VOL. 88 NO.2 William Charles (Conn) Arnold dies William Charles (Conn) Arnold, 83, a former top officer of ASI and active board member of the Madison College Alumni Association for many years, died March 19, 2007, of natural causes. He was born Sept. 14, 1923, the seventh of eight children, in Selma, Ala., where he helped support his family by shining shoes, selling newspapers and delivering Western Union telegrams. As a teen, he delivered a paper to Cecil Graves, a Seventh-day Adventist evangelist, who was setting up for tent meetings in Selma. His mother attended and became a Seventh-day Adventist. She sent him to Asheville Agricultural School (now Fletcher Academy) in North Carolina. It was his first time away from home and homesickness caused him to run away several times. He was always lured back by loving teachers although he did not become an Adventist while there. In June, 1943, Conn was inducted into the United States Navy. While stationed at Millington Air Base he started attending the Memphis Seventh-day Adventist Church. "Those dear people loved me into the church," he later said. Here he met Dorothy Rhea Davis and married her on February 18, 1945. They celebrated their APRIL_----=JUNE 2007 62nd anniversary just days before he died in the hospital holding hands and whispering endearing declarations of their deep love and concern for each other. Through a series of miracles, he did not have to work on Sabbath after becoming an Adventist during his military service. After the Navy, he felt called to the ministry, and the couple moved to Berrien Springs, Mich., and enrolled at Emmanuel Missionary College (now Andrews University). Conn was president of his graduating class of 1950. After a stint as Boys, Dean at Fletcher Academy, Conn and Dot lived again in Memphis for a time. Later he served as principal at Jacksonville Junior Academy in Florida, where he also taught the upper grades and was Assistant Pastor. Conn was ordained to the ministry December 30, 1958, and served in the Florida ' Kentucky-Tennessee, and Gulf States Conferences as Pastor, Education, Sabbath School and Ministerial ' Youth, Summer Camp, and Community Services Director. He was instrumental in the establishment of Camp Alamisco in the Gulf States Conference and worked very hard on the building and then rebuilding of Indian Creek Camp in the Kentucky-Tennessee Conference. Many considered him to be a youth pastor even into his 80s. In 1985, he became secretary- treasurer of the Adventist-Laymen's Services and Industries (ASI) at the General Conference in Silver Spring, Maryland. "He was at ASI during a time of transition and growtq," said Harold Lance president of ASI Missions Inc. "His affable, optimistic way of dealing with people brought to us a sense of unity with the church." Page 2 MADISON SURVEY ____ APRIL --JUNE 2007 Conn and Dot were as active as ever in ministering to the needs of every person they could. He continued preaching, conducting prayer meetings, leading song services, weddings, baptisms, counseling, and generally cheering and encouraging through visitation, phone calls, and notes. Survivors are his wife, Dot, daughter, Connie Jackson of Goodlettsville, Tenn.; son, William, ofLoma Linda, Calif., and four grandchildren. A celebration of his life was held at the Madison Campus Seventh-day Adventist Church in Madison, Tenn. Elder Richard Hallock, president of the Kentucky-"Tennessee Conference, preached the main sermon. Also officiating were Elders Maurice Abbott, Douglas Hilliard , M rvin Lowman, Lynn Schlisner, and Charles Williams. Interment was at Hendersonville Memory Gardens in Hendersonville, Tenn. "He was known by most people as the 'Straight Ahead' man," said Marvin Lowman "He had two trademarks his infectious smile and his parting words were always the same, 'Straight ahead!" ea,ea,ea,ea,ea,~ea,ea,ea,ea,ea,ea,ea, Local Author Remembers "Fountain Head, 1914." By Bettye Glover President, Highland Rim Historical Society Author/Historian Albert Dittes presented his second book, Author/Historian Albert Dittes shares information from the Lida Funk Scott diaries, 1914, with Society members at the August 24th Meeting. The description she gave of rural folks and their life styles and activities was very familiar to members of the audience. "Profiles of Madison College Pioneers," at the Society's August 24 meeting. His subject, "Fountain Head, 1914" allowed him to share biographical information from the book about one of the pioneers who was responsible for the development of