Boomershine, Ralph (1888-1966)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1966 May 12 p. 2

Birth date: 1888

text of obituary:

Seminary Students conduct Funeral

Goshen, Ind. — Members of the practical theology class at Goshen College Biblical Seminary conducted an unusual funeral at the Reith-Rohrer-Ehret Funeral Home here Sunday afternoon.

Ralph Boomershine, 78, a native of this area and recently of Tampa, Fla., died at Goshen General Hospital May 4. He had lost his home in Tampa to an urban renewal project, and returned here by bus last month "to see the old home town once more before I die." He suffered a stroke shortly after arriving here.

Since he was penniless and there were no relatives or friends to look after the funeral, Dr. Paul Miller of the seminary faculty arranged to have one of his classes conduct the service. Participants were to be Rev. Horst Heidebrecht, Mennonite pastor from Germany; Rev. Myong Kim, Presbyterian pastor from Korea; and Rev. Jack Farel of the church of the Brethren. Members of the class also served as pall bearers.