Clergy Family

In memoriam

David Reynolds

Rev. David Walter Reynolds, 60, of Tulsa died Feb. 22, 2011. At the time of his death, he was the pastor at Rose Hill UMC in Tulsa. Memorial service was Feb. 26 at the church.

David was born Oct. 6, 1950, in Burlington, Kan. He earned a degree at the University of Tulsa and worked for the Internal Revenue Service before his ministry career.

He studied at Phillips Theological Seminary. Beginning in 1997, he served churches at South Coffeyville and Blackburn, before his assignment to Rose Hill in 2005.

Survivors include his wife, Linda Darrah Reynolds, and four children: David, Michael, Lesley, and Dwight.

Elbert Johnson

Rev. Elbert C. Johnson, 93, of Enid died Feb. 27, 2011. Funeral service was March 3 at People’s Funeral Home in Lone Wolf.

Elbert was born May 4, 1917, in Greer County. He operated a family farm until age 40. He graduated from Perkins School of Theology in 1966.

His first appointment was to the Berlin Circuit in 1963. He also pastored at Liberty, Gould/Dryden, Duncan-Stephens, Eldorado/High Point, Haworth Circuit, Mutual, Bethel/Bridgeport, and Verden. A Local Pastor, he retired in 1982. He then lived in Headrick for 26 years.

Survivors in Oklahoma include two brothers.

Burney Cope

Rev. Burney Combs Cope, 93, of Ardmore died March 5, 2011. Memorial service was March 8 at Mannsville UMC.

Burney was born Aug. 9, 1917, in Buffalo, Texas. He married Sara Carson on Christmas Day 1942 at Malakoff, Texas. He completed seminary; his ministry career began in 1942, and he retired in 1983.

He was superintendent of the Ardmore District, 1973-79. He was pastor at Colbert, Coalgate, Glenwood/Park View, Tulsa-Grace, Purcell/Criner, Pryor, Seminole, OKC-Epworth, Putnam City, Ada-First, and Claremore-First. He first served in the Southwest Texas Conference.

Upon retirement, the Copes moved to Ardmore. Rev. Cope led an interdenominational ministry at Lake Texoma and was pastor at Mannsville for several years.

Survivors include Sara; children Wayne Cope and Sue Stitt, both of Ardmore, and Jane Welch of Oklahoma City; eight grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

• Megan Shepherd, 30, of Claremore died March 6. She was the daughter of Rev. Michael Shepherd, pastor at Fargo and Gage.

• Elsie Lyons, 89, of Lubbock, Texas, died March 1. She was the mother of Rev. Arthur Lyons, pastor at Anadarko-St. Paul UMC.

Wedding

On Jan. 1, 2011, David Croninger married Robin Paul in Cordell. Rev. Croninger is the pastor at Cordell UMC.