Greenway 50th

GREENWAY 50th

Merle and Ruth (Panasuk) Greenway celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary while enjoying a camping trip at Netarts Bay on the Oregon coast.

Married Sept. 14, 1969, in Williston, N.D., the couple returned to Walla Walla College for their senior year. In the fall of 1970 began teaching at Laurelwood, Ore. — she at the academy and he at the elementary school.

When Merle retired, he had served the church for more than 40 years as an elementary and secondary teacher, dormitory dean, principal, university professor, and department chair for education and psychology at Walla Walla College (1988–96). He also served as superintendent of schools and treasurer for Alaska Conference (1996–2002), pastor and conference departmental leader. His last full-time position was as treasurer in the Illinois Conference. About two years ago, he relinquished retirement for 13 months to pastor the Cascade Church in Bend, Ore., on an interim basis.

Ruth taught office skills for three years then became a stay-at-home mom when their daughter was born. That decision remained intact until their son was in academy — the only exceptions being part-time work in conference offices and teaching occasional community college night classes when Merle could be at home with the children. In later years, Ruth taught in special education at a public high school.

Merle and Ruth have two children and one grandchild. Their daughter and son-in-law, Alanna and Robert De La O, and granddaughter, Annika, live in Battle Ground, Wash. Alanna works as a nurse and billing clerk for a rheumatologist in Portland, Ore. Merle and Ruth's son, Geoffrey, is located in Reseda, Calif., where he provides information technology services to both private individuals and corporations.

The Greenways especially wish to acknowledge the blessing and leading of the Lord these past 50 years and look forward to Jesus’ soon return.