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Share thisAlumni Notes | February 2023
Obituaries
Clarke A. Caldwell ‘71 (History) On the evening of August 4, 2022, Clarke passed away under the care of Residential Hospice in Naperville, IL as a result of fatal injuries suffered in a fall at home earlier in the week. Clarke was 79 years old. His final month was spent in the happiest family gatherings and he was attended by family throughout his final week.
Clarke Caldwell was born on August 10, 1942 in the town of Shawville in the Pontiac Regional County Municipality in the administrative region of Outaouais in western Quebec. He was the second son of the late Lavina Clare and the late John Arthur Caldwell.
Clarke will be deeply missed and remembered by his wife of 50 years, Esther (Ritter) Caldwell; his children son Christopher (Jenifer) Caldwell, daughter Cherith (Eric) Anderson, son Shane (Anna) Caldwell; his grandchildren Chloe, Storey, Calvin, Nora, Dean, Tom and Ruth; his brother Thoburn (Shirley) Caldwell; his nieces Gayle (Les) Callaghan and Nancy (Brian) Godines; his nephews Mark (Erin) Caldwell and Blake (Lou-Ann) Caldwell as well as numerous other relatives, colleagues and friends.
Preceding Clarke in death were his parents and his nephew, Grant (Tena) Caldwell.
Non-profit fund-raising, program development and executive leadership were Clarke’s professional endeavors. He was known as a visionary and strategic asset at his alma mater Roberts Wesleyan College, Rochester General Hospital, Living Bibles International, Children’s Hope Chest, Marketing Innovators and Harmony Foundation, International, retiring in 2016.
Clarke was a red-haired, blue-eyed Scot who delighted in four-part male harmonies throughout his adult years and whose greatest trust lay in his Christian faith, foundational for generations. In a private gathering, Clarke’s ashes will be interred on his mother’s grave.
Richard (Dick) Allen Jones ‘53 (English) age 90, of Heritage Village, formerly of South Dayton, passed away at the skilled nursing facility on Wednesday, March 30, 2022. He is joyfully reunited with his beloved wife of 68 years, Ruth Kelly Jones, who died December 8, 2021.
Born August 16, 1931 in Freeport, PA, son of the late Paul and Nettie Shearer Jones, Richard was raised in Tarentum, PA during the Great Depression and graduated from Tarentum High School in 1949. He received a Bachelors Degree with a double major in History and English in 1953 from Roberts Wesleyan College, where he met his wife Ruth. Richard went on to earn a Masters in Divinity from Asbury Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky and served as Pastor at Free Methodist churches in Belfast, Salamanca and South Dayton, New York until deciding to focus on a career in education. He earned two additional Masters Degrees in English Literacy and Education Administration from SUNY Fredonia and taught English and Remedial Reading in the Pine Valley Central School system.
Richard was a longtime member of the South Dayton Free Methodist Church and the Orchard Park Presbyterian Church. He was an avid horse lover and raised and showed Arabian horses with his family. When he wasn’t with his horses he could be found gardening or watching sports. Richard is survived by three of his four children; Suzanne Jones (Dennis) O’Malley, Stephen Kent (Mary) Jones and Gregory Scott (Kristina) Jones, his beloved grandchildren Jason (Erin), Justin (Hope), Tiffany, Christian, Garrett, Sarah and Ethan and great-grandchildren Richard, Lorelei and Ashley. In addition to his wife he was predeceased by his eldest son Jonathan Dwight Jones, his parents and his siblings William Jones, Juanita Grabigle and Marian Lee Brokaw.
Jeannie R. Justice ‘69 (English) Jeannie Rae Justice was welcomed into the loving arms of Jesus on October 10, 2022. She was born to Bea & Willet Justice on January 14, 1947.
She graduated with a master’s degree in Library Science from Geneseo, NY. She was a librarian at Roberts Wesleyan College for ten years. In 1979 moved to The Dalles, OR, to become a librarian at Judson Baptist College until 1985. She followed this as Secretary of Calvary Baptist Church until 1996 where she was a member until her death. At that time she went back to Rochester to assist with her nephew with autism. In 1999 she returned to The Dalles to be Principal of Sonrise Academy retiring in 2018.
Her faithful service to Lord included AWANA program, teaching Sunday school, VBS, Missions committee, Welcome table, Good News Club, Community Bible study, KRHP TV camera, baking communion bread, and being available. She had a servant’s heart. She was gifted and talented artistically and was an avid reader and loved the Scriptures.
She was preceded by her parents, brother & sister. She is survived by siblings Ray, Bea (Ger) Teal, LouAnne Thompson, Pattie (Bob) Peter, Brian (Kyle), Laura (Jim) Bowen, lifelong friend Joyce Lee, many nieces, nephews, and friends.
Shirley N. Kohatsu ‘45 It is with great sadness to announce the passing of our beloved Auntie Shirley on November 29, 2021. She was 102 years old.
Nobuko Shirley Kohatsu was born in Arizona on September 19, 1919, to parents, Matsu and Kana Kohatsu. Shirley had several siblings — Mary Saito, Jean Uyechi, Jaime Kobayashi, Ernest Kohatsu, June Kohatsu, Sadie Furumasu — and many nephews, nieces, grand-nephews, and grand-nieces.
Auntie was such a kind and loving soul who affected the many lives of those she met through her long and distinguished grammar school teaching career, through her strong faith and church association and activities, and through the many family gatherings.
For the past 11 years, Auntie lived with her sister, Jean Uyechi, and nephew, Rickey Uyechi. Special thanks to Mom, Rickey, and to her home caregivers, past and present, who took such tender and loving care of Auntie.
Thank you, Auntie Shirley, for being such a beautiful part of our lives. Keep on spreading your joyful teachings in Heaven!
Afterglow
I’d like the memory of me to be a happy one
I’d like to leave an afterglow of smiles when day is done.
I’d like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways
Of happy times, and laughing times, of bright and sunny days.
I’d like the tears of those who grieve to dry before the sun
Of happy memories I leave behind --- when day is done.
Brian Keith Shelley ‘81 (Music Education) age 63, of Morris, son of Leona and the late Arthur Shelley, passed away Jan. 26, 2023.
Brian attended Roberts Wesleyan University, where he received a bachelor's degree in music education, and then went on to receive his master's degree from SUNY Fredonia. He proceeded to teach at Bishop Kearney High School, Pine Valley CSD, and McGraw CSD, totaling 38 years in music education. He was passionate about music and seeing his students succeed. Some of his proudest accomplishments were his band's performances at the Sherburne Pageant of Bands.
Brian is survived by his children, Amanda and Tracey; mother, Leona; sister, Brenda Birdsall and her husband, Art; and brother, Barry Shelley and his wife, Missy.
The Wright-Beard Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
To offer condolences online visit wright-beard.com.
Promotions
Amy A. (Shadduck) Beigel ‘02 (Elementary Education) is now the Angel Tree Camp Manager at Prison Fellowship.
Alayna B. Munn ‘21 (Mathematics) is now an Actuarial Analyst at BPAS, Inc.
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