JACKSON, Miss.--Ron Wallen, 56, died Feb. 8, 2002 in Valdosta, Ga. Mr. Wallen had been an elder in the Worldwide Church of God who in recent years operated a ministry that included a Feast of Tabernacles observance that was not officially sanctioned by the Worldwide Church of God.

The Journal reported on Mr. Wallen's Feast site in Foley, Ala., in the Oct. 31, 2000, issue. He and 500 other people who disagreed with many WCG doctrines but believed they should not leave the WCG met together at the site, near the Gulf Coast.

Mr. Wallen is preceded in death by his parents, Claud Wallen and Alta Scheu, a brother, Ed Wallen, and a sister, Phyllis Veale. He is survived by a loving family: his wife, Rosemary Wallen; two children, Ginger Sorg of Monroe, Ga., and Brandon Wallen of Jackson; five brothers, Dwayne Wallen of Seattle, Wash., Bob Wallen of Aptos, Calif., Don Wallen of Phoenix, Ariz., Tony Wallen of Buford, Ga., and Chris Scheu; sister, Pamela Diechert of Sliverado, Calif.; several nieces and nephews, other relatives and a host of friends.