Charles Edward Lukenbill

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Charles Edward Lukenbill, age 85, of Greencastle, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2011.

Born Saturday, Feb. 6, 1926 in Madison Township, Putnam County, Ind., he was the eldest child of Fred Arret and Nellie Fern (Cox) Lukenbill.

He graduated from Bainbridge High School in April 1944 and was drafted in military service one month later. He served two years in the Army Signal Corps in New Delhi, India, where he became a member of the All India Fine Arts Society at age 19.

He enrolled in Butler University as an English major in 1947, and was inducted into the Professional English Fraternity, Sigma Tau Delta. He was also a scholarship student at Herron School of Art in Indianapolis.

Later he attended Moody Bible Institute and Clearwater Christian College, graduating in 1983, at the age of 57, with a degree in Bible Studies.

Ordained to the Gospel ministry at Bible Fellowship Church in Largo, Fla., he held pastoral positions in Florida, Tennessee and Indiana before retiring from New Providence Baptist Church in 1992 as senior pastor.

He also served as research editor of Christian Education Today magazine for Baptist Publication in Denver and was associate editor for Bible Pathway Ministries in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

On Dec. 29, 1965 he married Clarice Louise Bemis, director of nursing at Putnam County Hospital. She preceded him in death on Jan. 18, 1998. They had no children.

He is survived by two sisters, Shirley Rooker and husband Bob of Bainbridge, and Mary Boswell of Greencastle; three brothers, Bill Lukenbill and wife Pat, and Marion Lukenbill and wife Betty, all of Brownsburg, and Keith Lukenbill and wife Dot of Greencastle; several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents.

At his specific request, private graveside services were conducted at the Calcutta Cemetery, Brazil, Ind.

Hopkins-Rector Funeral Home, Greencastle, was entrusted with the arrangements.