He was born on April 22, 1936, in Altoona, Pennsylvania. He is survived by his wife of forty-eight years, Joan Grabill, of Xenia; two adult sons, Dr. Stephen (Rebecca) Grabill of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Douglas Grabill of Dayton, Ohio; two older brothers, Roy Grabill of Shreve, Ohio, and Bob Grabill of Port Matilda, Pennsylvania; and four grandchildren, Austin Denny of Xenia, Nicholas Grabill, Sebastian Grabill, and Magdalene Grabill all of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Dr. Grabill was a graduate of Philadelphia Bible Institute, Grace College; Grace Theological Seminary, and Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. Dr. Grabill faithfully served the Lord Jesus Christ in several capacities throughout his rich and varied lifetime.

He was ordained in the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches, and, over the course of his ministry, pastored several congregations in Pennsylvania, Indiana, Ohio, Maryland, and New Mexico.

He was also active in Christian education where he served Dayton Christian Schools for four decades in the roles of Bible teacher, chaplain for the school system, principal and assistant principal. He helped to set Christ-inspired vision and direction for the school’s future and served as a spiritual mentor to countless students, parents, and staff.

Yet most notably, his life through all his service embodied the generosity, mercy, and servant leadership of his Lord. A memorial service was held Tuesday, May 27, in the Schindler Banquet Center on the campus of Legacy Ministries International in Xenia, Ohio.

Lynn Schrock went to be with his Lord Saturday, April 19, 2008. Lynn and Lois Schrock were missionaries to Argentina with GBIM 1945-1970.

Lynn graduated from the missionary course at Moody Bible Institute in April, 1942. It was while at MBI he felt the calling to the mission field. During Founders Week in 1942 in January he met the love of his life, Lois Evelyn Buikema.

In September of 1942 he entered Grace Theological Seminary and on September 4, 1943 Lynn and Lois were married. On March 22, 1945, he was graduated cum laude and gave the baccalaureate address for the seminary graduation. He also was the class president his senior year.

In 1945 Lynn and Lois were accepted by the Grace Brethren Foreign Missionary Society as missionaries to Argentina where they served for 25 years. Twins Norman Edward and Rebecca Ann (Becky) were born to them in 1946, and seven years later Mark Stephen was born.

While in Rio Cuarto, Lynn started the Bible Institute and the Radio Program. During his twenty-five years he served 15 of them as Field Superintendent. He spent his last 11 years in Argentina in Corhe establishing a new church and continuing his teaching at the Bible Institute and directing the mission field.

In order to avoid the government military regulation of mandatory military service for all young men at age 18, the Schrock family left Argentina in 1969.

In July of 1970 they were called to pastor the church in San Diego, California. They were there for 15 years, after which they retired and lived at the Missionary Village of Bradenton in Bradenton, Florida. During this time they helped in the starting of a new Grace Brethren Church in Bradenton.

While in Bradenton Lynn wrote a commentary on the Book of Galatians in Spanish which was published by CLIE. He also wrote a commentary on the remaining Pauline epistles as well as on the book of Hebrews.

They moved to California in August of 2006, for health reasons, in order to be near their children.

Lynn is survived by his wife of 64 years, Lois; his twins, Norman (and wife, Claudia) and Becky (widow), and his youngest son, Mark (and wife, Debby), seven grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

A memorial service was held Friday, March 14, 2008, at Rose Drive Friends Church, Yorba Linda, California, for longtime Grace Brethren pastor, Bible teacher, and Jewish evangelist Robert Elias Allen Miller (Robert E.A.) of Placentia, California, who peacefully went home to be with the Lord, surrounded by his children, on Thursday, February 28, 2008. He was 92.

He was the oldest of ten children born to Robert Paul Miller and Anne Alverta Meyers. For more than 60 years, he was a minister in the Grace Brethren Church and with Chosen People Ministries.

Miller attended Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois, graduating in 1935 with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology. He married Althea Marie Schwartz on September 3, 1935, and after a brief honeymoon, they settled in Ohio, where he attended Grace Theological Seminary.

Upon graduation from seminary, he and Althea moved with their two young children to Tracy, California, where he served as a pastor for three years.

