Life Events in the
Church of God

Longtime fitness coach and trainer Harry Sneider needs your prayers. He is currently in Kindred Rehab in Glendora, Calif. He is suffering with a serious illness. Thanks for your concern.

I, Henry, elder of 7th Day Church of God in Kerala, India, am suffering from a stroke the last few years. I need your valuable prayers. Please write to P.V. Henry, Pulickal House, Njaralloor Kara, Kizhakkambalam, Kerala 683 562, India.

Melvin Ray Wooten, 80, of Fort Wayne, Ind., passed away Feb. 9, 2014. Ray was born to the late James and Jessie Wooten June 9, 1933. He was a pastor for the Worldwide Church of God for more than 30 years and started United Christian Ministries in 1995.

Surviving are his wife, Peggy Jean Wooten; daughters Anita Jean Pope, Carol Fay (Alan) Boyer and Rebecca (John) Blevins; son James Matthew (Cathy) Wooten; grandsons Dustin (Misha) Pope, Derek Pope, Zachary (Abbey) Boyer, John (Amanda) Blevins, Mitchell Blevins, Matthew Ray Wooten and Steven Crow; granddaughters Paula (Cody) Jennings, Sara Boyer, Jessie Blevins and Mollie Blevins; and great-grandchildren Miles Jennings, Eli Jennings, Ellen Jean Pope and Parker Pope. Funeral services were Feb. 13 at Greenlawn Funeral Home in Fort Wayne with George Crow officiating. Burial was in Greenlawn Memorial Park.

Services for Loren Weinbrenner, 72, of Big Sandy, Texas, were held Feb. 16, 2014, at Gladewater Memorial Park with Ken Treybig officiating. Born Oct. 6, 1941, in Goessel, Kan., Loren died Feb. 11, 2014. Loren attended Bethel College in Kansas and Ambassador College in Big Sandy. He worked with the agriculture program at Ambassador College until the early 1970s. For the next decade he helped with the Feast site in Wisconsin Dells. He later worked as a professional painter. Loren possessed a true servant's heart and was a wonderful example of how to be positive in all circumstances. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Jeannette Weinbrenner of Big Sandy; two daughters, Melissa Weinbrenner of Mount Pleasant, Texas, and Lori Shipman and husband Terry of Big Sandy; one son, Jared Weinbrenner and wife Angela of Fort Worth, Texas; six grandchildren, Brian, Arthur, Eric, Terry Glenn "T.J.," Charlotte and Audrey; and three sisters, Eleanor Herbel and husband Willis of Kansas, Gladys Voth and husband Gary of Kansas, and Ilene Weinbrenner of Washington, D.C.

Macie Christine O'Dell Smith, 90, of Harrison, Tenn., formerly of Rossville, Ga., died Feb. 10, 2014. Mrs. Smith was born and raised in Murphy, N.C. She moved to Chattanooga in the early 1970s and was a member of Grace Communion International. She worked as a sales clerk at Kingwood Pharmacy and Super 10. She was preceded in death by her father, Rollin McDonald; mother, Callie Palmer McDonald; first husband, Ernest O'Dell; and second husband, Cleve Smith. Surviving are her sons, Danny (Diane) O'Dell of Harrison, and Sammy (Julia) O'Dell of Amarillo, Texas; grandchildren, Christy O'Dell (Nick) Lopez, Karen Beth O'Dell (Scott) Strovas and Kenneth (Nita) Cross; and four great-grandchildren. Pastor Dennis Wheatcroft officiated at the graveside service at Hanging Dog Baptist Cemetery in Murphy.

John Ross Schroeder, senior writer for The Good News and pastor of two United Church of God congregations in the British Isles, died in a hospital on March 8, 2014. John is survived by his wife, Jan, manager of the UCG British Isles office; sons Walter and Nathan; daughter-in-law Lori; and daughter Stephanie. Cards and messages for Jan and the family may be sent to the British Isles office by E-mail to info@ucg.org.uk or by mail to United Church of God, P.O. Box 705, Watford WD19 6FZ, United Kingdom.

Bobby Gerald "Bob" Wann, 72, passed away March 7, 2014, in Big Sandy, Texas. Bob was born July 13, 1941, to parents Marie Holderfield Wann and Harold "Buster" Wann and grew to adulthood in Fanshaw, Okla. He was passionate about people, achievement and horses.

Bob Wann is survived by his best friend and companion, Glenda Fenton; four children, Deborah Wann of Dallas, Texas; Connie and husband Lee Everest of Euless, Texas; Wendy and husband Robert Zamani of Denver, Colo.; and Brad and wife Amber Wann of Denver; eight grandchildren, Steven Lewis, Megan Zamani, Emily Wann, Sarah Zamani, Bailey Wann, Michael Zamani, Bonnie Wann and Benjamin Wann; four siblings, Jim Wann, Andrea West, Sandy Williams and Jeff Wann; and their extended families. A graveside service was held at Summerfield Cemetery, Le Flore County, Okla., on March 24, 2014. Bob was taken too soon for those who loved him but each soul is grateful for the time that they had. A donation may be made to the Colorado Epilepsy Foundation in Bob Wann's name to support his grandson Benjamin, who has battled epilepsy since the age of 2.

Bill Evans of Evening Shade, Ark., formerly of Pasadena, Calif., passed away Feb. 8, 2014, in North Little Rock Baptist Hospital of complications following open-heart surgery. Funeral service was Feb. 13 at Worthams Funeral Home in Hardy, Ark. Bill is survived by his wife, Annie. Bill's first wife, Bonnie, passed away in 1995. Bill is also survived by a son Ken (Gail) of Evening Shade, a daughter LaFawn Evans Crapes of Virginia, a grandson Jason, a granddaughter Laura and several other close relatives in Arkansas. A few years ago Bill moved from California back to north Arkansas, where he grew up and had family members still living nearby. Bill and his family touched many lives in such a positive way. He was a pillar of strength and a spiritual giant to many and is greatly missed.