The Reverend William A. Studwell

Let us Remember with thanksgiving the life of The Reverend William A. Studwell, a member of our Conference, who finished his course in faith on Sunday, January 22, 2012, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida at the age of 87. The Reverend Studwell’s ministry began after serving in the U.S. Army, 66th Division in France during World War II. After the war he graduated from Yale Divinity School and served churches in the High Ridge, Pound Ridge and Sellecks Corners charge, Kingston: Clinton Avenue,...

Mrs. Maureen Burns

With thanksgiving, we remember the life of Maureen Burns, wife of the Rev. Bradley Ben Burns, who finished her course in the faith on January 20, 2012, at the age of 77 years in Greenport, NY. The Rev. Ben Burns' ministry in the New York Conference included appointments to the following churches on Long Island, New York: Commack, Associate at Hicksville, Woodbury and Cold Spring Harbor, Southold, and Hauppauge and Central Islip before retiring in 1998. Mrs. Burns was an accomplished and...

Mrs. Alice Gates

With gratitude we acknowledge the life of Alice Gates, wife of retired pastor the Rev. Matthew H. Gates, who finished her course in faith at 91 years-of-age on January 5, 2012 in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. The Rev. Gates served churches in Connecticut: Derby and Naugatuck; New Rochelle, NY: St. John's, First and Christ. He served as Superintendent for the Connecticut West District and as the New York Annual Conference Program Director from 1973 to 1985. In addition to her...

Mrs. Beatrice Crowell

With thanksgiving we acknowledge the life of Mrs. Beatrice Crowell who finished her course in faith on November 29, 2011 in Cuddebackville, New York at the age of 84 years. Her husband, Rev. Arthur Renfro Crowell, Sr., predeceased her on June 27, 2007. The late Rev. Crowell served churches in the New York Conference at Salem and Union. Previously, he served as a District Superintendent in the Central Florida Conference and was a professor at several colleges in Florida, North and South...

Mrs. Jill Riggles

With gratitude we acknowledge the life of Jill Riggles who finished her course in faith on November 10, 2011 in Middletown, Connecticut at 57 years-of-age. She was the wife of The Rev. Dr. Elven O. Riggles, pastor of the United Churches of Durham, Durham, Connecticut. Mrs. Riggles served as music director and organist for the church. In addition to her husband, Mrs. Riggles is survived by two daughters and a son: Meredith Huntly and husband, Matthew, of Waltham, Massachusetts; Elizabeth...

Ms. G. Marilyn Watson

It is with sorrow that on Tuesday, October 25, 2011, G. Marilyn Watson finished her course in faith at Hartford Hospital at the age of 68 years. She was the daughter of retired Pastor Vincent and Jacquelyn (Walton) Watson of Bloomfield, Connecticut. Marilyn was an active member of the United Methodist Church of Hartford for over 40 years, participating in the Adult Choir and the Outreach Committee of the United Methodist Women. Marilyn's father, Pastor Vincent W. Watson, served churches...

Mrs. Thursa Mae Minnich Brackbill

It is with sorrow that on Thursday, October 19, 2011, Thursa Mae Minnich Brackbill finished her course in faith at Garden Spot Village, New Holland, Pennsylvania at the age of 91 years. She was married to the late Rev. Edwin C Minnich who predeceased her in 1987 and the late Hershey L. Brackbill who predeceased her in 2005. Thursa was a 1939 graduate of McCaskey High School and supported her husband Edwin in serving churches including: Pearl Street, Telford, Pottsville, Allentown, Glendale...

Reverend Paul C. Baresel, Jr.

Let us recall with thanksgiving the life of the Reverend Paul C. Baresel, Jr., who finished his course in faith on October 18, 2011 in Greenwood Lake, New York at the age of 80 years. The Reverend Baresel's ministry began after serving in the navy on the U.S.S. Conger submarine and the New York Bell Telephone Company. Rev. Baresel served the following parishes in the New York Conference: Pine Bush, Walker Valley, Hillsdale, North Hillsdale, West Taghkanic and Glenco Mills and Woodhaven:...

Lynn Margaret Ary

On Saturday, October 15, 2011, Lynn Margaret Ary, daughter of the Rev. Joseph and Faye Ary, finished her course in faith in Accord, New York at the age of 52 years. Lynn was a speech language pathologist and specialized in children. Besides her parents, she is survived by her husband, Alan Gill; a brother, Joseph Wesley, and his wife, Dru Ary, of Hillsdale, New York; two nieces, April Jo Ary Whalen of Millerton, New York and Hollie Ary of Hillsdale, New York. Visitation hours will be...

The Reverend William Henry Hunter, III

We recall with thanksgiving the life of the Rev. William Henry Hunter, III, a member of our Conference, who finished his course in faith on Sunday, September 11, 2011 in Rhinebeck, New York at the age of 77 years.  The Rev. Hunter served our conference at Harriman & Southfields, Ashokan, Glenford & West Hurley, Hillsdale & North Hillsdale, Van Cortlandtville, Coxsackie & Earlton, Cairo, South Cairo & Round Top, Bayside, Rhinebeck & Hillside, Hancock, and Georgetown...

