Donald E. Ogden, 88, Winona Lake, passed away at 4:32 a.m. June 27, 2015, at Kosciusko Community Hospital, Warsaw. He was born Sept. 20, 1926, in Whittier, Calif., to the Rev. William A. and Frances E. Coffman Ogden. On Aug. 22, 1948, in Ithaca, Mich., he married Wanita Reeves, who preceded him in death Oct. 18, 2006. On July 26, 2008, he married Ethelee Ashby Jones Ogden, who survives in Winona Lake. His elementary and secondary education was in Southern California. His degrees include bachelor’s and master’s degrees in church music from Bob Jones University. He received his master’s of divinity from Grace Theological Seminary in Winona Lake and received his master’s of music in choral conducting from Indiana University. He founded the Department of Music in 1950 at Grace College and Seminary and served as its chairman through 1987. For the next five years, he served as the college and seminary alumni director, and he was the professor of music, retiring in 1992. He served two area churches as minister of music over a period of 42 years. His contribution to Warsaw-Winona organizations include being a founding board member of Lakeland Community Concert Association, Kosciusko County Youth for Christ, Grace Community Orchestra and New Frontiers with Riverwood Boys Ranch. He served for 10 years on the board of directors for Grace Village Retirement Community and Health Care. His special honors include: the Alva J. McClain Award for Excellence in Teaching, Grace College, 1970-1971; Grace Theological Seminary Distinguished Alumnus of the Year in 1975; certificate of recognition of “Dedicated service to the Community Concert Association and to the cultural progress of Warsaw” in 1981, presented by Community Concerts and Columbia Artists Management Inc. Two of his chief passions were the promotion of understanding and enjoying the music of “the masters,” both secular and sacred, and the preservation and meaningful use of great Christian hymnody. His greatest delights have been his family relationships and the many strong bonds that developed between him and those he has worked with as peers and as students. Most of all, he loved being a servant of the Lord. He was a member of Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church in Winona Lake, where he was ordained to the Christian ministry. Also surviving are two daughters, Kathleen (and spouse James) Jenkins, Jacksonville, Fla., and Diane (and spouse Robert) Grenfell, Warsaw; one son, Ronald (and spouse Rebecca) Ogden, Winona Lake; seven grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; one brother, Richard D. Ogden, Warren, Ohio; and his sister, Jeane Vanaman, Clarkston, Mich. There are also nearly 200 first- and second-generation nieces and nephews. He also was preceded in death by his parents, one grandchild, one brother, the Rev. W. Russell Ogden, and his sister, Helen Rasbach. A memorial service will be at 10:30 a.m. July 11 at Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church, 1200 Kings Highway, Winona Lake. Burial is in Oakwood Cemetery, Warsaw.
***** Memorials to Grace College, 200 Seminary Drive, Winona Lake, IN 46590, and would be appreciated by his family. Condolences via www.redpathfruthfuneralhome.com
