The Reverend and
HIS WIFE
-- I call him the Reverend because that is what he is to
me.
I call him that out of a deep and abiding respect and love,
HE
is a man of God, he is an incredible father
and a great source of
strength for me.
I call my mother, HIS WIFE, because that is what
she is,
a true lady, a true wife, in every sense of the word.
She is
his best friend, his helpmate and an inspiration
to every congegation
that he ever served,
as well as to her children.
She is strength and
love and a wonderful mother and person.
The
Reverend
Wayne Howard Rothwell
was born the second boy, born Nov
11-1926.
His parents were Noah and Mildred(Thomas) Rothwell.
His
school years were busy with the sports he loves.
Baseball, football and
basketball. He instilled this love of
sports into us kids. I
spent
many hours at a local
game with dad. He was raised with four
brothers on a
farm in New York State. He attended Houghton
College
and was ordained as an Evangelical United Breathern
minister
in 1953. He married Edith Smith in 1946.
They had six children,
four
boys and two girls. Steven, Rodney, Sharon, Sandra,
Brett, and
David(who was called to heaven after only four days.
My son David is
named for this brother
that I was never priveleged to know.
Dad
pastored several churches all over the eastern US
and as far west as
Freeport,Illinois.
I believe we moved twelve times
before my
fourteenth birthday.
he retired after 42 years in the ministry.
During his ministry the United Breathren denomination joined
the
Evangelical church and in 1963 they joined the
Methodist creating the
United Methodist Chhurch.
Dads children are his pride and
joy.
Steven is a Vice President of the Genisis Elder Care
Rodney is
an owner of a Medical Lab,
Sharon is an RN with certifications
in
Cardiac Critical Care and
Phych Nursing,
Sandra is a
phlebotomist and Brett is
a nursing home administrator.
They all got
at least some of their interest in health care
from their mother and
father
who owned and operated two nursing facilities from
1970-1984.
Dad was on the Board of Directors of the
Pennsylvania
Nursing Home Association
and President of the Nursing Homes
United.
In 1992 he retired in the Hazleton, Pa area
and when the
Bishop called him back
he returned to his duty and love of
ministry.
He served two small churches in western Pa for one year.
After retiring a second time in 1993,
he sold his home and moved to
south western Virginia,
partly because of the hard winters in Pa. and
partly because
his youngest son lived there.
They fell in love
with the area and the weather.
Dad suffered a stroke in 1996 and has
recovered to nearly 100%.
He has heart problems and high blood
pressure,
but with the help of his doctors and the lord,
and if he
will listen to us!!*smile*,
He will overcome that as well.
He is now
enjoying retirement.
He has ten living grandchildren and one
deceased.
He has 13 Great Granchildren(nine of them thanks to me,or
should I say my children*LOL*).
HIS WIFE
Edith Smith was the
second child, born Jan.6, 1929
to Lillian (wright) Smith and Fernando
Smith.
She was reaised on a farm and was a cheerleader
at her high
school.Mom played a summer
with the Chautaqua Symphony
Orchestra.
She majored in music in high school,
sang in the chorus
and a group of girls who
sang at many special occasions.
She played
in the all state band three years,
winning a medal for solo competition
with the Oboe.
Mom was a girl scout for many years
while in school.
She was engaged to Wayne Rothwell
in her senior year and they were
married in Sept, 6th, 1946.
They had six children as recounted
above.
Mom is an LPN doing nursing in hospitals
and The Lutheren
Home for many years.
In 1970 her and Dad bought the nursing
homes
and she became administer of same.(back to college for
her!)
After the sale of them, she remained a nursing home
administer. She was an Antracite District President
of the United
Methodist Women for a term
and on the Dane district Board of
Directors
serving two different offices until
1992 when she retired
with Dad. She continues to work at the
church office today.
Update
here, Mom is retired in Florida now.
With a very heavy
heart
I am just updating this now on Nov 9th, 00
We lost Brett
earlier this year on Palm Sunday
The Reverend and his wife are now
living
here in Northeast Pa
We are very happy to have them close
again.
but miss our Brett very much.
Another update on December
10, 2002. The Reverend and his wife have moved to Florida,
they are
very happy here and are only a stones throw away from me
and my Uncle
Vincent and Aunt Betty.
This a picture of us in the early days
Top is Mom, Dad, Steven,
Rodney
Bottom is Brett, Me and Sandra.
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