Detweiler, Irvin R. (1873-1946)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1946 Feb 28 p. 1

Birth date: 1873 Aug 24

text of obituary:

Former Missionary, College President, Called Away in Death

REV. I. R. DETWEILER DIED SUDDENLY AT HOME IN GOSHEN, INDIANA

At Goshen, ind., funeral services were held on Monday afternoon, Feb. 25, for Rev. Irvin R. Detweiler, 72, a former Mennonite pastor, missionary and at one time acting president of Goshen College, who died suddenly of heart attack at his home there on Friday evening, Feb. 22. Although Rev. Detweiler had suffered of an heart ailment for several years, his death at this time was entirely unexpected.

Officiating ministers at the funeral, which was held in the Eighth Street Mennonite church, were Rev. Robert Hartzler and Rev. A. E. Kreider, pastor of the church.

The following are brief facts regarding Rev. Detweiler's eventful life as reported in the Goshen News-Democrat:

Mr. Detweiler, a native of Souderton, Pa., graduated from Goshen College in 1911 and became a prominent figure in the Mennonite church.

He served as pastor of the Eighth Street Mennonite church in Goshen from 1924 to 1931 and while serving as pastor he taught Bible in the Goshen public schools. He was professor of Bible literature and Greek at Bluffton College from 1930 to 1936 and then returned to the preaching profession with pastorates at Normal, Ill., and New Stark, O.

Mr. Detweiler organized religious education in the city of Goshen and served as acting president of Goshen College from 1919 through 1922. From 1916 to 1919 he was dean of the Goshen College Bible school. He served as a missionary to India from 1902 to 1904.

Born Aug. 24, 1873, in Pennsylvania, Mr. Detweiler was a son of Joseph B. and Hettie Rutt Detweiler. He married Bertha Frances Zook, of Topeka, in 1901, her death occurring here in 1934. In 1937 he married Esther Mishler, who survives.

Also surviving are three children, Mark, of Goshen; James, of Burbank, cal.; and Mrs. Harold (Emma) Schultz, of South Bend; seven grandchildren; three brothers, Eli, of Eureka, Ill.; the Rev. Reuben Detweiler, of Hollywood, Cal., and Henry of Glendale, Cal.; and two sisters, Mrs. Levi Kilhefner and Mrs. Oscar Book, both of Sterling, Ill.