Detweiler, William G. (1903-1956)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1956 Jan 19 p. 1

Birth date: 1903 May 3

text of obituary:

Calvary Hour Pastor Called By Death

WM. G. DETWEILER, 52, OF ORRVILLE, O. FOUNDED BROADCAST IN 1936

Orrville, Ohio. — Rev. William G. Detweiler, 52, well-known pastor of "The Calvary Hour" radio broadcast, died unexpectedly of a heart attack Friday morning, Jan. 13, at his home near here.

An estimated 1,000 or more persons overflowed the Orrville Mennonite Church for the funeral service on Sunday afternoon. Taking part in the service were Bishop O.N. Johns, Gerald Studer, I.W. Royer, and B. Charles Hostetter.

The Calvary Hour, Gospel broadcast founded by Rev. Detweiler in 1936, is heard each week over 20 stations in the U. S. and foreign countries.

Survivors include his wife, the former Anna T. Landes, and twin sons, William and Robert, who have associated with the broadcast since last summer.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1956 Jan 26 p. 5

text of obituary:

Services Held For Radio Minister

Blooming Glen, Penn. — The body of Rev. William G. Detweiler, pastor of the "Calvary Hour" radio broadcast, Orrville, Ohio, was laid to rest in the Blooming Glen Mennonite Church cemetery on Jan. 17 following a service held at the church here. Ministers taking part were David Derstine, the pastor, Geroge [sic George] R. Brunk, William Anders, John Hiestand and Richard Detweiler.

Rev. Detweiler died suddenly of a heart attack Jan. 13 at his home near Orrville, and funeral services were held at the Orrville Mennonite Church on Sunday, Jan. 15.

He was born here May 3, 1903, the son of Wilson G. and Minerva Detweiler. A graduate of Temple University in Philadelphia, he founded the Calvary Hour in 1936 while serving the Mennonite mission in Canton, Ohio. He was pastor of the Pleasant Hill Mennonite church near Orrville from 1946 until three years ago when he resigned to give full time to radio work.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1956 Mar 8 p. 9

text of obituary:

Rev. Wm. G. Detweiler – A Tribute

Thy battle hard fought is over. A crown awaits thee. The sword of thy faithful battle is laid aside: the palm branch takes its place. The victor's wreath from the Great Shepherd of our souls shall be thy full reward. Thy precious dust shall rest for a little while, and then shall spring from thy earthly couch, a body fashioned like unto His own glorious body. Until then, may you rest sweetly. By the blood of the Everlasting Covenant, we too, sooner or later, hope by the grace of God to be with these in Glory. Amen.

The writer of these few lines has been a close friend of Bro. Detweiler all through his radio ministry. Bro. Detweiler was truly a pioneer in Mennonite radio work. He had friends who helped along, but, for the most part, he and his faithful companion carried the work alone without any official or finincial [sic] backing of the church.

He was a man of great faith and prayer. His bedroom and place of study, together with a sacred spot in the grove west of his home, were spots where he met the Lord in his problems, especially the ones pertaining to his radio work. I know of no one in all my large acquaintance who had faith in prayer as did Bro. Detweiler.

But the Lord saw fit to take him home early one morning in his office — "At noon time the sun went down." Humanly thinking, we thought it was soon — in the midst of life. Hard worker in the field, his toil is ended. The furrow was straight that he plowed. Heaven is richer because of the ingathered sheaves, and the harvest follows his patient sowing. — Written by Rev. A. J. Steiner of North Lima, Ohio, who has been a member of The Calvary Hour Advisory Council for many years.