Alumni Notes | October 2025

On October 16, 2025, Laurence L. McCracken, age 88 of Churchville, NY, passed on to be with the Lord he served faithfully throughout his life. He had suffered a major stroke just three days earlier. Larry is survived by his wife of 61 years, Marva Lee McCracken and his sister and brother-in-law, Gloria and Max Shay of Wellsville, NY. He was preceded in death by four sisters, Beverly, Shirley, Mary, and Virginia. Larry was born in Wellsville, NY, September 29, 1937.

He held three earned college degrees: a Bachelor of Arts in English from Roberts Wesleyan University (1967), a Master of Science in Teaching from SUNY Brockport (1973), and Master of Arts in Religious Studies from Northeastern Seminary (2000) at Roberts Wesleyan.

Larry served in the United States Army at Ft. Lewis from 1958 until 1962, where he was a member of the Sixth Corps Concert Band. During his time in Washington, he met and fell in love with Marva Lee Herald of Tacoma, WA. They wed on July 18, 1964, at the First Free Methodist Church, then headed to Rochester, NY, in their VW Beetle. Larry matriculated at Roberts Wesleyan College upon arrival. Marva continued her elementary school teaching career begun in Tacoma. He took employment at Taylor Instruments during his college studies and then began a 25-year career as an elementary school teacher in the Greece Central District upon graduation. Marva taught in the Gates Chili District during this time.

His talents and hobbies extended beyond the classroom to music, acting, writing poetry, cartooning, and travelling. His professional singing talents as a tenor were expressed over the years through his membership in several significant musical organizations including Madrigalia, Christianaires, and Joy Singers in the Rochester, NY area, and the Breath of Aire choir of Seattle, WA. As an actor, he was a costumed docent at Genesee Country Village Museum of Mumford, NY, and he acted and sang in many professional quality church pageants. He travelled to Europe several times. Anyone who counted themselves close friends would look forward to his special gifts of poetry combined with cartoon illustrations.

Those close to Larry will long remember his sense of humor, his penchant for critiquing others on improper use of English, his treasury of foreign accents that rolled off his lips when placing an order in restaurants, his extensive corpus of memorized scripture and musical scores, the ease with which he spoke in a created foreign vocabulary with a special friend years ago, and his love of Dusty, his horse of many long years.

Larry was a dedicated student of God’s Word, finding a ministry outlet through the work of the Gideons International. Over the years, he donated hundreds of Bibles in honor of others whose birthdays or other occasions he remembered with a card. He created Bible lessons for his Gideon peers in Washington and continued this practice after returning to New York. He loved teaching Sunday school groups across the years.

Several years after retirement from public school teaching, Larry and Marva returned to Washington state, choosing to settle in Wenatchee to be near Marva’s family, to care for her mother. There they became involved in the Wenatchee Symphony, where later Larry served as librarian and then president, while Marva played violin. They loved entertaining many visitors from back east, showing them the beautiful attractions of Washington state. In 2024, they returned to New York, where they settled into a beautiful townhouse in Churchville.

Friends and family are invited to contribute their memory of Larry to a Memorial Memory Book. A Memorial Celebration Worship Service will be held at the Bergen Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 38 S Lake Ave, Bergen, NY 14416, on November 8, 2025, at 1:30pm.

Donations to the Gideons is encouraged in lieu of flowers.

https://www.walkerbrothersfh.com/obituaries/Laurence-L-McCracken?obId=45957394

Bruce William Burkett, 87, of DuBois, PA passed away on Monday, September 15, 2025, at Christ the King Manor surrounded by his loving family.

Bruce was born on November 26, 1937, to the late Harry Beatrice and Helen Leota (Deschner) Burkett in Renovo, PA. Bruce graduated from DuBois Area High School with the class of 1955, where he played the trumpet and marched with the VFW Blue Jackets Drum and Bugle Corps. He proudly served in the United States Navy from 1955 to 1961 as a 3rd class petty officer at Quonset Point, Rhode Island, where he worked in administration and communications. Bruce married Margaret "Peggy" Wilson on March 24, 1962, in Weedville, PA.

Bruce graduated from Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester, New York, in 1962 with a Bachelor of Arts in Divinity. He then attended Western Evangelical Seminary in Portland, Oregon from 1962 to 1963, during which time he served as Assistant Pastor at the Free Methodist Church in Oregon City. Reverend Bruce Burkett was a dedicated member of the Keystone Conference Free Methodist Church, serving at multiple parishes throughout Pennsylvania. The communities he served included Galeton, Port Allegheny, Austin, Clarion, Pine City, Tuna Valley, State College, Marienville, Warren, Sheffield, Erie and DuBois. He also served on the Ministerial Advisory Board for Roberts Wesleyan College for several years. Bruce faithfully ministered to the above communities for over 40 years until his retirement in 2002. He then retired to his family farm in Sigel, PA where he enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, spending time with his daughters and grandchildren, hosting his friends and family at his farm, and traveling. Bruce and Peggy also enjoyed spending their winters in Naples, FL.