Madison College, Lida Funk Scott. Mrs. Scott was heir to the Funk and W agnail's Publishing Company fortune and became a major benefactor of the college. In his research for the book, Dittes had stumbled upon personal diaries of Mrs. Scott that were a revelation of the times and people of the Ridge, Fountain Head and Chestnut Hill areas in 1914. She had come South from her home in Montclair, N.J., after the tragic death of her daughter, and had been met at the train station at Fountain Head by her personal friends, Herman and Harriet Walen, who had begun a rural Adventist School at Chestnut Hill as an extension of Madison College. The Walens provided Mrs. Scott a wagon ride back to Chestnut Hill after her train trip to Fountain Head. Mrs. Scott's diaries described in detail the mission work she did with the Walens as they visited the hill folks in the rural area of the Ridge, Fountain Head and Chestnut Hill. She was always interested in the economic and health conditions of the residents. Mrs. Scott was especially interested in teaching the hill people alternatives to growing tobacco as a cash crop. Long time Chestnut Hill resident Beatrice Shafer stands beside a display of the Chestnut Hill Farm School she provided for the event. Mrs. Shafer worked with Herman and Harriet Walen's daughter, Susan, who married Herschel Ard. The Ard family continued to operate Chestnut Hill Farm School until August, 1984. MADISON SURVEY ____ APRIL --JUNE 2007 Page 3 Both Mr. Dittes and Mrs. Beatrice Shafer long time worker/resident of Chestnut Hill, brought early pictures of Fountain Head and Chestnut Hill to share with the public. This article appeared in the Sumner, 2006 Footprints, Vol. VII, No. 1 MORE FROM NORWAY Dear Brother Sutherland, I have inspired some of the workers at the Matteson Institute to write a letter and send some money and a picture to be counted as part of the alumni and this in- spite of the fact we have not graduated from the Madison College. My reason for doing so is to pay tribute to your grandfather's interest in training gospel medical missionaries. I wish we had someone with his dedication and ability to inspire others to join in such an enterprise. Also, I want to take the opportunity to thank those of you who keep the flame burning. It was an inspiration to meet with you and to get to know, first hand, what is being done to remember -what God has done in the past. Let me say something about the people in the picture: The lady to the right (Linndis Rasmussen) is president of the Granheim Foundation and director of the Matteson Institute of World Mission. She is 32 and has been with the program since 1992. Much could be said about her, but I will have to come back to that later. The couple next to her (Estelle and Mauritz Elofson) work in the industries, she in the bakery and he in the practical parts of the program. Next to me is my wife, Solveig. We have worked together in this project since it started. Vivian Telfer, you have met and no doubt will meet again. The fellow to the left (Henrik Norlin) age 24, is treasurer and bookkeeper. This group is responsible for "making things happen," Linndis, Estelle and myself are members of the board. There are several others that help things along. It is not necessary that each one get news letters etc. We can share what is sent to the Granheim Foundation. I think you remember that I requested that your organization adopt the Matteson Institute as an instrument to keep up the good works of the Madison College as it was in the early years when faculty and students worked together to make a dream come true. L-R Henrik Norlin, Vivian Telfer, Solveig & Gunnar Gustavsen, Estelle & Mauritz Elofson, Linndis Rasmussen Page 4 MADISON SURVEY-----APRIL--JUNE 2007 May God continue to bless you and your associates as you work for Him and His honor and glory. "Dear Friends, I do not know how it is in the rest of the world, but I know how it is at our place of the planet There is too much commercialism around the Christmas season. The Son of God and his mission is lost sight of in all the celebrations. I do know, however, that Jesus came the first time to bring peace and hope for humanity and as we are to face a new year-it is our privilege to look for His return, in fulfilment of His promise. May God bless you in the year to come. It has not been much time for letter writing lately, but I felt impressed to put in the mail some words of encouragement. In spite of all the bad news that floods the earth, there is hope and there are many