The Passing of a Friend

Some of us lost a friend this week and I share this excerpt of a message from David Coolidge:

"A few minutes ago we received a phone call from Susan (Brallier) Kaspar telling us of the passing at 8:30 this morning from this earthly life to eternal Life in heaven of her father, Rev. Calvin Brallier (WPC: BA '50, SOT: MDiv '81), husband of Martha (Cox, WPC: BA '50, AU: BS '62) Brallier.

Cal and Marty are the parents of Rev. Michael (AC: BA '74, SOT: MDiv '77)(wife, Patti Pierce, AC: BA '73) Brallier, Stephen (wife, Erma) Brallier, Susan (Brallier, AC: BA '77)(husband, Russell) Kaspar, Carol Ann (Brallier, AC: BA '82; RN) Griffin, and the late Janet Lee Brallier; the grandparents of Ryan (wife, Lauren) Brallier, Jessica Brallier, Caroline Brallier, S. Carter Brallier, Michael (wife, Lindsey) Kaspar, David Kaspar, Benjamin Kaspar, Katie Griffin, and Laura Griffin.

Cal and Marty are a brother-in-law/sister of Rev. Dr. G. David (AC: BA '55, SOT: MDiv '58, AC--DD '78)(wife, Jeanette Pylate, AC: '59) Cox, Ruth (Cox)(deceased husband, Rev. Glenn) Henrichs, and Betty (Cox)(husband, Wes) Benefiel, and the late Mary Ellen (Cox)(husband, Carroll) Reinhart."

David comments, "For those who may not be acquainted with the ministry of Calvin and Marty, they pastored a number of Church of God congregations over the years and served as Church of God missionaries to Kenya, East Africa from 1950 to 1962. It has been my privilege to have known Cal as a close personal friend and esteemed colleague for many years.

I first met him in early 1950 at the time I came to live in the home of Marty's parents, the late Rev. William & Lola Cox, while I was finishing high school ('50-'53) at the time my parents, the late Revs. Ralph & Ruth Coolidge, were in missionary service in Trinidad, B.W.I. Marty is like one of my sisters to me.

Let us give thanks to God for the gift of Cal to his family and many friends and for his long life of faithful witness for his Lord and service to God, the church, and to humankind. Only eternity will reveal the far-reaching influence of the pastoral ministry and missionary service he shared with his wife had on the lives of the many children, youth and adults in places in which they served."

Cal is the lastest in a list of several friends who passed on during the Christmas holidays ... friends we shall miss ... but we celebrate the lives of positive uplift they modeled.

My wife and I met Cal and Marty in Portland, OR in our student days. My wife still jpoyfully remembers when the Bralliers got their call from the Mission Board to prepare for duty in Kenya--5 years. My wife joined Marty's sister (Ruth Cox Henrich) and they sewed like crazy, preparing for a 5-year tour of duty in Kenya. They made the deadline, completed the necessary preparation and packing, and departed via ship for Kenya.

They served 12 years, during which tme Cal & Marty buried their first born on a African hill--an infant that could have survived stateside. They served God and the global community with valor. Wherever they were, they served with a global vision in view, they gave God their best, and we were their beneficiaries. My prayer is one of thanks to God for them, and for others like them that have given their best in humble service.

When the fullness of my time comes, may I be able to say I lived up to the best that I was capable of, and may others have benefited because I walked along the same path of global humanity.

Thanks Cal ...

Wayne