Reverend and HIS WIFE

The Reverend and HIS WIFE

-- I call him the Reverend because that is what he is to me.
I call him that out of a deep and abiding respect and love,
HE is a man of God, he is an incredible father
and a great source of strength for me.

I call my mother, HIS WIFE, because that is what she is,
a true lady, a true wife, in every sense of the word.
She is his best friend, his helpmate and an inspiration
to every congegation that he ever served,
as well as to her children.
She is strength and love and a wonderful mother and person.

The Reverend

Wayne Howard Rothwell
was born the second boy, born Nov 11-1926.
His parents were Noah and Mildred(Thomas) Rothwell.
His school years were busy with the sports he loves.
Baseball, football and basketball. He instilled this love of
sports into us kids. I spent
many hours at a local
game with dad. He was raised with four brothers on a
farm in New York State. He attended Houghton College
and was ordained as an Evangelical United Breathern
minister in 1953. He married Edith Smith in 1946.
They had six children,
four boys and two girls. Steven, Rodney, Sharon, Sandra,
Brett, and David(who was called to heaven after only four days.
My son David is named for this brother
that I was never priveleged to know.
Dad pastored several churches all over the eastern US
and as far west as Freeport,Illinois.
I believe we moved twelve times
before my fourteenth birthday.
he retired after 42 years in the ministry.
During his ministry the United Breathren denomination joined
the Evangelical church and in 1963 they joined the
Methodist creating the United Methodist Chhurch.
Dads children are his pride and joy.
Steven is a Vice President of the Genisis Elder Care
Rodney is an owner of a Medical Lab,
Sharon is an RN with certifications in
Cardiac Critical Care and
Phych Nursing,
Sandra is a phlebotomist and Brett is
a nursing home administrator.
They all got at least some of their interest in health care
from their mother and father
who owned and operated two nursing facilities from 1970-1984.
Dad was on the Board of Directors of the
Pennsylvania Nursing Home Association
and President of the Nursing Homes United.
In 1992 he retired in the Hazleton, Pa area
and when the Bishop called him back
he returned to his duty and love of ministry.
He served two small churches in western Pa for one year.
After retiring a second time in 1993,
he sold his home and moved to south western Virginia,
partly because of the hard winters in Pa. and partly because
his youngest son lived there.
They fell in love with the area and the weather.
Dad suffered a stroke in 1996 and has recovered to nearly 100%.
He has heart problems and high blood pressure,
but with the help of his doctors and the lord,
and if he will listen to us!!*smile*,
He will overcome that as well.
He is now enjoying retirement.
He has ten living grandchildren and one deceased.
He has 13 Great Granchildren(nine of them thanks to me,or should I say my children*LOL*).

HIS WIFE

Edith Smith was the second child, born Jan.6, 1929
to Lillian (wright) Smith and Fernando Smith.
She was reaised on a farm and was a cheerleader
at her high school.Mom played a summer
with the Chautaqua Symphony Orchestra.
She majored in music in high school,
sang in the chorus and a group of girls who
sang at many special occasions.
She played in the all state band three years,
winning a medal for solo competition with the Oboe.
Mom was a girl scout for many years
while in school. She was engaged to Wayne Rothwell
in her senior year and they were married in Sept, 6th, 1946.
They had six children as recounted above.
Mom is an LPN doing nursing in hospitals
and The Lutheren Home for many years.
In 1970 her and Dad bought the nursing homes
and she became administer of same.(back to college for her!)
After the sale of them, she remained a nursing home
administer. She was an Antracite District President
of the United Methodist Women for a term
and on the Dane district Board of Directors
serving two different offices until
1992 when she retired with Dad. She continues to work at the
church office today.
Update here, Mom is retired in Florida now.

With a very heavy heart
I am just updating this now on Nov 9th, 00
We lost Brett earlier this year on Palm Sunday
The Reverend and his wife are now living
here in Northeast Pa
We are very happy to have them close again.
but miss our Brett very much.

Another update on December 10, 2002. The Reverend and his wife have moved to Florida,
they are very happy here and are only a stones throw away from me
and my Uncle Vincent and Aunt Betty.