Lois H. Cave

We announce with sorrow the death of Lois H. Cave, wife of the Reverend Robert J. Cave, who finished her course in faith on August 29, 2011 in Wellington, Florida at the age of 81 years. The Rev. and Mrs. Cave would have been married 50 years on September 1, 2011. The Reverend Cave served in the New York Conference at St. Andrew's in New Haven, Connecticut; Bridgehampton and Sag Harbor, Wesley and Woodrow on Staten Island; and retired in 2000 from New Hyde Park: Hillside, New York. In...

Russell McDonald

With profound regret we announce the death of Russell McDonald, husband of The Reverend Madeline L. McDonald, retired member of the New York Annual Conference. Mr. McDonald finished his course in the faith on August 18, 2011 in Whitesboro, New York at the age of 85 years. Mr. McDonald is survived by his wife, Madeline of Whitesboro, New York and four daughters: Susan and husband Steve Montrose of Whitesboro, New York; Deborah and husband Don Frank of St. Louis, Missouri; Laura McDonald of...

The Reverend Vernon C. Stutzman

The Reverend Vernon C. Stutzman, a retired pastor of our Conference, finished his course in faith on August 10, 2011 in Rutherfordton, North Carolina at the age of 92. He served Christ through the New York Conference as the Executive Director of the Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn, New York for over 22 years; served as Special Consultant to the Division of Health & Welfare Ministries; and retired in 1981. In his retirement he volunteered for Habitat for Humanity of Rutherford County and...

The Reverend Richard S. Parker

With deep sorrow we announce the death of the Rev. Richard S. Parker a beloved member and leader of the New YorkAnnual Conference on Tuesday, July 12, 2011. The Rev.Parker served the following churches; South Meriden, Kensington, Islip, Poughkeepsie: Trinity, Broadway Temple and Port  Washington. He also served as Superintendent of the Long Island West District. After retirement he continued to serve the Conference as interim Superintendent of the Connecticut/New...

The Reverend Lloyd Alvah Duren

We recall with thanksgiving the life of the Rev. Lloyd Alvah Duren, a member of our Conference, who finished his course in faith on Thursday, July 7, 2011 at the age of 87 years. The Rev. Lloyd Duren served our conference at Brooklyn: Warren Street, Bridgeport: Newfield; Huntington; Brooklyn: St. Mark's; and Poughkeepsie: Trinity. After retiring in 1986, he served as Director of the New York Methodist Credit Union in White Plains, New York for several years. He also continued to volunteer his...

Mrs. Esther Swords Foster

We remember with thanksgiving the life of Esther Swords Foster, the widow of the Rev. William Foster, who passed from this world into eternal life on July 5, 2011 at the age of 89. Esther, the daughter of Gertrude and the Rev. Albert E. Swords, was born in Germany and came to the United States in 1942 when she was in her early 20's. She married Bill Foster shortly after his discharge from the US Navy, and accompanied him to seminary at Boston University, to pastorates in the Northern Iowa...

The Reverend Thomas Irwin Vaughan

We recall with thanksgiving the life of The Reverend Thomas Irwin Vaughan, who finished his course in faith on Wednesday, June 1, 2011 in Graham, North Carolina at the age of 69 years. Rev. Vaughan served in Westhampton Beach, West Hempstead, and Franklin Square in New York, and in West Granby, Copper Hill, Waterbury and Norwalk, Connecticut. He retired in 2004. Rev. Vaughan is survived by his wife, (Lois) Anne Vaughan of Graham, North Carolina and two daughters: Jennifer Bailey (Nicholas)...

The Reverend Alfred Liberatore

We announce the death of the Reverend Alfred Liberatore who finished his course in faith on Monday, May 23, 2011 in Catskill, New York at the age of 82 years. Rev. Liberatore served churches in the New York Conference in Malden, Quarryville, Palenville, Cold Spring, South Highland, Pine Plains, and Durham in New York, and Seymour, Connecticut. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Dorothy (Winifred) Liberatore, and two daughters: Dorothy (Darrel) Brodhead of New Paltz, New York and Wendy...

Mrs. Magdalene Takaro Law

We announce the death of Mrs. Magdalene Takaro Law who finished her course in faith on May 13, 2011 in Chatham, Massachusetts at the age of 95 years. Her husband, the Rev. Ronald S. Law, died September 12, 2005. Rev. Law served in the New York Conference in Bethpage, Merrick and Manhattan in New York, and in Fairfield, Connecticut. Mrs. Law is survived by a daughter, Kathleen and Stephen Rhinesmith of Chatham, Massachusetts; two grandsons, Christopher Rhinesmith and his wife Sarah of...

Mrs. Rose Mildred Richmond

We announce the death of Rose Mildred Richmond, wife of the Reverend Robert Eugene Richmond, who finished her course in faith on May 3, 2011 in Laguna Woods, California at the age of 77 years. Rev. Richmond served in the New York Annual Conference in Brooklyn (Park Slope UMC), Manhattan (St. Paul & St. Andrew UMC), Highland, Lloyd, Lynbrook (St. James UMC) and Fishkill, New York, before retiring in1999. Besides her husband, she is survived by a son and two daughters: Ronald...