J.J. married A.L. Miller [Group Sheet]

J.E. married C.S. Meyer [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Benjamin Ezra Funk visits grandparents: 27 Nov 1940, York, Pennsylvania

Benjamin married Kathryn Marie Thornton 29 Dec 1946, Huntington, Huntington, Indiana, USA. Kathryn (daughter of Darrel Thornton and Rita Frances Ramsay) was born 26 Apr 1925, Fredonia, Wilson, Kansas, United States; died 28 Apr 2009, Huntington, Huntington, Indiana, United States of America. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Eldon J. Meyer, 82, Huntington, IN., died at 11:10 p.m. Thursday, February 18, 2010 at Parkview Huntington Hospital in Huntington. Mr. Meyer was born April 2, 1927 in Huntington County to John J. and Elizabeth Eckert Meyer. His parents preceded him in death. Eldon graduated from Clear Creek High School in 1945. He married the former Doris Beck at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church on May 31, 1950. Eldon was a life long farmer in Clear Creek township. Mr. Meyer was a member of St. Catherine's Catholic Church, Nix Settlement. Survivors include his wife, Doris Beck Meyer, Huntington, a son: John (Janet) Meyer, Huntington, two daughters: Nancy (Mark) Norris, Spencerville, IN and Carol (Dale) Rapson, Columbia City, IN; two sisters: Geraldine Lickey, Huntington and Phyllis (Fred) McNulty, Fort Wayne, IN; seven grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents, Eldon was preceded in death by a grandson: Jason Norris. Calling hours will be from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., with recitation of the Rosary at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 23, 2010 at McElhaney-Hart Funeral Home, 715 N. Jefferson St., Huntington, IN. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, February 24, 2010 at St. Catherine's Catholic Church, Nix Settlement, Whitley County with Father Kenneth Sarrazine officiating. Burial will follow in St. Catherine's cemetery. In lieu of flowers, preferred memorials are to Masses at the church or to Parkview Huntington Hospice in care of McElhaney-Hart Funeral Home, 715 N. Jefferson St., Huntington, IN 46750. McElhaney-Hart Funeral Home, 715 N. Jefferson St., Huntington, IN is entrusted with the arrangements. Online condolences are to www.mcelhaneyhartfuneralhome.com

Eldon married D.E. Beck [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Ezra was the son of Benjamin Franklin Funk (10-1-1858) and Fannie Myers (1-4-1890). He was a pastor/school-teacher/ farmer.

At age 16 Ezra received a certificate to teach. A Doctorate of Divinity was given to him by Huntington College in 1935. He was a great teacher. Looking toward heaven, he once said, “I hope there will be someone for me to teach.” He was especially adept at teaching biblical doctrine.

While pastoring churches in Pennsylvania, Funk chalked up 28 years as an elementary public schoolteacher. A school superintendent described him as “one of the most energetic teachers I have ever known.” And creative. He was always on the lookout for visual aids to use in the classroom. He put a sandbox in his classroom; students played in it, and he used it to teach measurements–quarters, cups, etc. Standing just over 5’3”, Funk wasn’t much taller than his students.

He grew up in the York Brethren, a branch of the plain-dressing River Brethren. Always small for his age, he was subject to much bullying. At age 20, when he announced to his parents that he was joining the United Brethren to become a minister, it didn’t go over well. But he knew that’s where God wanted him.

In 1906, he joined the Salem UB church near Chambersburg and was licensed to preach. He went on to pastor various churches in Pennsylvania: in Chambersburg, Shippensburg, Orrstown, Strinestown, Waynesboro, Heidlersburg. In 1909 he and Bessie were married, and would have 11 children, two of which died as infants (Ezra assisted in nine of the births). He pastored Baptist churches 1919-1924, but then returned to the UB fold. In 1941, Funk was elected bishop, and served until 1957.

Funk was a voracious reader, and a dedicated walker. Every morning he took a brisk “devotional” walk, during which he would read the Bible and pray. He was always reading something, and was even known to take a book to read during denominational board meetings.

He read the Bible over and over. One time during a UB missions convention in Ontario, while everyone else spent the afternoon visiting Niagara Falls, Funk stayed behind to re-read the Book of Acts, on which he was preaching that night. A note in his Bible said he had already read Acts 111 times.

He was also devoted to UB missions. Two daughters served in Sierra Leone. He traveled three times to Jamaica to teach the pastors, he organized Honduras Conference in 1956, and he also visited our work in Hong Kong and Sierra Leone.

After the 1957 General Conference, Ezra and Bessie, along with daughter Erma, moved to Greencastle, Pa. Within a couple months, he was diagnosed with cancer. Bishop Ezra Funk passed away on June 10, 1958, at age 71. Bishop Meadows preached at his funeral in Strinestown, Penn.

(Many thanks to Nancy Hull N’Gele, who wrote the chapter about Bishop Funk in United Brethren Bishops, Volume 2.)

He married Bessie May Strine (1-13-1890) on October 5, 1909 by his brother Rev. Amos M.Funk. They had the following children:
1. Ruth Mae Funk b: 6 AUG 1911
2. Elizabeth Irene Funk b: 2 OCT 1914
3. Erma Lois Funk b: 8 JUL 1916
4. Violet Grace Funk b: 29 AUG 1918
5. Emma Jean Funk b: 15 JUL 1920
6. Benjamin Ezra Funk b: 5 SEP 1922
7. Daniel Strine Funk b: 24 MAR 1924
8. Arlene Rebecca Funk b: 5 OCT 1926
9. Josephine Cecelia Funk b: 11 JAN 1929
10.Jacob Strine Funk b: 12 JAN 1932
11.__?__ Funk

He joined the Pennsylvannia Conference of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ in 1908. He was ordained in 1915 by Bishop Fermin Hoskins.

He was Bishop from 1941 to 1957. He retired in 1957.

Ezra married Bessie Mae Strine 5 Oct 1909, York, Pennsylvania, USA. Bessie (daughter of Millard Fillmore Algire Strine and Tancie Elizabeth Westhafer) was born 13 Jan 1890, Pennsylvania; died 3 Jul 1968, Strinestown, York, Pennsylvania, USA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Died:
Age: 74

Darrel married Rita Frances Ramsay 21 Jun 1924, Fredonia, Wilson, Kansas, USA. Rita (daughter of Henry Francis Ramsay and Lois Delilah Carlyle) was born 10 Feb 1904, Fredonia, Wilson, Kansas, USA; died 7 Mar 1985, Huntington, Huntington, Indiana, United States. [Group Sheet]

John married Elizabeth C Eckert 14 Apr 1925, Indiana, United States. Elizabeth was born 20 Jul 1895, Indiana; died Sep 1985, Huntington, Huntington, Indiana, USA. [Group Sheet]