April 1999 News Archive

4/12/99

Death of Pastor E. Dale Kelley. Retired Rock River Conference pastor Rev. E. Dale Kelley died Monday, April 12, at his home near Stratford, Iowa, most likely of a heart attack (he had had heart problems for many years). He was a member of McGuire Bend UB near Dayton, Iowa, and had served as pastor at Lehigh-McGuire Bend from 1959 until his retirement in 1990. He had also previously served at Claytonville, Ill., and a three-church appointment in Wisconsin which no longer exists.

Death of Pastor Charles Bugbee. Betty Smith, secretary at Warrendale UB of Detroit, Mich., sent this report about the death of their pastor last Saturday:

"On Saturday afternoon, April 10, Pastor Charles Bugbee of the Warrendale UB church of Detroit, Mich., met with some teens to practice for a new softball team. As he gave pointers to the kids, he collapsed. Youth leader Nancy VanAlystyne just happened to pass by the park while walking her dog and found a commotion at the ball field. She administered CPR to Pastor Chuck while alert 15-year-old Justin Gower quickly called 911 and an ambulance was sent. It is believed he was dead upon arrival, the cause being a heart attack.

"While he was being brought in, another member of the congregation was in the emergency room as well and able to be of comfort to Pastor Chuck's wife when she finally arrived.

"Pastor Chuck had been at Warrendale since June 1996, and was to be ordained this spring. He was devoted to the work of the youth who came from many unchurched families. He also served as a tutor in our tutoring program which helps neighborhood youth with reading and match. to the neighborhood youth in tutoring reading and math. This outreach program began two years ago. His sermon prepared for April 11, entitled "Blessed Assurance," stressed, "There are times when we cannot understand our circumstances, and are tempted to doubt God's love, mercy and favor toward us." His help evidently was need by the Master to build a ball team in heaven and he has been given the "blessed assurance."