Life Events
in the Church of God

James and Laura Moran request prayer for their continued health problems.

Ken Ryland, Mulvane, Kan., recovering from heart surgery.

Brenda Ashlock, Claremore, Okla., recovering from surgery.

Ed Mitchell, Tupelo, Miss., cancer, critical condition. Cards of encouragement may be sent to 125 RD, 541, Guntown, MS 38849.

Vonda Ouellette, East Texas area, high blood pressure.

Stanley James Witz, 88, of Minneapolis, Minn., born April 5, 1923, died Oct. 17, 2011. Mr. Witz was preceded in death by his wife, Norma G. He is survived by his children, Jeffry J. (Lorraine), Jodi J. (Shernon) West, Jerrold J. (Jane) and Janet J. (Cliff) Christenson; grandchildren, Jeffry Jr., Douglas, Ramicah, Trent, Aaron, Abigail, Rachel, Benjamin, Meleah, Derek and Jaron; and great-grandchildren Brooklyn, Merriah, Isaiah, Trent Jr., Christopher, Brooke and Cooper.

Everett Roy Oakley III passed away unexpectedly Oct. 29, 2011, at his residence in Houston, Texas. Mr. Oakley was born July 6, 1946, in Newport News, Va. He was a 1-W worker on the Ambassador College campus in the 1960s. He was an amateur historian, theologian and world traveler.

Charles F. Hunting, 92, died Nov. 11, 2011, at 5:15 a.m., in Sarasota, Fla. He was a squadron commander on board an aircraft carrier during World War II. Mr. Hunting is survived by his daughter, Sidney; two sons, Chris and Paul; nine grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

Diane is survived by her husband of 31 years, Charles W. Smith of Somersworth; five sons, Dan Brown and his wife, Lissa, of Rochester, George Brown and his wife, Stefanie, of North Hampton, Don Smith and his wife, Marlean, of Berwick, Maine, Dave Smith and his wife, Ann, of Rochester and Jim Smith of Somersworth; and six grandchildren, Ava and Ella Brown, Cy Lagrassa, Ryer and Summer Smith and Zachary Smith. Mrs. Smith was a member of the Christian Biblical Church of God and, with her husband, hosted a home fellowship. Funeral services were held Nov. 21, 2011, Walter Warren, officiating.

Opal Marie Reece, 85, of Flint, Texas, died Dec. 14, 2011. Mrs. Reece was born July 1, 1926, in Boone, N.C. She was a retired receptionist and pianist for the Intercontinental Church of God in Tyler. She ran the telephone switchboard on the Ambassador College campus in the 1960s and '70s. She and her husband, Cecil, owned and operated the Pizza Corral restaurant in Gladewater, Texas.

She is survived by daughter, Cecilia Hall of Tyler; grandchildren Aimee Jones, Jordan Hall and Jordana Stellpflug; great-grandchildren Tristian, Joshua, Gessyka, Destynnie, Cameron, Asa, Cecil and Peyton; four great-great-grandchildren; sisters Joan Bingham of North Carolina, Margaret Noland of Idaho and Gail Phillips of Gladewater; a brother, Larry Phillips of North Carolina; and nieces and nephews.

Ruth M. Griffith, 78, of Windsor, Mo., died Oct. 5, 2011, at the Country Club Care Center, Warrensburg, Mo. Mrs. Griffith was born Feb. 26, 1933, in Lincoln, Mo., the daughter of Wesley Don Rains and Grace Mildred (Dalton) Rains. On March 19, 1950, at the home of John and Florence Pattison, in Windsor, she married Donny Paul "D.P." Griffith Sr., who preceded her in death on Nov. 13, 2003. Ruth and her late husband, D.P., became members of the Radio Church of God shortly after attending the evangelistic campaign of Garner Ted Armstrong in Springfield, Mo., in the 1950s. She was a farmer's wife, mother and homemaker. She had also worked at the former Windsor Resthaven Nursing Home and also baby-sat in her home for many Windsor children. She was a member of the Midwest Church of God, Kansas City, Mo.

Survivors include a son, Mark Griffith, Lebanon, Mo.; two daughters, Connie Griffith, Windsor, Mo., and Cherie Tibbetts and her husband, Troy, Windsor; and two grandchildren, Tiffany Prater and Isaac Tibbetts. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by two sons, Donny Paul Griffith Jr., and Brian Oakes Griffith; a sister, Lois Cason; and three brothers, Monty Rains, Ervin Rains and Don Rains. Notes of condolence may be sent to Connie Griffith, 610 E. Florence St., Windsor, MO 65360