Langenwalter, Jacob H. (1877-1965)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1965 Apr 22 p. 5

Birth date: 1877 Jan 12

text of obituary:

Long-Time Pastor, Former Bethel College President Dies at Age 88

Dr. J. H. Langenwalter, well-known retired pastor and educator of the General Conference Mennonite Church and a former president of Bethel College, died Friday at Bethel Deaconess Hospital in Newton. He was 88.

Dr. and Mrs. Langenwalter moved to North Newton upon retirement 15 years ago, and entered the Bethel Home for Aged last fall. He had been in failing health for several years.

Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at the Bethel College Church, of which he was a member. Rev. Russell Mast, the pastor, officiated.

A native of Halstead, Dr. Langenwalter attended Bethel College, received the A. B. degree from Baldwin Wallace College (Ohio), the B. D. degree from Oberlin Theological Seminary, the S. T. M. degree from Hartford Theological Seminary, and an honorary D. D. from Baldwin Wallace.

Ordained as an evangelist by the Halstead Mennonite Church in 1901, he held the pastorate of that church from 1905-09. Joining the Bethel College faculty in 1910, he served the college in various capacities until 1925 except for periods of study and four years as dean of Witmarsum Seminary, Bluffton, Ohio. At Bethel, he was acting president, dean of the Bible Department, and president from 1921 to 1925.

From 1925 to 1936 he was professor of Bible and philosophy at Friends University in Wichita, and was general secretary of the Wichita Council of Churches, 1929-31. He later served as pastor of the First Mennonite Church in Reedley, Calif., as Minister-at-Large for CPS camps, and pastor of the Lorraine Avenue Mennonite Church, Wichita.

Dr. Langenwalter was the author of several books and pamphlets, and for many years was on the General Conference Board of Education.

Survivors include his widow, Jessie, of Bethel Home; two daughters, two sons, 12 grandchildren, and a great-granddaughter.

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The Mennonite obituary: 1965 May 4 p. 302

text of obituary:

Jacob H. Langenwalter, North Newton, Kan., born Jan 12, 1877, at Halsteawd, Kan., died Apr. 16. He was president of Bethel College, 1910-1911, 1921-25, where he also served as professor of Bible, 1910-14, 1919-21. He served as the pastor of Mennonite churches at Halstead; North Newton; Reedley, Calif.; and Wichita, Kan. He also taught at Friends University, Wichita. From 1914 to 1919 he was dean of Mennonite Seminary, Bluffton, Ohio. He was also general secretary of the Wichita Council of Churches, 1929-31; and secretary of the Board of Education of the General Conference, 1924-33.