indications that we are close to the final events and the end of suffering, pain and strife. Jesus is going to come as planned. I have had the privilege to work with young Seventh-day Adventists for more than 50 years and lately I have seen a radical change for the better. The generation gap is closing up and young and old have found their place and work together according to the prophecy in Malachi, chapter four. Our young people enjoy working together with those of older years. To see this change in attitude is a real inspiration. Also, they are willing to work hard in order to get results in soul-winning. We have been celebrating our twentieth anniversary this year but I wanted you to know that we are moving forward in faith In spite of the fact that our project is small in size (maximum 12 students) it is a significant factor in soul winning. Perhaps as many as 70 people have been brought into the church by baptism and because they are properly trained there are a very few backsliders. 160 young people have gone through the program and a significant number have spent several years as volunteer workers after they finished a one year course. We thank God for that. At the Matteson Institute we are grateful for what God has done in the past. It is a marvel what God has done to prepare our church for its mission. However, we are also concerned and pray that Heaven will pour out the promised blessing so that we will have the necessary power and dedication to help finish the work. We ask you to join us in such a prayer. Also we ask you to pray for the school, because we know that proper education is a must for modem gospel workers. Gunnar Gustavsen" "A letter from a young couple that wants to offer help to the Matteson Institute. I have gotten their permission to translate it and share the contents." "Dear Linndis at Matteson Institute, We grew up in different countries with our individual cultures. We both had a growing desire to learn about God, do His will and participate in His work. When we, each separately decided to go to Matteson Institute it was a way of responding to this particular desire. After getting to know the school, we realized that our desire had been fulfilled. Of course other things could have led us closer to God, but in all of Norway we don't know any other place that measures up to the Matteson Institute. It is a joy to witness, and now be a part of, a school which doesn't just believe in the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy, but actually puts the whole thing into practice. Some will insist that Ellen White's counsels are too old to have any current value. What shall we say about the Bible, which concluded over 1900 years ago? We live in the end time, and just at a time like this God sent us a prophet because He loves us. The Matteson Institute has meant a lot to us. We received an education with the character that surpasses any other program or curriculum we learned to believe, serve and love the Lord. The Bible came alive and the desire to serve God became great. The program is packed with possibilities to serve God in the way of evangelistic outreach in addition to the duties that have to be done at the school. At the Matteson Institute we found harmony between the different elements that make up Christian living; Bible study, prayer, praise, service, practical work, mission work, health and more, everything tied together by the fact that God loves us and that we love Him. It is the faith in Jesus which drives the workers and it is the power of Jesus that makes it all possible. The Matteson Institute is like a family (one of the secrets of Madison) and when we left the Matteson Institute in 2004 it didn't take us long to realize that we were missing this family. We have no doubt that it was God who led us to Matteson Institute in 2002. Now we have returned, again sure that this is led by God. We are beginning to study for our nurse's degree and we are convinced that God can use us both at campus and MADISON SURVEY-----APRIL--JUNE 2007 Page 5 outside of our studies to take part in working with outreach. Therefore we chose to move to the Matteson Institute for, here, there are plenty of tasks that can be done for the Lord. It is all about helping this school, which in itself is a mission project and together with them be able to participate in a spectrum of public outreach work. We are looking forward to staying here at the Matteson Institute and we wish to thank you that we have been so well received. We are convinced that as we