When Robert and Althea were married, their life goal was to serve as missionaries in Africa, but when it came time to make the final plans in 1939, the United States government would not permit them to leave the country as first-time missionaries with two small children because of international unrest. So they began their ministry with the Brethren church in Tracy, California.

In 1941 Miller accepted the call to pastor the Grace Brethren church in Martinsburg, Pennsylvania, where he also taught public school since so many young male teachers were called or volunteered to serve in World War II. In Pennsylvania four more of nine children joined the family.

In 1949, the Millers moved Roanoke, Virginia, where Robert served as pastor of the Ghent Brethren Church. In 1956, the family moved to St. Petersburg, Florida, where Robert and Althea both taught at the Grace Livingston Hill Memorial School and Robert pastored a small church.

In 1960, they moved to Glendale, California, where Robert served as pastor of the Grace Brethren Church. While in Glendale, Robert took a stand against anti-Semitism by successfully protesting the establishment of the American Nazi Party headquarters.

In 1966, Robert and Althea joined the staff of The American Board of Mission to the Jews, now the Chosen People Ministries, as field missionaries, a call that moved them to Washington, D.C., where they served until 1972. They then returned to California (Orange County) where they continued their work with the Chosen People Ministries until their retirement in the early 90s.

Robert continued to teach, conduct Bible study classes, and mentor young men right up to the end of his life. For some years he wrote teacher quarterlies for adult Brethren Sunday School classes. He also taught a weekly Bible study class for more than 25 years at a Seal Beach (CA) retirement village that is home to many retired Brethren church pastors and members.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Althea Schwartz Miller, and his son Robert, Jr. He is survived by five siblings: Martha Lohnes, Jane Wilkins, Paul Miller, Carl Miller, and Wesley Miller; his eight children, William Ward Miller, David S. Miller, Dorotheann Barker, Sharon M. Lash, Paul K. Miller, Althea L. Miller, Ardyth L. M. Hallock, and Mark F. Miller; their spouses; and by 15 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.

Don Kendall Rager, 92, Upper Yoder Township, Pennsylvania, went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on January 28, 2008 at Conemaugh Memorial Hospital.

Born November 15, 1915, in East Conemaugh, son of Howard B. and Elizabeth (Boyle) Rager, Don later lived in Portage, Conemaugh, and Moxham. Preceded in death by parents, beloved wife Hannah (Womer) Rager, and brothers Ray and Bob Rager. Survived by children, Judy (Jim) Kovalik, Johnstown, and Tim (Sharon) Rager, Indianapolis; and grandchildren, Griffin (Gwyn) Rager, Indianapolis, and Katie (Jordan) Goff, Charleston, S.C.; brother-in-law Jim (Ruth) Womer; sisters-in-law Nora (Howard) Womer, Lilla (Tom) Womer, and Leah (Dick) Womer; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A faithful husband and father, Don was employed by Bethlehem Steel Corp. from 1940—1962, years during which he and several friends founded the Riverside Grace Brethren Church (now Davidsville Community Church). When called on, Don served as pulpit supply for area churches, and made many lifelong friends in the process. In 1962 he accepted the call to become pastor of the Conemaugh Grace Brethren Church, where he served for 20 years, then continued after retirement as an active member till his death.

Don liked to sing harmony, make items from wood, and work crossword puzzles. He will be remembered for his love for Christ and the Bible, his warm smile and sense of humor, his gift of encouragement, and his sense of honesty.

Ralph Wiley took his final flight on Thursday, January 3, 2008. He boarded the plane at 5:18 PM and arrived safely at his destination at 5:18 PM in heaven’s terminal.

He was greeted by the Lord – and by his sweetheart of 59 years – and by a host of others welcoming him home. He had gotten his boarding pass on November 7 when the doctor told him what he called the “best news he had heard in years” – his body was full of cancer and he would probably be dead in two months. And ever since then he has been so excited that he could hardly wait. And now the wait is over – and he is home free.

In typical Ralph Wiley fashion, he planned and led his own “Living Memorial Service” on Sunday morning, November 25, at his beloved Grace Brethren Church in Sebring, Florida. He joked that he wanted “to hear all the good things that people had to say about him.”

