Bartel, Loyal Houlding (1901-1971)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1971 Nov 25 p. 7

Birth date: 1901

text of obituary:

Last American Missionary Dies in North China

Son of Mission Founder

ESCONDIDO, CALIF. — Word has been received here by Paul H. Bartel of the death from illness of his brother, Loyal Houlding Bartel, in the interior of North China where he had labored as a missionary for many years.

As far as family members know, Loyal Bartel was the only remaining Protestant missionary in mainland China.

He was born at sea on Nov. 23, 1901 while his parents, Rev. and Mrs. H. C. Bartel, were en route to China for their first term of missionary service. He spent his boyhood years in China, and then came to the United States for further education.

UPON GRADUATION from Moody Bible Institute and Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, he returned with his wife, Susan Schultz Bartel, to the mission of the China Mennonite Mission Society, which his father had founded. They had a fruitful ministry in evangelism and Bible teaching.

The family remained in China during the difficult years of World War II and the advance of communist influence following the war. In 1948 Mrs. Bartel and their five children returned to the United States in the hope that Loyal would soon join them. This hope has never been realized. Rev. H. C. Bartel left China in 1952.

FAMILY MEMBERS have been able to correspond with Loyal spasmodically and to forward some funds to him at uncertain intervals. The last word written by him was dated Jan. 15, 1968, and the last funds sent to him he receipted on April 5, 1971. After this it became impossible to get through to him, so inquiry was made through reliable contacts, leading to the information that his death occurred some time between April 5 and Aug. 28, 1971.

Efforts are being made to secure further details on his last illness and death, but it is difficult to say whether or not these will be successful.