can be a blessing to others we can also be richly blessed ourselves. Kind regards, Ana Adriana and Giermund Johansen FROM HERE AND THERE California: Eugene, S '60-'61, X-R '64, and Janice Thompson Wedel, sent dues and this information, "Dear Albert and Bob, Can't remember when I last sent in dues (it has ben a crazy year for us) so it must be time to do so. Eugene, Academy '60, and X-ray'64, retired from his job as vice president of Florida Hospital in Orlando last July. By the first weekend in August we were in Paradise, Calif. waiting for our furniture to arrive. So far we are really liking it here. We are especially enjoying the change in seasons after 25 years in Fla.! We would be happy to see any of our Madison friends who get this far off the "beaten path" in Northern California. Sadly, Eugene's mother passed away on January 2 7. She used to work in the Purchasing Department with Elder Craw. She was buried in Orlando, Fla. next to her husband, Fred. He worked in the Electrical and Plumbing departments at Madison. We are thankful for our health and new surroundings. Eugene bought a Kayak yesterday and plans to put it to good use. Keep up the good work. We enjoy reading the Madison Survey. Janice Thompson Wedel, Academy '62." Florida: John, S '61,'63, and Elenia Portalian Lancaster, N '61 sent these words with dues, "Here's my check for this year's dues. We are still in the Ocala area. John does some volunteer work with the local fire and police departments. I can't do much-I continue having dialysis 3 days a week and continue waiting for a kidney transplant. Keep up the good work." North Carolina: Marjorie Kendall, N '40, sent dues and extra with these words, "Your latest Madison paper is here -so many memories come to mind. The young Straws played music for us - so beautiful! Then they moved to start the Little Creek School and we heard of some of the hardships they endured the early years. And Elder Christman, I remember him and Willis Dick, thanks so much. This last issue is special. Maryland: Rhea, S '40 and Susan Harvey sent this brief note along with dues, "Hi Bob, Susan and I are now retired and living in Seattle, Washington, where the granddaughters are, and Hagerstown, MD. We're having a good time living 4-5 months in Seattle and spending the balance in Hagerstown or traveling." Tennessee: Laura Mae Slattery, BSN '60, sent dues and this letter, "Dear Survey Staff, What a fine job you are doing in keeping up with us grads! Those two Junior and Senior years at Madison made the biggest impact on the rest of my life,-such a "helping" type you were and are still. One winter, 1959-60 was a cold one and remember Mrs. Zeigler gave us a nice new fleecy sheet for our bed. Another time just before Christmas it was Ingathering time and it was snowy on the Nashville streets, but our surgery group did very well. - Then one night I heard a knock at the door. A neighbor asked if I would come help carry in some packages. Bags of groceries first-then 3 packages for my 21/3 year old daughter, Melody. A little red romper set, a pair of little warm, white shoes and socks. Last of all a little blue snow suit. Weeks later I learned my classmates in Page 6 MADISON SURVEY-----APRIL--JUNE 2007 . surgery had heard me wishing for those things and decided to surprise us. WOW! Alice Surdahl was the "instigator. Another thing Alice did was "drop a bug in my ear about taking a couple of correspondence courses while on my three month stay at Cincinnati Children's Hospital-that enabled me to have enough credits to graduate with a BS. Having that degree with my nursing put me in place to teach NA's on Kauai seven years at Kauai Community College. Talk about a colorful life. All because God led,-and He's still leading Glenn Zollinger is a GOOD husband. My lymphoma is in remission. Still have Rheumatoid arthritis, past 4Yi years. But past February 2007, I've been working on keeping my pH around 6.8-7.0 to reverse this sickness. Anybody have any other suggestions, am willing "to give it a whirl". Thank you Madison over and over again. We live at Laurelbrook School now" Tennessee: Stella Riddle sent this message,"Dear Friends, It is my sad duty to inform you my dear Larry has recently passed away. While on a mission trip to Mexico in 1998 his driver fell asleep and hit a bridge abutment. Larry had extensive head injuries that left him in a coma for 33 days. He has been in a nursing home ever since. He never recovered enough to come home. I miss him so. God bless." RESTING UNTIL THE RESURRECTION