Lark, Rowena (1893-1970)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1970 Apr 9 p. 11

Birth date: 1893

text of obituary:

Pioneered in Urban Ministries

Pastor's Wife Dies in Fresno

Elkhart, Ind. (MBMC) — Mrs. James (Rowena) Lark, 77, who with her husband pioneered in urban black ministries of the (Old) Mennonite Church, died March 5 in Fresno, Calif, following a stroke. Funeral services were held March 9 at the Cooley Funeral Home in Fresno with LeRoy Bechler, pastor of the Calvary Mennonite Church in suburban Los Angeles, officiating. Music was provided by the combined choirs of Pearly Grove Baptist Church, Saint Rest Baptist Church and Deliverance Temple, all of Fresno. George Stoneback, pastor of the Fresno General Conference Mennonite Church, gave the invocation, followed by responses from J. L. Hostetler, representing Southwest Mennonite Conference, and Simon Gingerich, representing Mennonite Board of Missions.

The service concluded with an unexpected talk by Rev. Lark, in which he movingly paid tribute to his wife and expressed concern that “the (Mennonite) church could do more for the local black community and at the same time continue to place prime emphasis on evangelism and church extension.”

Alexander Lark, the family’s youngest son, gratefully acknowledged his mother's gift of teaching him how to read and sing.

Mrs. Lark, born in Savannah, Ga., was widely-known for her musical abilities, according to Simon Gingerich. When the Larks went on speaking engagements, James would preach and call on his wife to provide special music. Mrs. Lark also devoted much time to promoting children’s work.

James and Rowena Lark played an instrumental role in the founding of what are now established congregations, beginning with Bethel Community Church in Chicago, then Rehoboth in St Anne, Ill., and Bethesda in St Louis.

Mrs. Lark, mother of two sons and four daughters, was a schoolteacher for 28 years. Rev. Lark, 75, is now retired, but active in various church and business interests.