Life Events
in the Church of God

Linda Wright of Paron, Ark., suffering from macular degeneration of the eyes, surgery pending.

Duane Nichols, longtime CGI minister, recovering from head injury due to a cycling accident.

Danny Jones, newborn, recovering from brain surgery. Also, his kidneys are not functioning normally and he has poor blood circulation.

Pat Knight, 145 Ridge Point Dr., Boone, NC 28607, double valve replacement surgery pending.

Dibar Apartian died Dec. 8, 2010, at the age of 94. He was a prominent figure in the building of the French work of the Worldwide Church of God for many years. Mr. Apartian's funeral was held in the Charlotte, N.C., area.

Rory Ries, pastor of the Congregation of the Eternal, Sabbatarian (St. Louis) died Nov. 16, 2010, after suffering a long time with a brain tumor. Rory was a U.S. Army veteran who served in Vietnam and an elder who served his congregation faithfully every Sabbath and kept all God's feasts with great joy and exuberance. Mr. Ries was buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.

Garey Strickland of Cisco, Texas, died Dec. 2, 2010. He was 55. Mr. Strickland suffered from brain cancer. He is survived by his wife, Janie, and other family and friends.

Milton Schmitt, a longtime Church of God member, died of a heart attack Dec. 5, 2010. Mr. Schmitt was a faithful servant of the Eternal God and was always willing to help anyone in need. He is survived by his wife, Bonnie, and three children, Milton Jr., Michael and Melissa. The family receives mail at 5025 Darbee Rd., Fairgrove, MI 48733.

Victor Kubik had a bad fall while traveling in Zambia. He is suffering from two broken ribs and an air pocket between his lungs and the ribs.

Delbert "Deane" Rundell, 77, passed away Dec. 18, 2010, at the home of his son in New Plymouth, Idaho. He had been ill for the past several months.

Mr. Rundell was born in Gray County, Kan., on March 13, 1933, the second son of Delbert Ira Rundell and Edith Myrl Parks. He farmed at Haggard, Kan., then moved to Dodge City and worked for Mayrath Machine Mfg. He married Mary McCune on June 10, 1952, and became a father to Jacqueline McCune, who was later joined by a son, Delbert, and a daughter, Beckie. In 1953 they moved to Caldwell, Idaho, where he worked at Simplot's and Idaho Gas Co. In 1960 they moved to Kamiah, where he operated Blue Flame Gas Co. for several years. He returned to farming and ranching, later becoming an auctioneer. In 1994 he moved back to southern Idaho. He married Juanita Malchow in 1994. They have resided in the Fruitland area since. Deane loved his family, dogs, horses, guns and things of the authentic old West. He was a member of the Celebration Church of God.

Survivors include his wife, Juanita; his son, Delbert (Marie), New Plymouth, Idaho; his daughter, Jacqueline (Dave) Medlock, Lewiston, Idaho; daughter, Becky (Ryan) Sitz, Ukiah, Calif.; one sister, Marilyn (Dave) Lees, Nampa, Idaho; stepchildren Mark, Lee, John, Kathy and Billy Malchow; 18 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, his wife and two grandsons.

Richard H. Sedliacik, 76, of Pasadena, Calif., died Dec. 23, 2010. Mr. Sedliacik was a longtime employee of the Worldwide Church of God who for over 30 years was chiefly responsible under Herbert Armstrong for the writing and editing of the Ambassador College Correspondence Course lessons. More recently he had been a member of the Living Church of God. He is survived by his wife, Elva, and his three sons, Richard, Rod and Joe. Mrs. Sedliacik receives mail at 288 Congress Place, Pasadena, CA 91105.

Lester McColm, former Worldwide Church of God minister, passed away Jan. 2, 2011, at age 85 of heart-related complications.

Cecil Battles of Grants Pass, Ore., passed away March 9, 2010. He was 74. Mr. Battles was born Sept. 3, 1935, and was a former Worldwide Church of God minister. He is survived by his wife, Joanne, six children and several grandchildren.