Into Life Eternal

Editor's Note: As this issue of the Message went to press, we learned of the homegoing of Bill Dooley on February 24, 2004. A full memorial will be included in the summer issue of the Message.

RONALD GILLETTE ESSON May 29, 1916 - October 24, 2003

Ron was a d escendent of the Hanson and Lavinia Stevens pioneer Oregon family, and was born in Sandy, Oregon. His father was the town pharmacist and postmaster. Ron attended Oregon State University, graduating from the School of Pharmacy. Shortly after graduation, he served as an officer in the US Army in the Aleutian Islands. He married Laura " Davie " Davidson in 1945. From then on they were known as "Ron & Davie." After the war, Ron joined the US Public Health Service, serving in Seattle, Washington.

Ron and Davie began attending Tabernacle Baptist Church and through the ministry of Dr. Forrest Johnson, in early 1947 they accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and became convinced that God wanted them to serve Him in foreign missions. After attending Biola Bible College, Ron and Davie were accepted as medical evangelistic missionaries with ABWE. In the autumn of 1951 they arrived in Malaybalay, Bukidnon, Philippines. Ron acted in various capacities including evangelist, pharmacist, lab technician, anesthetist, and dental extractionist. He and Davie were co-founders of three of the four ABWE medical mission facilities on the islands of Mindanao, Leyte, Panay and Palawan.

He is survived by his wife Davie and their three children: Shan, Richard, and Susan. Today Shan is an airline pilot, Richard is a teacher, and Susan is an occupational therapist.

HERWIN HENRY "HANK" SCHELTEMA January 8, 1929 - December 26, 2003

While serving on a special two-year "furlough replacement" assignment in Brazil, Hank Scheltema, founder of ABWE Missionary Aviation, went home to be with the Lord he loved.

Appointed in 1958, the Scheltemas served the Lord in the Amazon Valley of Brazil. In 1971 Hank was asked to serve as the Southern States Representative of the Mission prior to being named Director of Aviation in 1977.

Hank developed an airbase and strategic center for aviation in the greater Atlanta area. Under his leadership, ABWE Air established operations in Brazil, the Philippines, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru, Togo, and Papua New Guinea. From his base in Concord, GA, Hank maintained daily contact with overseas personnel via ham radio.

In 1968, Hank received the Peacemaker Medal, one of Brazil 's highest honors, for humanitarian service provided by the aviation ministry. He was the first Baptist or Protestant missionary to receive this award. ABWE presented the Scheltemas with the Edward C. Bomm award in 1977 and a Presidential Citation in 2000.

Hank is survived by his wife Ruth, son Daniel, and daughters Kisti Wright, Kimberly Yoder, Linda Teekell, Kanda Way, and Kay Bonikowsky. Hank had served his local church [Berean Baptist in Griffin, GA] as deacon, AWANA Commander, and Sunday School teacher. He had also served as Adjunct Professor of Missions at Immanuel Baptist College and Seminary in Peachtree City, Georgia.

MARTHA M. WRAY July 15, 1917 - September 6, 2002

Martha Wray was born in Iroquois County, Illinois, on July 15, 1917, and entered heaven on September 6, 2002, in Salem, Oregon. Martha was the faithful partner and co-laborer in the Gospel with her husband, Rev. E. Gordon Wray, for 64 years. During the Second World War they ministered to servicemen in the United States. In 1946 they were appointed by ABWE for service in the Philippines. For over 20 years, Rev. Wray directed the Doane Bible Institute (now Doane Baptist Bible College and Seminary). Martha served by his side, teaching, heading the music department, and directing the school choir. She also had an effective ministry of counseling with many students.

The Wrays returned to the United States in the late 1960s after a fruitful ministry of training Filipino young people for the ministry throughout the Philippines and in other parts of the world. For many years Martha had a unique and important ministry of home-schooling some of her grandchildren. Martha's memorial service was held on September 11, 2002, at the First Baptist Church of Salem, Oregon. In attendance were a number of Filipino friends whose lives had been touched by Martha's teaching and example. Martha is survived by her husband, E. Gordon Wray; children Nancy G. Johnson, Philip G. Wray, Daniel N. Wray, Nila R. Guastella, and Becky J. Strom; nine grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Editor's Note: Due to transitions in the Publications Department over the last year, Martha Wray's obituary was overlooked and not included in the Message until now. Though late in print, we wanted to honor Martha for a life well-lived in missionary service for our Lord with ABWE.