The real reason was that he could never pass up an opportunity to preach – and he wanted to have one last opportunity to challenge people to love the Lord with all their hearts so they could live like trees planted by the streams of water (Psalm 1). That was a real highlight for him and his family, as all five of his children were present along with several of their spouses.

He spent his final weeks then with his daughter and husband, Mark and Ruth Chibis, in Hallandale Beach, Florida. During that time many of his children and grandchildren were able to visit and call and celebrate the impact he has had in their lives.

He also had the joy of leading a woman to the Lord one week before he died, as she wanted to talk to someone who was not afraid to die. He had willed his body to science (in the hopes that others could be helped), so there will be no further funeral or memorial service.

Ralph Wiley has had a huge impact in the life and ministry of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches since he began at the Grace Brethren Church in Galion, Ohio, in the early 1960s.

After serving as Protestant Chaplain at a prison in Marion, Ohio, for about 28 years, he retired early and began serving as interim pastor and wife in many churches in our Fellowship: Akron Ellet (twice) and Minerva in Ohio; Charlotte in North Carolina; Orlando, Maitland, Okeechobee, Fort Lauderdale (twice) and Sebring (twice) in Florida.

He also served with CE National for several years as a Senior Adult Coordinator. He and his wife Dorotha have also invested deeply in missions through Grace Brethren International Missions, with special burdens for the pygmies in Africa and the church-planters in the Philippines.

He has also left a living legacy in the Fellowship as his son Galen Wiley is pastor at the GBC in Lancaster, PA, his granddaughter Letitia Yoder with her husband Mike is serving with Grace Brethren International Missions as a missionary in Berlin, Germany, his grandson Jonathon Wiley with his wife Kim is on the pastoral staff at the GBC in Columbus, Ohio, and his granddaughter Katrina Walker with her husband Cort was involved at the Liberty GBC in Johnson, PA, as their first pastor for several years (before Cort went to Regent University for his law degree to help defend Christian freedoms).

Ralph has impacted countless lives with his love for the Lord, his love for people, his delightful humor, and his constant challenge to believe in Jesus and follow Him. He has run the race well and has crossed the finish line. And now he is enjoying his rewards – and cheering us on to that same victory.

Word was received January 9, 2008, of the death of longtime Grace Brethren missionary Jack Churchill, who had been in ill health for some time. Churchill had been living in San Diego, California.

Churchill was a longtime missionary to Argentina and to Mexico. He was honored this past August by the Association of Grace Brethren Ministers with their Lifetime Achievement Award.

Churchill and his first wife, Miriam Sickel Churchill, went to Argentina in November of 1949 and served there until 1965.

According to the AGBM citation, the Churchills were responsible for establishing a Christian testimony in the Rio Tercero area, and later went on to teach at and direct the Bible Institute.

In 1966, Jack and Miriam joined the Brethren missionary team on the Mexican border, where they were involved in leadership training, teaching, and advising pastors.

Following Miriam's death in 1981, Jack continued to minister on the Mexican border. In 1983 he married Rosa, the widow of a Grace Brethren pastor in Mexico.

This past August 20, Jack celebrated his 86th birthday, along with 24 years of marriage to Rosa.

In a Wednesday night prayer meeting at Winona Lake, Indiana, retired missionary Roy Snyder recalled how he and Churchill had sung and travelled together on a male quartet, along with Charles Ashman and Ken Marken.

Dr. Homer Kent, Jr., president emeritus of Grace College and Seminary, recalled that when the collegiate division of the seminary was begun in 1948, Churchill was on the first faculty, teaching English composition. Yet another person present recalled how evangelist Luis Palau, speaking to a Grace Brethren national conference some years ago, paid tribute to Jack Churchill and thanked him in public for his influence on Palau's own life.

Frank Thomas “Tom” Inman was born at home in Beaver City, Nebraska, to Nelle and Harry Inman on August 3, 1924, and departed for his heavenly home on December 20, 2007.

He graduated from Beaver City High School and Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kansas, where he met the love of his life, Geneva Pearl Heinrichs. They were married on August 19, 1950.

In 1953 he graduated Summa Cum Laude from Grace Seminary.

