Pastor Ronald Seeley
Died: Jan. 24, 2009
Pastor Ronald Seeley, 84, died Saturday at the Johnson City Medical Center.
"He went to sleep in Jesus," his family stated.
Born Oct. 20, 1924, in Urbana, Ohio, he was a son of the late Perley Ray and Esther Overholser Seeley.
His family provided the following statement: "Mr. Seeley served in World War II from 1945-1946. After receiving his honorable discharge from the service, he went to Washington Missionary College, now called Columbia Union College, in Tacoma Park, Md.
"On June 22, 1947, he married his next-door neighbor of eight years, Ruth Eileen Dunn. That fall, both he and his wife returned to Washington Missionary College to continue their education.
"While there, they were blessed with two lovely daughters, Kathy and Sandy. They both decided to take a break from attending college and began teaching school in Columbus, Ohio. At the end of the school year, they returned to Tacoma Park for three months.
"They moved to Nora Springs, Iowa, where Ronald began working on the farm of L.A. Bascom. While here, they were blessed with their third daughter, Sherril.
"After four years Ronald was deeply impressed by the Lord to go back to college, and so left with his wife and three children and moved to Tacoma Park, where he completed his bachelor's degree in theology in 1959 from Washington Missionary College and his master's degree in divinity in 1960 from the Seventh-day Adventist Seminary at Andrews University.
"His service as a pastor took him to Maine, Vermont, Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. In each of the districts that he served, he became an active member in the local ministerial association.
"In 1994, he made the decision to retire. He and Eileen moved to Greeneville to be near their daughter Kathy. While in Greeneville, he was active in giving Bible study classes and taught Sabbath school classes at the Greeneville Seventh-day Adventist Church."
Survivors include his wife of 62 years: Ruth Eileen Seeley; three daughters: Kathy Seeley of Greeneville, Sandy Hawkins of Denver, Colo., and Sherril Seeley of Winfield, Ill.; his grandchildren: Margarette Hughes and Shantha Seeley, both of Greeneville, Karen Baker and her husband, Chris, of Seattle, Wash., Andrea Hawkins of Austin, Texas, John Hawkins of Walla Walla, Wash., and Mark Nacker and Chelsea Nacker, both of Winfield; his great-grandchildren: James McMahan and his wife, Leslie, of Midway, and Benjamin McMahan and Sophia Mackey, both of Greeneville; a great-great-granddaughter: Kayleann McMahan; two brothers and sisters-in-law: Lloyd M. and Eileen Seeley of Lakeview, Ohio, and James I. and Harriett Seeley of Bellefontaine, Ohio; one sister: Lois V. Miller of Urbana; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Wayne P. Seeley.
The family will receive friends from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. today at Kiser-Rose Hill Funeral Home.
The funeral service will be held at noon Tuesday at the Greeneville Seventh-day Adventist Church. The Rev. Dave Smith and the Rev. Matt Smith will officiate.
Interment will follow in GreeneLawn Memory Gardens. Chaplain Jan Leffler will officiate.
The body will be taken to the church to lie in state 30 minutes prior to the service.
Pallbearers will be John Hawkins, Chris Baker, Marc Nacker, Dr. Paul Green, James McMahan, Benjamin McMahan, Mike Seeley, and David Seeley.
Honorary pallbearers will be John Seeley, Wesley Miller, Lloyd Seeley, and Jim Seeley.
Published in The Greeneville Sun (Greeneville, TN) on 01/26/2009
[Great-grandson of SGS #2386 – Ronald Marion; Perly Ray; Isaac Vail; John Vail (#2386); Ira Bromley (#867); Jonathan; Ephraim; John; Benjamin; Nathaniel; Robert]
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