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Promoted to Glory
Brigadier Julia Witthoff was promoted to Glory on June 19, 2004, at the age of 91.
Julia was born August 9, 1912 in Chicago to John and Alma Witthoff, who separately had immigrated from Sweden and then met at The Salvation Army corps on West 59th Street. They continued to soldier there for the rest of their lives.
Early in life, Julia accepted Jesus as savior, and as a teenager she joined a ladies’ musical group, The Sunshine Brigade. The group performed at corps all over the greater Chicago area. Hearing God’s call to officership at this time, she joined the Challengers Session of cadets in 1934 and was commissioned in 1935.
Most of her service was in the Central Territory and included corps appointments and assignments at the School for Officer Training. In 1971 she was transferred to the Western Territory where she served at the Los Angeles Evangeline Residence and then at territorial headquarters in the education section of Personnel Services. She held this appointment until her retirement in 1977. During this time she also taught at the Western Territory’s School for Officer Training. There are few places within The Salvation Army that Julia could travel without finding her former students preaching the gospel and ministering to mankind.
Brigadier is survived by her sister-in-law Elinor Witthoff; six nieces: Jeane Patterson, Phyllis Webb, Joan Barnes, Donna Minkler, Linda Miller and Julie Heid; a nephew, Dr. Milton Witthoff; and many grand and great-grandnieces and nephews.
A memorial service was held at the Santa Clara, Calif., Citadel Corps, with Major Ken Osbourn officiating, assisted by Brigadier’s nephew, Dr. Stan Johnson, and Major Neil Saunders.
Cards and condolences may be sent to the family of Brigadier Julia Witthoff, c/o Jeane Patterson, 18903 Sara Park Circle, Saratoga, CA 95070.
Dedicated Salvationist James Lester Arnold, 91, of Las Vegas, was promoted to Glory June 5, 2004. Les was born July 1, 1912 in Pampa, Texas.
Les married Brenda Wilson, a former Salvation Army officer, in 1949, and the couple attended the Assembly of God Church in Las Vegas, which was eventually purchased by the Army. The Arnolds continued to worship there and Les was enrolled as a soldier by Major Bill Lane in 1968.
Because of his love for people and his memory for names, he was made welcome sergeant at the Las Vegas Corps. Many visiting people returned to worship at the Army because of Les. He also served as the Sunday school record sergeant and the corps treasurer, and was a corps council member.
Together, Les and Brenda made a wonderful League of Mercy team, visiting inmates in jail and patients in the hospital every week. Les was also active in the Gideons International, distributing Bibles to many locations.
For 20 years, Les was the top Christ-mas bell-ringer at the Boulevard Mall. He told a Las Vegas Sun reporter, “The Salvation Army gave me a chance to help people and that’s all I ever wanted to do.”
Preceded in death by his wife, he is survived by his daughter, Joyce Voage, and son, Douglas Arnold.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to The Salvation Army or the Gideon Society; these may be sent in care of The Salvation Army, P.O. Box 28369, Las Vegas, NV 89126-8369.
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