 20, 2007, marriage of their daughter, Stefanie Ruth, to Stephen David II, son of Steve and Mary McNeely of Hawkins, Texas. Set against the backdrop of a beautiful blue lake and the sculpted Hollis Gardens, the outdoor ceremony was co-officiated by the bride and groom's grandfathers, Jack Fike and Melton McNeely, both elders in the United Church of God. The maid of honor was Stefanie's longtime childhood friend, Ashley D'Antonio, also of Zephyr­hills. The best man was Stephen's high school friend and former bandmate, Mark Demiglio, of Denton, Texas.

After an elegant reception and dinner hosted by the Yates in the stately Magnolia Building, the couple was off to Cozumel for a relaxing week of honeymooning. Stephen and Stefanie currently live in Tyler, Texas, where they both work while finishing their degrees in teaching and nutrition respectively.

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Anniversaries

Hugh and Gloria (Aguirre) Harden met at college and were married in Fallon, Nevada, Aug. 25, 1957. Their children and the Boise, Idaho, congregation celebrated their 50th anniversary with an hors d'oeuvres reception Aug. 25, 2007.

Gloria spent 24 years in the elementary education field. Hugh worked for General Electric as a mechanical engineer until 1962 when they moved to the Boise area to assist Hugh's father in his well-drilling business. They bought out the well-drilling business in 1972, and Hugh and Gloria still run it. They have always worked together as a team.

Hugh and Gloria were baptized in 1968 and have attended and faithfully served in the Boise congregation ever since. They love their church—and all the people who work so diligently in serving in that area—very much.

They have four children: Lorinda and Jim Springer and grandson Jim C. of Sacramento, California, and granddaughter Kimberly and her husband Kyle Mullen of Corvallis, Oregon; David and Lorrye Harden and grandson Brandon of Bonney Lake, Washington; Becky and Mike Bennett and granddaughters Heather and Erica of Loveland, Ohio; and Talitha and Steve Ulsberger and grandsons Ryan and Jared of Bonney Lake, Washington.

They are very proud of their children and grandchildren. They appreciate all the love and kindness shown by their family and wonderful friends.

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Bob and Janice Wilmoth were married on June 22, 1957, in Newport, Kentucky.

The Cincinnati East, Ohio, congregation surprised them with a cake and punch social to commemorate their 50th wedding anniversary.

They moved from Kentucky to Warren, Michigan, in 1960 when Bob hired on with Remington Rand Univac. He worked on large-frame computers for 35 years.

Bob worked the afternoon shift and listened to Mr. Armstrong on WCKY radio on the way home each evening. They began studying the literature that was offered and requested a visit from the ministers. They were invited to church and were baptized together on Jan. 29, 1967.

Bob was ordained a deacon in 1971 and Janice was ordained a deaconess on the Night to Be Much Remembered in 1977.

Bob and Janice had one daughter, Linda Sue (deceased), and three sons, Robert (Shawnn), Joseph (Joanne) and Matthew (Michele). They have 14 grandchildren.

Irene Ferguson, Janice's mother, was a member of God's Church for 31 years. She died in April 1999.

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On Sabbath, June 30, 2007, the Elmira, New York, congregation was pleased to honor John and Carolyn Stachina for their 50th wedding anniversary. The Stachinas were married on June 29, 1957. The congregation gave them a card and a beautiful cake to recognize their years of wedded bliss. The Stachinas brought in a photo album of then-and-now photos marking their wedding and a party that their children had given them.

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Mr. and Mrs. Bill Norrod of the San Antonio, Texas, congregation celebrated their 60th anniversary on April 4, 2007. On March 31 most of Bill and Mary's family were able to make it from California, New York, San Antonio and Austin, Texas, to help them celebrate this special occasion.

After services Gary Petty presented them with a beautiful oil lamp, a gift from the congregation. And everyone enjoyed the delicious cake baked by Ruth Miller and finger food prepared by ladies of the congregation. For special music Roy Peer sang "How Great Thou Art."

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Obituaries

June M. Myers of Spokane, Washington, died at the age of 75 on Aug. 2, 2007, after a long battle with heart disease and COPD. Born June 5, 1932, June was raised in Caribou, Maine, with eight of her siblings. She lived in many places teaching ballroom dance for various Church of God groups for over 40 years. She is survived by one brother, Edward Bouchard, age 71, of Caribou; and four children, all in the faith: April Nelson of Spokane; David Overstreet of Tampa, Florida; Drew Overstreet of Sacramento, California; and Shawn Weisser of Wytheville, Virginia. She had many grandchildren who she loved very much and they loved her. She remained a faithful member of God's Church over many years. We will miss her.

