Rev. George Edward Elswick, Sr.

Marietta Monitor

December 24, 1999

Submitted by: Martha N. Reddout

Memorial services for Rev. George Edward Elswick, Sr. of Thackerville were conducted Saturday at 11:00 a.m. in the Thackerville Methodist Church. Officiating were Rev. Roger Willard, Rev. Burney Cope and Rev. Danny Moss.

Rev. Elswick was born May 1, 1921, in Zebulon, Kentucky, the son of James Bertrand and Minnie Stayton Elswick, and died December 15, 1999, in Mercy Health Love County, Marietta, at the age of 78.

Rev. Elswick had lived in Love County for the past 16 years. He married Elizabeth Wright on April 15, 1948, in Winchester, Kentucky. Rev. Elswick attended schools in Kentucky at Burning Fork, Pikeville and Johns Creek and graduated from high school in Otway, Ohio. He attended Union College in Barbourville, Kentucky, and Kentucky Wesleyan College in Winchester, graduating with a bachelor's degree in history. He completed theological course work from the Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University.

Rev. Elswick served in the U.S. Army during World War II and worked as a telegraph operator for the C&O and Clinchfield Railroads. He preached and assisted at churches in Kentucky prior to moving to Oklahoma in 1949. Rev. Elswick was influenced in his youth by a Kentucky missionary, the Rev. William Edward Donaldson, and later enjoyed working with youth in his own ministry.

The Rev. Elswick was ordained as a Methodist Conference minister and served churches in Oklahoma from 1949 until retiring in 1987. He pastored churches in various parts of the state including Thackerville, Marietta, Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Following retirement, he continued to preach at area churches. At the time of his death, he provided pastoral services for the Indian Nation RV Resort in Thackerville, where he enjoyed the challenge of ministering to a traveling congregation.

Rev. Elswick enjoyed helping people as a pastor and friend, and was quick to make friends of strangers. He left a long legacy of service and love, and was in turn greatly loved by his family and friends.

He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Elswick of the home in Thackerville; a son and daugther-in-law, George Elswick, Jr. and Donna of Oklahoma City; a daughter, Judy Elswick of Thackerville; a brother and sister-in-law, Charles R. and Mary Elswick of Zebulon; and two grandchildren, Charles Elswick and James Elswick of Oklahoma City.

Rev. Elswick was preceded in death by his parents and a foster sister, Bonnie Bevins.

The family has requested that memorial contributions be made to the charity of your choice or to the Skyline Urban Ministry, 500 S.E. 15th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73129.

Arrangements were under the direction of Kennedy Funeral Home.