In addition to his wife, Bruce is survived by two daughters, Michelle Burkett, and Krista Burkett Glaser (Alan Glaser), five grandchildren, Keith Prouty (Erin Molloy), Jennie Prouty, Heather Yoder, Lisa Yoder, and Bradley Yoder. Bruce was preceded in death by his parents, H.B. and Helen Burkett, his brother, Ned Burkett, and his niece, Marcia Burkett.

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/thecourierexpress/name/bruce-burkett-obituary?id=59469308

Wayne M. Drew, 71, of Chili, NY, died at Strong Memorial Hospital on Friday, September 12, 2025, after a hard-fought battle with cancer.

Born in Syracuse, NY, on November 29, 1953, he was the first of four children of the late Edward and Marion Lukaczyk Drew. He is survived by his beloved wife, Nancy De Leys Drew; daughter Amy Ekanayake (Dinesh & granddaughters Kayla and Honna); son David Drew (Lauren); daughter Alyssa Nicola (Timothy); siblings Judith Jones (Howard), David Drew (Kathleen), and Carolyne Martin, as well as several nieces and nephews.

Wayne was known for his faith and trust in Jesus Christ, which formed the core of his being. He lived out what he believed. As an earthly father, he reflected the love of his Heavenly Father, not only to his family, but to everyone he encountered.

He was also known for having a vast knowledge on a variety of topics, from computers and phones, to cars and photography, often being able to recall specific numbers or minute details. He enjoyed being able to share this knowledge to help friends and neighbors, and didn’t shy away from doing research to learn more about a topic with which he wasn’t already familiar.

Service arrangements will be made at the convenience of the family. Burial will occur at the North Chili Rural Cemetery.

https://www.beanandsonsfuneralhome.com/obituaries/wayne-drew-2/#!/Obituary

Wayne B. Strong, aged 83, of Rochester, NY, passed away on September 10, 2025. He is predeceased by his son, Jeffrey; parents, Boyd and Eleanor Strong. He is survived by his wife, Mary Jane Strong; his children, Jonathan Strong, Tracy (Todd) Davis, Timothy (Lisa) Strong; grandchildren, Morgan (Anthony) Pignone, Alexander (Karlie) Davis, Karina (Andrew) Hollenbeck, Luke Strong, Ryan Strong, Erin Davis, Evan Davis, Landon Strong; great grandchildren, Addison Davis, Oliver Davis; in-law, Dwayne and Chris Feather; brother, Ronald Strong and sister-in-law, Margaret Strong.

https://www.walkerbrothersfh.com/obituaries/Wayne-B-Strong?obId=45303933

Robert “Bob” Pierce was born September 17, 1952, in Boonville, NY, to Gloria and Donald Pierce. Adored by his sisters Sharon and Susie, his childhood was filled with fishing, skating on thin ice, and questionable choices that became favorite stories.

A hometown basketball star, Bob earned a scholarship to Roberts Wesleyan University, where he quickly discovered that unfortunately, college also involved actually going to class! He served in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War, rising to Sergeant before his honorable discharge in 1976.

Once he got the hang of school, he just couldn’t stop! Bob went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, where he also met the love of his life, Ellen. Together, they built a family, raising their children and cherishing family adventures, for over 44 years. Bob later earned a Master’s of Science in Adapted Physical Education from California State Polytechnic University-Pomona, and a Master’s of Arts in Educational Administration from the University of San Francisco.

For 35 years, Bob shaped countless students’ lives as an adaptive PE teacher, coach, vice principal, and athletic director. His presence made kids feel seen, supported–and occasionally slightly terrified when sent to his office.

Outside work, Bob’s larger-than-life personality shone. He was a sharp dresser, an accomplished golfer with twelve holes-in-one, and was the star of every happy hour (his favorite hour!)

Bob passed away from brain cancer in his home, surrounded by loved ones on September 9, 2025. He is survived by Ellen, children Tricia and Andy (Kate), and grandchildren Sofia, Cole, and Jack. To them, he was Honey, Dad, and PopO–the names that mattered most.

https://www.ocregister.com/obituaries/robert-bob-pierce-laguna-woods-ca/

After a short illness, peacefully at home, the Lord took Walter to his heavenly home on September 8, 2025. Cheryl, his loving wife of 60 years was by his side. Walter was a cherished father of Eric (Kari), Bethany, Vonda (Fernando), Kirk (Laura). Dear Grandpa of Tommy (Maddie), Lauren (Josh), Nina, Macie, Grace, Lincoln, Huck and River, great grandpa to Everly, Lainey and Ellie. Walter was a brother to Lottie Bell, Anne Teal, Dale (Paula), Earl (Linda) and brother-in-law to Ida. Predeceased by parents Orville and Zella Silver and brother Bill.

https://www.lyonsfuneralhome.ca/obituaries/Walter-Silver?obId=45266466