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Doyle Reid Smith, 84, of the Greensboro, North Carolina, congregation, suffered a stroke on April 4, 2007—during the Days of Unleavened Bread. Although he experienced some ups and downs, even returning to attend church services for a time, he never fully recovered. He died on Sunday, Sept. 30, 2007—during the Feast of Tabernacles.

His life began in 1922 in Golden, Mississippi, in a family of tenant farmers. He served during World War II in England, France, Germany and Austria. He survived a spent bullet in the front of his helmet and bullets all around when he was removing mines from the road for the tanks to get through. He believed that God was saving him for a special purpose.

After his discharge, Mr. Smith graduated from Auburn University with a degree in industrial management, and he was offered a job in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. There he met his wife of 48 years, Janice. They were married in 1959.

Later in life he went back to school and received a second bachelor's degree, this one in social work.

Mr. Smith received God's calling in 1969 and was baptized in 1970. He was ordained a deacon at Pentecost in 1998 and served God and the Church faithfully and tirelessly. He was involved in many Church activities and, with God's help, remained ever faithful to his calling.

In lieu of a formal funeral, the family hosted a Celebration of Life in his honor at the VFW hall in Winston-Salem on Oct. 7. The celebration featured many of his favorite things, including Big Band music, champagne, chocolate chip/pecan cookies, mixed nuts and his very favorite thing he did so well, white chocolate-covered pecans.

Mr. Smith is survived by his wife, Janice; his two daughters, Tracy Gurley of Austin, Texas, and Wendy Smith, of Rocky Mount, North Carolina; and one sister, Nina Jean Tidwell, of Meridian, Mississippi. He is also survived by his two foster-daughters, Margie DeSoto of Connecticut and Mary Velasco of San Francisco.

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Jody F. Haas, age 90, died quietly at home Sept. 25, 2007, after a prolonged illness. A native Texan, Jody was born Jan. 6, 1917, in Flatonia, Texas. Following graduation from high school, he was employed as a butcher for Joe M. Huffington's JMH Supermarkets. He served his country as an Army staff sergeant in World War II, in charge of food preparation on troop trains.

In 1943, he married his wife of 64 years, Geneva (Jenny) Millet, returned home to Houston and, with two partners, purchased JMH Supermarkets. Jody served as president of the company and, for many years, Jody and JMH were well known in West University for hometown appeal and personal service. He also helped run a cattle ranch in Sealy, Texas, which supplied beef for the store's meat counter.

Jody and Jenny's two children, Jack and Gale, and two grandchildren, Joe and Beverly, formed the focus and center of their lives. Jody served as a deacon in the Church for many years, with service and generosity becoming the hallmarks of his family's involvement in the Houston area congregations.

Jody was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Lillie Haas; his three brothers, Walter, Ervin and George; and his daughter, Gale Haas La Fleur. He is survived by his loving wife, Jenny; his son, Jack; his grandchildren, Beverly and Joe La Fleur, and Joe's wife, Elaine; and son-in-law, Gerald W. La Fleur.

Graveside services were held Sept. 28, 2007, at Memorial Oaks Cemetery.

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Mel Williams, a member of the Church of God since 1955, died Sept. 22, 2007. His first love was serving his fellow brethren. A deacon since 1968 and an elder since 1976, he served in Long Beach, California; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Kingman, Arizona.

He and his wife, Patricia, moved to Pahrump, Nevada, in 1993. They were married for 51 years.

Also surviving him are sons, Jim and his wife, Debi (Dennis), of Pahrump; Michael and his wife, Jeannette (Fricke), of Mabton, Washington; daughters, Julie Buettner and her husband, Marcus, of Lakewood, California; Angelea Wackett and her husband, David, of Pahrump; son-in-law, Scott Hamrick; 14 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and brother, Marv Williams.

Preceding him in death were daughter Eva Lyn, brother Kenneth, sister Virginia and parents Cecil and Evelyn.

No services were held, as he is waiting to see all his friends and family with a real celebration in the Kingdom of God.

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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.