Peter Mitrushi (‘47) died on June 18, 2012. He was born on May 14, 1923 in Atlantic City, N.J. He was a graduate from King College in Bristol, Tenn., where he played varsity basketball. From 1942 through 1946 he served as a Second Lieutenant in the US Marine Corps in Guam and China. He retired as a Major in the Marine Reserves and made his home in Bristol, Tenn. He entered into the life insurance Company in 1953 and was promoted to Sales Manager in 1955 and District Manager in 1975. He served as President of the Tennessee Association of Life Underwriters and in 1975 was named Man of the Year in the state of Tennessee for his contributions to the insurance industry. He retired from Metropolitan Life as District Manager in 1985. In Bristol Tennessee he served as President of GAMC and Tri-Cities Chapter of CLU'S and served as Director of the Bristol Chamber of Commerce, Director of the Southeastern Band Festival. He served on the Athletic Council of King College and in 1988 received an award of recognition as the outstanding alumnus of King College Alumni. He was a tennis coach at King College from 1990 to 1992. Peter moved to Venice Florida in 2001 where he resided at the time of his death.
Dr. Daniel L. Moore (‘54) of Summit, N.J. passed away at the Barnabas Health Hospice Unit at Monmouth Medical Center on Wednesday, June 27, 2012 at the age of 80 after a brief illness. He was born on April 9th, 1932 in Marlinton, W.V. Valedictorian of his high school class, he was a graduate of King College in Bristol Tenn., playing basketball there all four years. He received his medical degree from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and was a General Surgery resident at New York Hospital, Bellevue, and Downstate Medical Center. A Captain in the US Army, he spent 13 months in Vietnam from 1965-66 as the Chief Surgeon on the 8th Field Army Hospital in Nha Trang. Dr. Moore practiced General Surgery at Overlook Hospital in Summit from 1971 to 1999. He was a Clinical Professor of Surgery for Columbia University as well as a Clinical Instructor for Seton Hall University-UMDNJ's Physician Assistant program.
Horace Edward Stoessel (’54) of Kauai, Hawaii, passed away on Sept. 16, 2012, at the age of 82. He was born in Long Beach, Miss., and attended Long Beach High School. He received his BA in Psychology from King College in 1954. He also attended Union Theological Seminary, and received his PhD from University of Aberdeen in Scotland. He served as a professor at King College, Bristol, Tenn.; Minister of Education and Counselor in Charlotte, N.C.; and owned Stoessel Yard Maintenance in Kauai. His commitment to truth and language led him to be an activist in local government in Kauai. He served on the Salary Commission and actively participated in meetings of the Charter Commission, Ethics Board and County Council. Horace embraced the Hawaiian Culture and sovereignty of the Hawaiian people.
Max Allen Weaver (’58) passed away on Oct. 4, 2012, surrounded by his family and friends, after a battle with ALS. He was born on March 26, 1936, in the Teaberry Community of Ashe Co., N.C. Max graduated from Lansing High School, Lansing, N.C. in 1945; King College in 1958; and East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tenn., with a Masters in 1963. He also received an
Honorary Doctor of Science in 1991 from King College. He was a chemist, research chemist, developing and research associate for Eastman Kodak Co. Chemical Division from 1958 to 2008. Max was ordained in 1991 as Elder with the Church of the Nazarene, and served as pastor for the Church Hill Church of the Nazarene for 13 years and at Kingsport Methodist Church for 6 years. He continued to remain pastor to many after he retired. He served as an assistant professor of chemistry at King College from 1987 to 1994, and a consultant for Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester, NC., Milliken & Co., Spartanburg, S.C., and Eastman Chemical, Kingsport. He contributed articles to numerous science journals and chapters to books. In 1994, Max was recipient of the Patenting Distinction award from Eastman Chemical Co.; Patenting Career Achievement Award, 2007; Research medal from Worshipful Co. Max had received 268 patents during his career.
William B. Leaman Jr., (’60) age 75, of Roanoke, passed away on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012.
Rev. Dr. William S. Morris (’63) died Aug. 3, in Kilmarnock, Va., at age 72, surrounded by family. Dr. Morris served as Executive Presbyter of Hanover Presbytery in Richmond from 1985-1989 before becoming the first Executive Presbyter of the newly-established Presbytery of the James, where he served until 1992. Dr. Morris was then called to Campbell Memorial Presbyterian Church in Weems as Pastor, serving for 13 years before retiring from full-time ministerial work in 2005. He then guided the development of Tappahannock Presbyterian Chapel as Evangelist on a part-time basis until 2011. Dr. Morris served churches in New Orleans, La., Gastonia, N.C., Chesapeake, Va., and Grottoes, Va., where he was Pastor of Mt. Horeb Presbyterian Church for seven years before being called to be Associate Executive Presbyter for the Blue Ridge Presbytery in Lynchburg, Va., in 1982. Born in Hopewell, Va., Dr. Morris became an Eagle Scout and Page to the Virginia House of Delegates and was active in student government before graduating from Hampton High School in 1958. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from King College in Bristol, Tenn., in 1963, and Bachelor of Divinity Degree from Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, Va., in 1968. He received his Doctor of Ministry Degree from Union Theological Seminary in 1976.
Benny Charles Morrell, (’64) age 70, passed away on Friday, Aug. 10, 2012, at his home in Star Tannery. He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles R. Morrell and Mary Ellen Miller Morrell of Bluff City, Tenn. A graduate of King College in Bristol, Tenn., Benny served as executive director of the Virginia onsite Waste Water Recycling Association (VOWRA); a member of Strasburg Rotary, and a member of Mt. Hope Presbyterian Church.
Timothy Duane Cass (’81) passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012, at his home. He attended Bristol Tennessee High School where his played the saxophone in the band. He attended Bethel College and King College and graduated from Golden Gate University in San Francisco in 1996. He practiced law in Bristol for several years.