olger Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 Gerald C. Wagoner, son of Floyd R. and Mary Cecil (Denlinger) Wagoner, was born on July 31st, 1932, in Englewood, Ohio. He left to sleep in the Lord he so faithfully loved and served on March 11, 2008 at the age of 75. On April 18th, 1954, he was married to Ruby Arlene Miller, and together they experienced the joys and sorrows of life. Just three and a half months after their marriage, Dad was diagnosed with polio, and spent the next 5 months in the hospital, eventually returning home with the crutches and braces that became so familiar to those who knew and loved him. On May 19th, 1955, Dad and Mom accepted Christ as their Savior, and were both baptized into the Old German Baptist Brethren Church in the Stillwater District of Ohio, to which he remained faithful. Instead of lamenting his handicap, Dad realized early on that there were others worse off than himself, and he dedicated his life to fulfilling Galatians 6:10, which reads: As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. In 1963, he, along with four others founded the Brethren Charity Fund, and through BCF he faithfully and tirelessly ministered to those in need of the necessities of life, and was always quick to write letters of encouragement. He served as chairman of BCF for 40-years. Dad had a goal to write a letter a day to hurting people and he fulfilled that goal for many years. As a boy I carried hundreds of those letters to the mailbox, only to learn many years later what was in them. In 1977, Dad, along with 5-other families started the Pathway Brethren School as an alternative to public education. Today the school has 97 students and is thriving. In September of 2005, due to further complications from polio, Dad was taken to the hospital with breathing problems. For the next two and a half years, he was in and out of hospitals regularly and was mostly bedfast in his own home, receiving excellent care from his loving wife Ruby. Several times throughout his illness, Dad called for, and received the anointing, through which he was much comforted. As the time of his departure neared, his desire to rest in Jesus occupied much of his thoughts, and he often would ask those visiting to pray to that end. They say a merry heart is like a medicine, and throughout his life, Dad’s dry sense of humor brought a measure of healing to both himself and those around him. Many who came to cheer him up, were often cheered themselves. Surviving are his wife Ruby of nearly 54 years, two daughters, Darlene Angle, Vicki Brown and husband Scott, two sons, Gerry and wife Nancy, Eric and wife Monica, fourteen grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, two brothers, Carl and wife Hazel, Glen and wife Judy, and a brother-in-law Carl Bowman. He was preceded in death by an infant sister Lila Wagoner, his parents, and a sister Mildred Bowman. We praise God that his suffering is over, and look forward to walking together with him on That Day. Gerald C. Wagoner Jr. Quote "Please don't feed the drama queens.." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Shane Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 I pray the Lord comforts you with this loss and uses you to comfort others. Soon we will have that great family reunion and all our tears will be wiped away. Quote Pastoral Family Counselor... Find me at www.PostumCafe.com Author of Peculiar Christianity Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stan Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 Wow.. Now I am curious to know how you became an adventist, and what he thought about that. Quote If you receive benefit to being here please help out with expenses. https://www.paypal.me/clubadventist Administrator of a few websites like https://adventistdating.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D. Allan Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 That is a very nice picture of your dad, Gerry. Quote dAb O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators John317 Posted March 16, 2008 Moderators Share Posted March 16, 2008 Hey Gerry, I sure do appreciate that testimony about your father. I also like the picture of him. I can see he was a very dedicated disciple of Christ and loved the Lord. He certainly put his beliefs into practice. God bless and comfort you as well as all your family. "John3:17" Quote John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. [17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olger Posted March 16, 2008 Author Share Posted March 16, 2008 Wow.. Now I am curious to know how you became an adventist, and what he thought about that. It was a big challenge for dad at first. He had wanted me to be a preacher and I was heading that direction until... http://plainlydressed.bravepages.com/germanbaptistfile.html Quote "Please don't feed the drama queens.." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Nan Posted March 17, 2008 Moderators Share Posted March 17, 2008 Thanks, Gerry, for an interesting and thought provoking read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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