News
Alumni Notes | September 2025
Obituaries
Barbara K. (Miller) Nesbitt ‘67 (English)
Barbara Nesbitt peacefully departed this earth to be with her Lord on Saturday August 16th. Born in New York City, Barbara married Raymond Nesbitt, and in 1974 moved to Richmond and joined the First Baptist Church. In 1976 they became only the second owners of a home in the Fan district, where they would reside for the next 43 years. Barbara retired as the Executive Director of the Japan-Virginia Society and spent much of her time supporting the Children's Ministry at First Baptist Church.
Barbara was predeceased by her parents, Edward M. Miller and Kathleen Miller Brotherton, as well as her loving husband, Raymond Nesbitt. She is survived by her brother, E. Paul Miller (Shirley) of New York; her son, Dwight Nesbitt (Dee) of New Kent; her granddaughter, Brayson Nesbitt of Richmond; and many loving Kuhn cousins.
https://www.blileys.com/obituaries/Barbara-Miller-Nesbitt?obId=44412269
Ernest L. Gutha ‘61 (Biology)
Ernest LeRoy Gutha, age 92, of Council Bluffs passed away on Saturday, January 18, 2025.
He was born on July 14, 1932 in Schenectady County, New York. Ernest served in the U.S. Army from 1954 through 1956. He married Zelda Burton on December 10, 1954. In 1961, Ernie answered his calling to serve the Lord as a Presbyterian Minister. He served as Pastor for Churches throughout the Midwest, including Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. In 1984, he expanded his Ministry, becoming a Chaplain for the V.A. Hospital in Omaha, NE. On December 10, 2024, Ernest and Zelda celebrated their 70th Anniversary.
Ernest is survived by his wife, Zelda; sons, Charles (Cindy) Gutha and Robert (Deanna) Gutha; daughters, Nadine (William) Parsons and Sonja Shaffer; and a multitude of loving grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
https://www.hoyfuneral.com/obituaries/ernest-gutha
William (Bill) M. Erickson ‘51
William Maurice Erickson, known as Pastor Bill, went home to be with the Lord on December 7, 2023 at The French Manor in Traverse City, Michigan. He was 93 years old.
Born in 1930 in Manistique, Michigan, Erickson pastored Free Methodist churches with hearing congregations in Michigan and Oregon from 1955-1970. During this time deaf people sometimes came to his church. His wife, Genevra Erickson (1931-2008) interpreted worship services and taught adult Sunday School classes for the Deaf. Pastor Bill told the Lord, “Somebody needs to do more to reach the Deaf with the message of God’s love for them and disciple their growth in faith.” God told him, “Yes. I want you to do that.”
In 1971 Bill Erickson became a Middle School Language Arts teacher at the Oregon State School for the Deaf (OSSD) in Salem. Pastor Bill had one year of being mentored by the Campus Chaplain at OSSD. Then he began pastoring Salem Deaf Fellowship in a small chapel at the Salem Free Methodist Church. Families with Deaf members could worship together in the signed morning services. Deaf adults had their own Sunday School classes. Deaf children went to hearing classes with an interpreter. Evening services in the Free Methodist Church were interpreted, as well as Sunday night Youth Group meetings.
Bill founded Gospel Ministries for the Deaf (GMD) as a 501c.3 non-profit for Salem Deaf Fellowship and the Northwest Christian Camp for the Deaf (NWCCD). God used his servant Bill to bring together other Deaf pastors and believers from a variety of church backgrounds to work together and start NWCCD in 1974. NWCCD continues for its 50th year in 2024 at the Friend’s Twin Rocks Campground on the Oregon Coast. GMD also sponsored native teacher training for teachers of the deaf in mission schools in Jamaica and in the Philippines.
During the ‘80s Erickson became an adjunct professor at Western Evangelical Seminary in Portland, Oregon and pursued his dream to train more pastors for the Deaf by mentoring his first Deaf pastor. Later he worked with other Pastors for the Deaf across the US to develop an online college training program for Pastors to the Deaf.
Bill and Genvera Erickson retired and moved to Vancouver, WA in 2002. Genevra died in 2008. In 2012 Bill remarried an old friend from Spring Arbor College in Michigan. Bill sang in the choir with Marvin Penwell at Spring Arbor and met Marv’s girl friend, Gloria, at the time. Bill and Gloria lived in Warm Beach, WA in the Winter & Spring, then back to Sutton’s Bay, MI in the Summer & Fall at Gloria’s home. The Erickson family all love Grandma Gloria. As health issues began to limit their travel, they moved back to Michigan full time in the Winter of 2019.
William Erickson is survived by his second wife, Gloria (Penwell) Erickson; son Steve & Alisha Erickson in Ridgefield, WA; 3 daughters: Sheryl & John Emra in Rockwall, TX; Shirley & Dave Fackler in Renton, WA; and Sharla & Corey Gottschalk in Prosper, TX; 10 grandchildren, and 5 great grandchildren.
https://www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com/obituaries/William-Erickson-6/#!/Obituary
Chad A. Nieboer ‘95 (Criminal Justice)
Chad Allen Nieboer, a beloved son, brother and uncle who was about to celebrate his 50th birthday, died on Thursday, May 18, 2023. He was struck by a truck while walking to the Metro near his home in Washington, DC.
Chad grew up in Rochester, NY, but called DC home. It was here, after earning a bachelor’s degree at Roberts Wesleyan University and a master’s at SUNY Albany, that he found his career working for the U.S. Marshals Service for nearly 20 years. His most recent position was as Chief of Strategy and Risk.
He kept close to friends from high school, college, and here in DC. He also made new ones through his rescue dog, Buddy. He and Buddy were fixtures in the Mount Vernon Triangle neighborhood, but also beloved on the Mall, where Buddy protected lawns and fountains from all invading ducks and squirrels. Chad loved telling stories about Buddy, and had plenty of material thanks to his dog’s escapades.
Chad (and Buddy’s) favorite place was Deep Creek Lake. They spent weekends (and occasional weeks) at Lisa and Tony Sarrge’s lake house — skiing in the winter and boating in the summer. Chad would definitely want us to mention that his helpfulness with putting in docks and doing yard work did not extend to doing the dishes, but we have overlooked this lapse for years and now that he’s gone, we wonder who we’ll tease about disappearing after dinner.
We love you, Chad. We know that includes your coworkers and friends, but it is especially heartfelt from your family. Your father, Daniel Nieboer, who passed away in 2012; your mother, Ruth Allen Nieboer; and your three sisters, Laura Hine, Lisa Sarrge and Lynnette Simpson. We include in this family circle your six nieces and nephews, and three brothers-in-law who join in our sorrow and loss.
https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/falls-church-va/chad-nieboer-11297715
Herbert Andrew Lawrence III
Greece - Pastor and USAF Veteran, passed with his family beside him on Thursday, January 3, 2019 at age 75. Predeceased by his parents, Herb Jr. and Pearl Lawrence; brother, Ralph; daughter, Debra Ellen. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Jan; sister, Linda; his children, Andy (Herb IV) (Donna), Tom (Shannon), Bob (Jen), Jim, Travis (Lori); his grandchildren, Andrew (Herb V), Christopher, Ana, Isaac, Sam, Nick, Belle, Katie, Chelsea, Danielle, Tyler, Brittany, Makayla; great-grandson, Caleb.
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/democratandchronicle/name/herbert-lawrence-obituary?id=8468828
