Rev. Gary Wayne Falbe's Obituary
At the end of a full 63rd year, Rev. Gary W. Falbe was called home this Tuesday Jan. 4th to meet his Savior face-to-face. A celebration of his life will be held this Saturday. Jan. 8th, at Grace Brethren Church of Longview beginning at 2:00 p.m. Interment will follow in Rosewood Park Cemetery under the direction of Rader Funeral Home of Longview.
Born to his parents Christian James and Mae in Mt. Vernon, Illinois on the 5th of January 1941. Gary took the first steps of a journey that would carry him around the world and finally into the arms of God. Enlisting in the Army Medical Corp upon graduation from high school, he served our country in Korea after the war and entered both college and the work force upon his discharge. Earning a B.S. degree from Pepperdine University, Gary held upper management positions with several large corporations including the May Co., Food Giant, and an import export business.
In 1976, Gary married Ms. Elaine Minetos of Albuquerque NM, who preceded him in death in 1993. They had one son, Jim Falbe of Longview TX, who survives them both. Shortly after his marriage, Gary felt a call into full-time Christian ministry; he earned a Masters of Divinity degree from Talbot Theological Seminary and then went on to pastor a small Church before beginning Encouragement for Today, a Christian radio ministry that would continue for the next twelve years.
After the death of their wife and mother, Gary and Jim relocated to Longview where Gary taught German and Bible at Maranatha Christian High and served on the board of directors for both Maranatha and Grace Christian School. A member of Grace Brethren Church, Gary will be remembered as a world-traveler who loved to laugh and who deep down had a soft heart that could not bear to see people hurting.
Gary is survived, not only by his son, but also his sisters, Sandy Mayes of Longview and Mary Lynn Falbe of Battle Creek, MI, and a number of nieces and nephews. The family asks that any memorial donations be made to Partners International, 1117 E. Westview Court, Spokane, WA 99218 www.partnersintl.org, preferably to support victims of the recent tsunami disaster. A memorial guestbook may be signed at www.raderfh.com.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home, Friday evening, January 7, 2005, from 5-7 PM.
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