Unruh, Willard H. (1919-2002)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2002 Mar 18 p. 11

Birth date: 1919 Aug 2

Text of obituary:

Overseas worker, MWR columnist dies

NORTH NEWTON, Kan. — Willard Unruh, 82, a former overseas mission worker and columnist for Mennonite Weekly Review, died March 9 at Kidron Bethel Village.

Unruh served with the Commission on Overseas Mission in India from 1948 to 1952. he was a "missionary in overalls," doing building, mechanical, electrical and other work. Between 1973 and 1980, he served with Mennonite Central Committee in Haiti and Somalia and with United Mission to Nepal. He shared his concern for peace and justice in a monthly column, "World Neighbors," in MWR for 21 years, ending in 1998.

He was born Aug. 2, 1919, to Anthony H. and Anna (Albrecht) Unruh at Bloomfield, Mont. He married Selma E. Dick Aug. 18, 1943, in Mountain Lake, Minn.

He graduated from Bethel College in 1942 and from LeTourneau Technical Institute in Longview, Texas, in 1959. He served in Civilian Public Service in Montana and Nebraska.

In addition to his overseas service, he taught at Mountain Lake Bible School, was superintendent of buildings and grounds at Freeman (S. D.) Junior College, worked at Hesston Manufacturing Co. as a mechanical engineer and was maintenance supervisor at Prairie View Health Center in Newton.

He is survived by his wife, Selma; three sons, Paul W. of Greensburg, Burton W. of Wichita and Allan W. of Valley Center; two daughters, Carol E. Buller of Newton and Louise E. Hurwitz of Palm City, Fla.; four brothers, Verney of Newton, Leslie of Bloomfield, Jim of Pomeroy, Ohio, and Gerald of Billings, Mont.; four sisters, Helen Buller of North Newton, Evelyn Klein of Langdon, N. D., Betty Blough of Midvale, Utah, and Phyllis Lobdell of Sun River, Mont.; 11 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Robert.

A memoral service was held at Bethel College Mennonite Church.

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Newton Kansan obituary: 2002 Mar 11 p. 5