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Brigadier Alice Ruth Stiles |
Brigadier Alice Ruth Stiles was promoted to Glory June 18.
Alice Stiles was born to officer parents in Wailuku, Maui on May 3, 1919. She entered training from Honolulu Citadel and was commissioned in 1942 with the Steadfast Session.
After various corps and home/hospital appointments, Alice felt God’s call to the mission field. She sailed for south India on January 1, 1946. She first served as secretary to Colonel (Dr.) William Noble at the Catherine Booth Hospital in Nagercoil, Travancore, India. Since India had a need for trained Christian teachers, she was allowed to complete her education while on homeland furlough in 1952, receiving a Bachelor of Education Degree in English and Mathematics from the U. of Hawaii.
On Alice’s return to India, she was appointed to the Boys’ Boarding School and The Salvation Army Upper Primary School in Nagercoil. She eventually became principal of two boarding schools, Nagercoil and Ahmednagar. Hundreds of boys called her Major Amma (Tamil for “mother”). The orphan boys who became her adopted sons spent their holidays with her.
While principal of the Ahmednagar school, Alice was appointed Territorial Youth Secretary. Later she served as divisional commander in two divisions, at one point also serving as Principal of the College for Officer Training.
While on furlough in 1959-60 she received her MA degree from Columbia University.
She retired from her appointment at the Training College in 1984. In that same year, Brigadier Stiles was awarded the certificate in Recognition of Exceptional Service for “work of such outstanding value that is should be placed on permenent record.”
She was living in Medford, Ore., in retirement, when she was called back to service in Bangladesh as principal. She served for 15 months and celebrated her 75th birthday there.
Brigadier is survived by one sister, Lydia and one brother, Bill, of northern Calif. and a niece, Mrs. Linda Taylor of Forest Grove, Ore.
A celebration of life service was held at the Medford Corps with Corps Officer Captain John Van Cleef officiating. A graveside service led by Major Ed Covert was held at Cypress Lawn Cemetery in Colma, Calif.
Major Fred Gibson was promoted to Glory June 7, 2003 from the Christian Care Center in Lynden, Washington.
Frederick Charles Gibson was born January 29, 1916 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada to Salvationists parents. He was commissioned in 1957 with the Faithful Session.
In June 1957 Fred married Sr. Captain Elsie Hogland. After serving as corps officers at Phoenix Citadel, they were appointed to Portland, Ore. In 1960 Captain Fred was assigned to the correctional services department of the Northern California Division. Two years later they returned to corps work in Bakersfield, San Francisco and Long Beach, Calif. and Eugene, Ore. In 1974 the Gibsons arrived at Southern California DHQ as the divisional secretary and the League of Mercy secretary. They spent the next six years in Southern California’s correctional services department with the added responsibility of territorial consultant for correctional services.
The Gibsons retired in 1981 and moved to Fresno, Calif., where Fred played in the band and served as B/M.
Major Elsie Gibson preceded Fred to Heaven in January 2000. When Fred’s health declined, he moved to Lynden, Wash. to be close to his sons.
The funeral service was held at Gillies Funeral Home in Lynden, Wash. with Major Dave Sholin, Bellingham corps officer, officiating.
Surviving Fred are sons Bill and Ron, five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Condolences may be sent to Bill Gibson, 2025 Cameron Ave., Port Coquitlan, BC V3C 5X7, Canada and Ron Gibson, RR #1 S10-C35, Ft. St. John, BC V13 4M6, Canada.
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