REMEMBERED

The district is remembering with gratitude the life of Ralph McFadden, 92, a long-time member of the Highland Avenue congregation in Elgin, who died Nov. 14 following a rapid decline in his health. He worked on the denominational staff for 15 years. He served first as a staff member in the Parish Ministries Commission working in several areas including youth ministry, library resources, life cycle ministries, and person and faith communities, and also as half-time director of district ministries. Then, for almost a decade (1978-1987), he was executive of the commission. He also was employed as executive director of the Fellowship of Brethren Homes from January 2015 to July 2018, and served additional terms as interim director in 2014 and director 2001-2004. Previous to his work on the denominational staff, he was the first executive secretary of the then newly formed Mid-Atlantic District, from 1967-1970. Earlier in his career he was pastor of Akron (Ind.) Church of the Brethren from 1955-1958 and pastored Lafayette (Ind.) Church of the Brethren from 1960-1967. For four years, he was a part-time campus minister at Purdue University. In volunteer leadership positions he served as a member and also as president of the board of Brethren Mennonite Council for LGBT Interests, and as a member of the board of the former Pinecrest Community (now Allure of Pinecrest). He was an ordained minister and held degrees from Manchester College (now Manchester University) in North Manchester, Ind.; Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis; and Bethany Theological Seminary, where he earned a master of divinity degree in 1960. His father, Glenn, was pastor at Highland Avenue in the 1950s, and Ralph graduated from Elgin High School in 1951. At Highland Avenue he filled many roles, including that of church board chair and as a tenor in the Adult Choir. He was preceded in death by his former wife, Barbara, and daughter Jill. He is survived by his partner, Keo Xayavongvane; son Joel and wife, Laura, of Colorado; daughter-in-law Anne Tapp of Colorado; and a granddaughter. A memorial service will be held at a later time.

J. Kenneth Kreider, 91, a noted Church of the Brethren peacemaker, historian, and Professor of History, Emeritus, at Elizabethtown (Pa.) College, died Oct. 19 of a recently diagnosed aggressive cancer. His involvement in the Church of the Brethren included service as a Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) worker, membership on the Germantown Trust and the Brethren Historical Committee, membership on the boards of the Brethren Peace Fellowship and On Earth Peace, and writings published in Brethren periodicals and by Brethren Press. He also arranged many bus trips and other heritage trips fro Brethren. He was an active member of Elizabethtown Church of the Brethren, where he served many years on various committees and the executive board. A full obituary is at: https://spencefuneralservices.com/tribute/details/1385/Dr-J-Kenneth-Kreider/obituary.html.

Margaret (Sarow) Drafall, 79, a former customer service specialist with Brethren Press, passed away Nov. 1 at Delnor Hospital in Geneva, Ill., surrounded by her family. She worked for the Church of the Brethren at the General Offices in Elgin, Ill., for 13 years, from 2007 to 2020. Born and raised in Elgin, she was the daughter of Frank and Helen Sarow. She was a lifelong member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Elgin. A celebration of life service was held Nov. 22.