Umble, John S. (1881-1966)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1966 Mar 17 p. 3

Birth date: 1881

text of obituary:

Retired Professor of English And Speech Called by Death

Goshen, Ind. — John S. Umble, professor emeritus of English and speech at Goshen College, died early Monday morning at Fairlawn Haven, Archbold, Ohio. Death was caused by complications of age. He was 85.

Memorial services were to be held Wednesday afternoon at the College Mennonite Church here, Rev. John H. Mosemann officiating.

Prof Umble joined the faculty of Goshen College in 1925 and retired in 1951. His services to the college were many and varied. In addition to his teaching duties, he sponsored the College Record, student newspaper, was a member of the board of the Peace Society, and a member of the Lecture-Music Committee.

One of his chief contributions was through the Mennonite Historical Society. As an associate editor of the Mennonite Quarterly Review from its first issue in January 1927 until his death, he helped build the journal into one of the foremost church history magazines in America.

He served as president of the Alumni Association in 1902-03 and from 1942 to 1947, and was editor of the Alumni Newsletter for 22 years. He also served as director of alumni relations.

The writings of Prof. Umble include the books, "Mennonite Pioneers," "Ohio Mennonite Sunday Schools," and a history of Goshen College, 1894-1954. He engaged in much research into the history and culture of the Amish, and produced a remarkable series of articles on extinct Mennonite churches.

Born at Lewisburg, Pa. to B. F. and Nancy Stoltzfus Umble, he became the first Mennonite boy of Champaign County, Ohio to attend high school. He was a member of the first class to graduate from the Latin-Scientific course at Elkhart Institute. He taught in rural schools and high schools. After attending Goshen College and Northwestern University, he received the B. A. degree from the latter in 1905. He was granted the M. A. degree by Northwestern in 1928.

Surviving are his widow, the former Alice Landis; two sons, B. Frank of Enid, Okla. and Roy of Goshen; three grandchildren; one brother, Floyd of West Liberty, O.; and two sisters, Myrtle Umble of West Liberty and Fern Umble of Cleveland, O.

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1966 Mar 24 p. 3