Clara Bessie Ingle Clark, N '55, expired February 2007. Clara was the daughter of the late John William Benjamin and Leathia Delphia Kirby Ingle. She worked many years in the OR at Madison and retired from Nashville Memorial Hospital after many years there in the OR. Surviving is her husband of 44 years, Russell Clark, who worked in and retired from the Maintenance Dept. at Madison; a son, Doug(Rhonda) Lassetter; a granddaughter; a great-granddaughter; a host of friends and loved ones. Eloise Brizendine, N '31, Eloise was born January 24, 1910 to Mack and Lillian Whitlock in Marshall, Tex ... When Eloise was about 9 years old her mother had a dream about a man with a book under his arm. A month later that man showed up at the door. He was invited in and sold his book "Bible readings for the Home" to Mrs. Whitlock. The gentleman offered to give the family Bible studies which they accepted and soon after, they became Seventh-day Adventists. Since there was no church in the area, they held services in their home. Eloise attended school in Jefferson, Texas and graduated from Jefferson Academy with dreams of becoming a nurse. A friend suggested that she should go to Madison College. So, with a railroad pass for the train ride and $5.00 in her pocket she left for Madison, Tenn. Arriving in Madison, she was able to find a position working for a family, enrolled in nurses training and worked her way through. While at Madison College she met Harvey Brizendine, MCA '31 and when she graduated from nurses training, they were married in September of 1931. Harvey and Eloise moved to Montana for short period of time then decided to move to California where Harvey had family living. Eloise stayed with her parents in Texas while Harvey hitch-hiked to California where he was able to get a job picking peaches for one penny a box. Harvey earned enough money to send Eloise a train ticket and she joined him in California. Eloise worked for Dr. Preston Boynton for many years; stopping work to care for her growing family when her third child was born. Eloise was very active in church activities, sang in the choir, was home and school leader, enjoyed leading Sabbath school programs for the children's divisions. Some of her favorite activities were music, reading and writing poetry, hosting bridal showers and baby showers. She never missed a party. Harvey preceded her in death in 199 5 and due to a stroke; Eloise was unable to attend his funeral. After she recovered she returned to her home, Sharon moved in to care for her. Last December she moved to Rose Haven Residence Home in St. Helena where she had a wonderful 97rh Birthday Celebration with family and friends. Friday night March 15 she played the piano and sang with the other residents of Rose Haven. She died peacefully in her sleep March 17, 2007. She was preceded in death by her son, John Brizendine, her siblings: Leslie Whitlock of Colton, MADISON SURVEY----APRIL--JUNE 2007 Page 7 Calif., Elaine VanOverbeck of Roseville, Calif., Sharon Wampler of Modesto, Calif, many grandchildren, great- grandchildren and one great- great-grandchild. Dr. Albert G. Dittes, 94, S '33 -'36, CME '41, BS '44, a family physician in the Portland area for 53 years, died of natural causes at Highland Manor Nursing Home on March 13. Dr. A. G. Dittes He was born on AprillO, 1912, the day the Titanic left England on its maiden voyage, in Brooklyn, N.Y., to Gotthold and Anna Dittes, an immigrant couple from Germany. He grew up working in his father's grocery store in various towns on Long Island. His formal education began at the age of 21 when he went to Madison College, Madison, Tenn., and then on to medical school at Lorna Linda University in Southern California, graduating from there in 1941. He served for two years in the U.S. Army in the South Pacific during World War II. He joined the Portland medical practice of Dr. Reuben Johnson in 1946 and spent the rest of his life in this area. Survivors are his wife Elinor Steen Dittes; two sons, Albert Gordon Dittes of Portland, and David Steen Dittes of Nashville; two daughters, Frances McNulty of Portland and Elizabeth (Chris) Hankins of. Ooltewah, Tenn; seven grandchildren and five great- grandchildren. Burial was in Old Brush Cemetery. Dr. A. C. Ford, BS '41, Dr. Augustus Carroll Ford, 87 of Ooltewah, Tenn. expired April 16, 2007 after a full life of service. He was born Jan. 11, 1920, in Peru, South America, where his parents were missionaries. Eventually his family moved back to the United States, where Dr. Ford