They moved to Denver, CO, where he was the pastor of Denver Grace Brethren Church from 1954 - 1970. In August 1970 they moved with their children to Colorado Springs, where he started a new church, Colorado Springs Grace Brethren. He served there until his retirement in 1994.

After his retirement he continued to serve the church in many areas including helping with the children’s ministry. Tom served on the Board of Grace College and Seminary for 30 years. In addition, he was a substitute teacher for 50 years.

Tom’s passion in life was to lead people to Christ, to shepherd them and encourage them to also serve the Lord.

He used his artistic talents in numerous capacities including sermons with “Chalk Talks,” creative décor for the church sanctuary, oil paintings and in his later years spent many hours designing and creating hand stitched personalized gifts and cards. He will be greatly missed by the many whose lives he has touched.

Tom is survived by his wife, Geneva, his brother Harold, daughters Patty (Kit) Cushenbery, Lyn Nelle (James) Mustard, Laurel (Michael) Fassold and his son Bryce (Lu Ann) Inman, as well as his seven grandchildren, two of whom are married, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service was held Sunday, December 23 at Colorado Springs Grace Brethren Church, 2975 Jet Wing Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80918, where Robert Schaffer is pastor.

Charles R. Taber, age 78, went to be with his Lord on Friday, October 26, 2007. He died at his home in Johnson City, Tennessee, after a two-month illness.

Taber was born in Paris, France, of American parents, Floyd and Ada Taber, where he lived until he was nine years old. He then moved to the Central African Republic where his parents served as a missionary doctor and as a teacher.

He left Africa when he was 17 years old and moved to Allentown, PA, to finish the last two years of high school. Charles graduated from Bryan College and attended Grace Seminary before returning to the Central African Republic with his wife, Betty, to serve as a missionary from 1953-1961.

He pastored a church and was principal of the church school for two years in Warsaw, Indiana, before moving to Hartford, CT, where he earned a Ph.D. in Linguistics and Anthropology at the Kennedy School of Missions.

Dr. Taber was then employed by the American Bible Society first as a researcher and then as a translations consultant in West Africa for five years. Charles co-wrote the translation textbook, TAPOT, with Dr. Eugene Nida that is still used today in the training of Bible translators. He edited a popular missions magazine, Practical Anthropology, and later another, The Gospel in Context. He has written several books and many articles on missions related topics.

Dr. Taber taught at Milligan College for four years, then at Emmanuel School of Religion for 18 years as the professor of World Mission. He has been retired for a decade. He continued to teach, write, and lecture internationally as health permitted.

Charles is survived by his wife of 56 years, Betty, and five children, Christine Taber, Diana Abbott and her husband, Bob, Kathleen Moisan, Charles Taber and his wife, Sue, and Patricia Taber and her husband, Dan Brewer; seven grandchildren, Jared Abbott, Rebekah Abbott, Charles Abbott, Lukas Moisan, David Moisan, Jamie Taber, and Tony Taber; a sister, Lois Baker and her husband, Dwight; a brother, Allan Taber and his wife, Linda; a sister-in-law, Patricia Buck; a niece, Elaine Spearman; three nephews, Karl Baker, Douglas Baker, and Victor Spearman; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Marguerite Spearman, and a nephew, Jonathan Spearman.

Charles was a member of Grandview Christian Church where he served for many years as an elder, Sunday school teacher, and on the Missions Team. His goal in life has always been to glorify his Lord, Jesus Christ. Betty & Charles took Psalms 48:14 as the verse in scripture they would live by: This God is our God, forever and forever. He will be our guide, even unto death.

A Celebration of Life Memorial service was held at Grandview Christian Church on October 29, with Mr. Aaron Wymer, Minister, officiating.

Former Grace Brethren pastor Howard H. Gelsinger, 64, of Robesonia, Pa., died on Sunday, September 30, 2007, at the Reading (Pa.) Hospital.

