Obituaries: December 2006

Thelma Eubank
Thelma Browder Eubank, 97, died Nov. 2 in Sunray, Texas. For 14 years she was a self-supported missionary in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. In 2003 Abilene Christian University honored her as the “unsung heroin of Asian missions.” She was preceded in death by three brothers, a sister, a daughter, two sons and two granddaughters. Survivors include two daughters, a son, 25 grandchildren, 49 great-grandchildren, and 30 great-great-grandchildren.

Dorothy Hall
Dorothy Branch Hall died Oct. 18 in San Jose, Calif. She taught pre-school Bible classes for 55 years until her retirement due to Parkinson’s disease. She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul. Survivors include two sons, three granddaughters, two brothers and a sister.
Becky Holbrook
Marybecca Tilotta Holbrook, 84, died Oct. 19. A graduate of Abilene Christian University, she was an author, teacher, business owner and did missionary work in many countries. The Granbury, Texas, church hosted her funeral. Survivors include a son, a daughter, two sisters, a brother, two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Diana Knight
Diana Lyn Knight, 51, died Sept. 29 in Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine, where she and her husband of 28 years, Dennis, were serving as missionaries. The Bentonville, Ark., church sponsored their work. In the 1970s she entered the Master’s Apprentice Program, a ministry of the East Hill church in York, Neb. Later she and her husband served for a decade in Ukraine. Survivors include her husband, a son and a daughter.
Lloyd Lee
Lloyd H. Lee, 78, died Oct. 23. He was a minister for more than 30 years for churches in Texas, Iowa and Oklahoma. He was a member of the Jefferson Boulevard church in Dallas. Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Alletha, a son, a daughter and two grandchildren.

Mitchell Murphy
Mitchell Murphy, 57, died Nov. 5 after a 10-year battle with cancer. A graduate of Freed-Hardeman University, he served for 25 years as an elementary school principal in Missouri. He was an elder of the Arnold, Mo., church, and active in the church’s prison ministry. Survivors include his wife, Susan, two daughters, three grandchildren, his mother, two brothers and two sisters.
Joseph Pryor
Joseph E. Pryor, 88, died Oct. 27 in Searcy, Ark. He served as a dean and vice president of academic affairs for Harding University, where he graduated in 1937 at age 19. He chaired Harding’s physical science department. He supported the school’s athletic programs, yearbook and Alpha Chi Honor Society. He was an elder of the College church, Searcy. Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Bessie Mae, a son, two daughters and a granddaughter.
John Thiesen
John Martin Thiesen, 71, died Oct. 23 in Springfield, Mo. For 25 years he served as a missionary in Africa, including the nation of Malawi. He also served as minister for the Buffalo, Mo., church. He later served as managing editor for the Spanish version of Voice of Truth International and wrote gospel tracts in two African languages. Survivors include his wife of 50 years, Ann, three sons, two daughters and 15 grandchildren.
J. Harold Thomas
J. Harold Thomas, 92, died Oct. 12 in Conway, Ark. He led efforts to establish Northeastern Junior College in Villanova, Pa., and served as the school’s first chairman of the board and then president. A longtime minister, he preached on radio in Texas, Boston and Maine and produced a radio drama. In 1954 he pioneered the first live television broadcast for northern Maine.
Survivors include his wife of 72 years, Roxie, five children, 22 grandchildren and 37 great-grandchildren.
Charles Van Baucom
Charles Van Baucom, 76, died Oct. 6 in Texas. He was an English teacher and a librarian. He served as director of Levitt Library at York College, York, Neb., from 1964 to 1996 and continued serving as the director emeritus and archivist until his retirement. Survivors include an uncle and three aunts
Stella Walker
Stella Madene Walker, 69, died Oct. 22 in Abilene, Texas. She and her husband, Mickey, served in eight ministries in Texas and Oklahoma. She was a member of the Westgate church, Abilene. Survivors include her husband, two sons, a daughter, four grandchildren and a sister.
Dec. 1, 2006