attended Southern Junior College in Collegedale, Madison College in Madison, Tenn., and Lorna Linda University in Lorna Linda, Calif., where he earned his medical doctorate. He devoted his life to serving others in many ways, such as through his work as a medical doctor in Gen. Patton's Third Army in WW II and through his labors as the Hamilton County H~alth Department's city physician for 37 years. Sometimes Dr. Ford's hard work was publicly recognized, such as when the President of the United States awarded him a certificate of appreciation for his 1 0 years of uncompensated service in the Selective Service System. Much more frequently his kindnesses remained confidential, cherished only by the grateful heart that had received them. But whether his duties were performed on the national stage or in secret, Dr. Ford always persisted in doing good, striving to serve God in his actions. A member of the Collegedale Seventh-day Adventist Church, Dr. Ford is survived by his wife, Betty Jean Ford; their son, Gary Austin Ford; their son and daughter-in-law, Dr. Dennis and Beth Ford; their daughter and son-in-law Drs. Cynthia and Michael Hollie; their daughter and son-in-law Drs. Tamarin and Tim Larson; their eight grandchildren; Dr. Ford's brother, Dr. James Ford. Dr. Ford, a credit to his profession and to his home, now rests in the Lord. Larry Dale Riddle, S '51, Larry Dale Riddle, 7 4 expired March 4, 2007, at McMinn Memorial Nursing Home in Etowah with, Stella, his wife of 42 years by his side. He was of the Seventh-day Adventist faith and was a certified auctioneer. He loved people and always went out of his way to help someone. He graduated from Southern Missionary College with an associate degree in 1981. He was Englewood's 1996 "man of the year", and was preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Irene Riddle. Surviving are his wife, Stella Riddle of Englewood; his adopted children: two daughters and one son-in-law, Christine and Gary King of Cottondale, Ala., Patricia Cochran ofLompac, Calif., and one son and daughter-in-law, Robert and Kathy Cochran of Tuscaloosa, Ala.; one brother and sister- in-law, Jimmy and Edith Riddle of Texas, one sister, Barbara Ferguson of Ala; eight grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews. Mildred Boynton Brueckner, N '26, died peacefully June 9, 2000. Her two daughters and their husbands were at her side to love and comfort her. Mildred received her nurses degree in 1926 at Madison Hospital and went to work at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis and then went to the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. for work in Pediatric's. She received a post-graduate degree at Case Western Reserve in Cleveland and continued her work in Ann Arbor where she met her future husband, Dr. Harold H. Brueckner. They were married in 1932. They had four children , Virginia, Carolyn, Harold Jr., and David. Virginia received a nursing degree from the University of Michigan where her father, Harold , had received his medical degree. They left Ann Arbor, Michigan in the mid 1930's and traveled and worked at several hospitals until they settled in Louisville, Ohio; where Harold was the hospital Administrator and Chief Medical Officer of Molly Stark Hospital. For many years Mildred taught Sunday School in the Canton/Louisville area. The family lived in Ohio for 14 years then moved back to Ann Arbor, Michigan. Dr. Brueckner died in 1957, leaving Mildred with three children still at home. She returned to work at the University of Michigan Hospital and student Health Service continuing to work until age 70 In retirement, she enjoyed church activities, her gardens, caring for her birds and seeing her 1 0 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren at various times. Home-coming June 22-24, 2007 Coupon 1. Survey & Dues 1 yr. ($25) __ _ 2. Sending $ for Office Help. 3. God's Beautiful Farm ($12) __ . 1 4. Sending$ for Heritage House Restoration. MADISON SURVEY & ALUMNI NEWS Albert G. Dittes,President/Editor Bob Sutherland Managing Editor & Executive Secretary Home Phone: 615-859-5181 Office: 615-865-1615 Toll Free 1-888-254-1615. (ISSN 32524000) is published quarterly by Madison College Alumni Assoc. Inc. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: P 0 Box 6303 Madison, TN 37116-6303 1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 OOvi-vOI6v IW 'saupds u~pl~S: A.nuqr1 ~l!ll.M. s~wu r Al!Sl~A1llfl SM~lpuy ~ .. £0£9-91 IL£ Nl 'uos~puw £0£9 xog 0 d ·Jui ·Jossv ~UUinlv g"agno:J uos~puw ..