He was born in the Reading Hospital on December 29, 1942, son of the late Clarence D. and Esther L. (Forry) Gelsinger. He was a graduate of Conrad Weiser High School. He was involved in dairy farming before the Lord called him into full-time ministry. After graduating from Lancaster Bible College, he served an internship at Myerstown Grace Brethren Church and a pastorate at the Echo Valley Grace Brethren Church, Tremont, Pa., and the Grace Brethren Church in Charlotte, N.C. The last several years he was a member of Calvary Bible Fellowship Church in Sinking Spring, where he was involved in teaching Sunday school, Bible Studies and the Senior Saints Ministry. He was recently employed by Triple M. Farms in Lebanon. He was also a member of the Heidelberg Township Zoning & Variance Board.

Surviving are his wife, Linda M. (Schaeffer) Gelsinger, and daughter, Jackie D., wife of Randy Moomaw; and three grandchildren, Erin, Kyle, and Tyler of Wooster, Ohio. Other survivors include a brother, Melvin C. Gelsinger, Robesonia; three sisters, Lorraine E., wife of Kenneth Kratz, Sinking Spring, Linda M., wife of Paul Cruz, Philadelphia, and Louise M., wife of Allen Houtz, Robesonia.

Funeral services were held held at Calvary Bible Fellowship Church. Interment at Bain's Church Cemetery, Lower Heidelberg Township.

U.S. Army Chaplain and former Grace Brethren pastor Lee Burris went to live with his Lord and Savior, Jesus, on August 4, 2007, passing peacefully in sleep in the Sacramento, California, area.

Burris was born January 22, 1925, in Indianola, Oklahoma, the son of a migrant farm worker. A veteran of 20 years, he served in Navy in WWII and in the Army as a chaplain, including two tours in Viet Nam, retiring as Lieutenant Colonel. After his service in the military he served as a pastor of several churches, including Fremont (Ohio) Grace Brethren Chapel, where he pastored from 1976-1979.

Lee Burris graduated from Biola University in 1952 and Talbot Seminary in 1955 with a Bachelor of Divinity and in 1969 with a Master of Divinity. He was ordained as a minister in the Grace Brethren Church in the Northwest District in 1957.

He was married to Lois Paxton on June 10, 1950, and they had four children, Margaret, David, Robert, and Jonathan.

Burris leaves behind his wife of 57 years, four children, ten grandchildren, his brother Jack, and countless friends. He served the Lord preaching God’s Word and ministering daily to family, friends, and all those he met. He loved playing games, telling jokes, and visiting with family and friends. A memorial service was held at the Antelope Springs Community Church in Roseville, California.

He served as an enlistee in the U.S. Navy during WWII from 1943-1946, serving in the South Pacific and Australia. He served in the U.S. Army as a Grace Brethren Chaplain from 1958 to 1976, retiring as Lieutenant Colonel, followed by pastorates in Ohio and California.

He served two tours in Vietnam from 1966-1967 (Cam Ranh Bay) and 1969-1970 (Phu Bai). He received the Army Commendation Medal, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, and the Vietnam Service Medal with four campaign stars.

Upon his retirement from the Army chaplaincy in 1976, Lee wrote these comments . . . "I entered the Army chaplaincy in 1958. During this 17-year period I have pastored 12 Army chapels which included assignments in infantry divisions, troops in basic training and two tours to Vietnam.

“Opportunities to hold services and to witness were unlimited in this combat zone. The Army has really been a challenging ministry, which included holding chapel services on Sunday, showing of religious films, weekly Bible studies, prayer groups, and Christian Marriage Enrichment Seminars. Much of my time was spent in home visitations, marriage counseling, and talking with troops in the field. My wife and I thank the Lord for a rewarding ministry in the Army."

Dr. Larry Chamberlain, representing the Eagle Commission, said, “On behalf of the Active Duty, Reserve, and Retired Chaplains and the members of the Eagle Commission, we extend our sympathies to the family and commend Lee Burris CH (LTC), USA, Ret. for his courageous and distinguished service for God and Country.”

Grace Brethren chaplain’s endorsing agent John Schumacher recalled, “In 1970, Lee, Charles Bearinger, and I were all in Viet Nam at the same time. We met in Saigon and conducted a retreat for Charles’ soldiers. I knew Lee well.”

Burris’ sons, Bob, Jonathan and David are setting up a memorial for Lee D. Burris at Talbot Seminary, 13800 Biola Ave., La Mirada, CA 90639, for the "Talbot Student Scholarship Fund."