Nightengale, Frank J. (1889-1987)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 22 Oct 1987 p. 11

Birth date: 1889 Jul 25

text of obituary:

FRANK NIGHTENGALE

Frank J. Nightengale was born July 25, 1889, in McPherson County, Kan. to John T. and Anna Boehs Nightengale. He died in Enid, Okla., on Sept. 14, 1987, at the age of 98.

As a lad he moved to Oklahoma with his parents, experiencing pioneer life in the Cherokee Strip. He became a farmer. He loved to work and the Lord blessed his efforts.

As a young man, feeling his lost condition and repenting of his sins, he accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and was baptized into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite, on June 19, 1917, by Daniel Holdeman. He cherished this faith and fellowship to the end.

On Dec. 9, 1917, he was united in marriage to Ella Nichols. She preceded him in death on April 13, 1986.

He was elected and ordained to the deaconry by the Fairview, Okla. congregation in 1933. He faithfully fulfilled this calling by sharing his gift in various ways. He generously gave of his earthly possessions to the church and brotherhood.

He loved to visit with neighbors and friends. Family devotions were special to him, remembering each of us children in prayer. He loved little children, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Those left to cherish his memory are five sons, Harlan and wife Elsie, Donald and wife Lois and John and wife Joann, all of Fairview, Virgil of Copeland, Kan., and Marvin and wife Joan of Century, Pa.; three daughters, Irene and Janette, both of Fairview, and Betty and husband Gordon Unruh of Greensburg, Kan.; a sister, Eva Smith of Moundridge, Kan.; 18 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren.

He was also preceded in death by four brothers, five sisters, one son, Frank Curtis, and two grandchildren.