09 autumn reporter 1-20 - Franklin College

OBITUARIES
The ’30s
W. Edwin Threlkeld ’39 died
Sept. 12, 2009. During his
Franklin College career, he was
a member of Sigma Alpha
Epsilon and lettered in football
and baseball. He was employed
as a metallurgist at American
Bearing Corp., and he was
consulted by the Secret Service
regarding developing atomic
energy. He was a member of
Southport Presbyterian Church,
Mystic Tie Lodge and
Indianapolis Valley of Scottish
Rite. He was an avid golfer and
race fan. He was a resident of
Greenwood, Ind. Survivors
include his wife, Helen, a son,
four grandchildren and five
great-grandchildren.
The ’40s
Harry Bertram ’41 died
Aug. 17, 2009. He was a veteran,
who served under Patton’s
3rd Army. He was awarded the
Bronze Star in the Battle of the
Bulge. He worked for 33 years
at Allison-GM as a tool and die
maker. He was a member of
Monument Lodge, the Scottish
Rite and the Shrine Clown
Association. He was a resident of
Indianapolis. Survivors include
his wife Roberta, four children,
13 grandchildren and 16 greatgrandchildren.
J.W. Patterson ’41 died July 5,
2009. While at Franklin College,
he was a member of Sigma Alpha
Epsilon. He worked for 45 years
in retail credit and retired in
1983 from Weinstock’s, a
department store. He loved
golfing, swimming, playing bridge
and being with family. He was a
resident of Sacramento, Calif.
Survivors include his wife,
Mary, two sons, two stepsons,
six grandchildren and four
great-grandchildren.
John Richard “Dick” Russell ’46
died July 11, 2009. While at
Franklin College, he played
football for the Grizzlies. He later
owned and operated Dalmbert
and Co. He was a member of the
Kiwanis, Greensburg Country
Club, Elks Club and Sons of
the American Legion. He was a
resident of Greensburg, Ind.
Survivors include a sister, four
stepdaughters, six grandchildren
and four great-grandchildren.
Barbara “Bobbie” (Harkless)
Easterday ’47 died April 24, 2009.
She was an agent with 21st
Century Realty Group. She was
a member of the First United
Methodist Church of Noblesville,
where she participated in the
bell and choral choirs. She was
interested in scrapbooking,
playing the accordion and
making candy. She was a resident
of Noblesville, Ind. Survivors
include three daughters and
five grandchildren.
Phyllis Marie (Ester) Cummings
’48 died April 20, 2009. During
her time at Franklin College, she
was initiated into Zeta Tau Alpha;
the organization awarded her a
50-year membership pin in 1995.
She graduated from Franklin
with a bachelor’s degree in
sociology. She and her husband
co-owned Cummings Standard
and Cummings Auto Service for
46 years. She was a resident of
Boise, Idaho. Survivors include
her two children, five grandchildren,
two stepgrandchildren
and 11 great-grandchildren.
Leon Pacala ’49, Ph.D., died
Sept. 9, 2009. He was an
ordained minister of the
American Baptist Churches and
had served 11 years as executive
director of the Association of
Theological Schools (ATS) until
his retirement in 1991. Prior to
accepting the leadership role
at ATS he served in various
leadership roles, including
president of Colgate-Rochester
Divinity School, dean and
professor of religion at Bucknell
University and assistant professor
of philosophy and religion at
DePauw University. He had
served on Union Theological
Seminary’s Board of Trustees
since 2000, bringing his vast
experience in theological
education to Union’s educational
policy committee. He also served
on the Franklin College Board
of Trustees from 1967–80 and
1998–2001, and he received an
honorary doctorate of letters
from Franklin College in 1987.
He was a resident of Rochester,
N.Y. Survivors include his wife
of 19 years, Virginia, three sons,
two stepdaughters, one stepson,
eight grandchildren, eight stepgrandchildren.
His sister, Vera
Evans ’54, is a current member
of the Franklin College Alumni
Council.
Joseph Siegel ’49 died June 26,
2009. He held a master’s in
business administration from
Miami of Ohio University. He
joined RCA Corp., a predecessor
to GE, in the early 1950s, and
he retired from the company as
a skilled-labor relations executive.
He enjoyed playing tennis,
balloon tossing with his beloved
dog, J.R., and watching the
Philadelphia Eagles play football.
He was a resident of Medford
Lakes, N.J. He was preceded in
death by his wife, Marge, and
son, Mike. Survivors include a
son and a daughter and two
grandchildren.
The ’50s
Worth Bennett ’50 died Jan. 28,
2009. He was a member of Kappa
Delta Rho. He also was a World
War II veteran who served in
India with the U.S. Army Air
Forces. He worked at Farm
Bureau Insurance for 37 years
and retired as personnel director
in 1987. He was a member of
Hopewell Presbyterian Church
and Hillview Country Club.
He enjoyed gardening, golfing,
fishing and spending time with
his family and friends. He was
a resident of Whiteland, Ind.
Survivors include his wife,
Marilyn, three children and
four grandchildren.
Robert J. Henselin ’50 died
July 5, 2009. He was a veteran of
the U.S. Army. He made a career
in the textile industry, retiring
from Penn Emblem Co. in 1995.
He and his family were founding
members of All Saints Catholic
Church in Dunwoody, Ga., and
he worked tirelessly on the
pastoral board and other
committees. He also volunteered
with the Meals on Wheels
organization and the Atlanta
Lawn Tennis Association. He
was a resident of Dunwood, Ga.
Survivors include his wife of 57
years, Mary, two daughters and
three grandchildren.
William G. “Bill” Fateley ’51 died
July 30, 2009. During his Franklin
College career, he was president
of the Science Club and a
member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon
and Alpha Honorary Society.
He also participated in track.
He graduated from Franklin with
a degree in biology. He pursued
graduate studies at Northwestern
University and received his
doctorate in physical chemistry
from Kansas State University.
He also engaged in post-graduate
studies at the University of
Maryland and University of
Minnesota. He was a research
fellow at the Mellon Institute
and later became a chemistry
professor at Carnegie Mellon
University. In 1965, he received
an honorary doctorate of science
from Franklin College. In 1972,
he returned to Kansas State
University as a chemistry professor
and later became head of the
department. He retired in 1997
as a distinguished professor. He
was well known in the academic
community, having served as
editor-in-chief of the Journal of
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