Derstine, Norman H. (1920-2005)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2005 Nov 14 p. 7

Birth date: 1920

text of obituary:

Former administrator at EMU, pastor dies at 85

By Jim Bishop

Eastern Mennonite University

HARRISONBURG, Va. — Norman H. Derstine, who devoted more than 50 years to church ministry, died Nov. 4 at Park Place, Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community, at age 85.

His roles included administrative positions at Eastern Mennonite College and Seminary, radio broadcasting and several pastorates.

At age 21, Derstine traveled by motorcycle from his home in Doylestown, Pa., to finish his last two years of high school at Eastern Mennonite School, graduating in 1943. He received a bachelor of theology degree from Eastern Mennonite College (now EMU), in 1946.

He went on to teach high school Bible and later was dean of high school boys and dean of men at EMU.

On May 27, 1944, he married virginia M. Martin, who survives.

In 1951, Derstine became the program director, associate pastor and announcer for The Mennonite Hour, a weekly radio broadcast produced by Mennonite Broadcasts Inc. He served 10 years in that role.

Derstine was ordained to the ministry on Feb. 10, 1952, at Trissels mennonite Church near Broadway and served there for four years. In 1962, he accepted the pastorate at Roanoke Mennonite Church, Eureka, Ill., and served there for seven years.

He then returned to the former Eastern Mennonite College to become the first director of church relations. During this time, he led two Holy Land tours and produced Moments of EMC, a weekly 15-minute radio program aimed at connecting the college to the community.

After an assignment from 1976-78 as director of religious broadcasting in Botswana, Derstine returned to Harrisonburg, and became director of seminary admissions and grantsman at the college.

After his retirement from EMU in 1984, he served as interim pastor for congregations in Kalona, Iowa; Salem, Ore.; Phoenix, Ariz.; and Lebanon, Ore.

Derstine wrote numerous articles for church publications and frequently wrote letters to the editor for many newspapers.

In 2002, Eastern Mennonite Seminary recognized Derstine for 50 years of church-related ministry.

In addition to his wife, Derstine is survived by a son, Jerry, and his wife, Jan Garrett, of Snowmass, Colo.; a daughter, Jean Cubbage, and her husband, James, of Harrisonburg; a brother, a sister, four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

A memorial service was held Nov. 7 at Park View mennonite Church in Harrisonburg. Burial was at the Lindale Mennonite Church cemetary.