Region 5

Ken Van Hart, Central Indiana Unit

      Ken Van Hart, International President in 1992-93 and a past president of the Central Indiana Unit, died on June 8 in Davenport, Iowa. Van Hart, with his wife Erma, was enroute to Bozeman for the International Rally.
      Ken had attended the joint Spring Rally with the Southern Indiana Unit in Madison, Ind.
      He was a tireless promoter of WBCCI and was devoted to the club and its members. His International Rally in 1993 was at Bismarck, N.D. when the city was hit with a devastating hail storm. His calm voice and leadership helped 2,531 WBCCI members get through a trying period.
     

Anna Mae Branscomb, Central Indiana Unit
      Anna Mae Branscomb passed away after a lengthy illness on June 20.
      Anna Mae was a past first lady of the Central Indiana Unit and attended every Unit and International Rally since joining WBCCI. In later years her illness kept her away from rallies, but she was still her warm, cheery self.

Rev. Dr. Kermit E. Flener Sr

      
The Rev. Dr. Kermit Flener Sr., 82, died Saturday, February 23, 2008.

      Kermit and Ruth were long-time member of the Wally Byam Caravan Club, serving as chaplain at the Unit, Region and International levels.

     He and Ruth were also instrumental in starting the Kentucky Methodist Youth Camping group.

      He married V. Ruth Alexander in 1949. He was a member of the 1944 graduating class of Morgantown, KY High School. He served in the Army Air Corps in World War II as a B-17 Flying Fortress top turret engineer-gunner.

      Dr. Flener earned an AA degree from Lindsey Wilson College, a BA degree from Evansville University, and a Master of Divinity from Vanderbilt University. In 1975 he was awarded an Honorary degree as Doctor of Divinity from Union College, Barbourville, KY.

      He served a total of 41 years as a senior pastor at United Methodist Churches in the Louisville and Kentucky Conferences. He served student pastorates in Hancock and Trigg Counties. After graduating from seminary he served Vine Grove, Columbia First, Hopkinsville First, Chapel Hill in Henderson, Campbellsville District Superintendent, and the following churches in the Louisville area–Bethany, Audubon Park, and St. Matthews from which he retired.

      He then became Visitation Pastor at Christ Church United Methodist for 16 years after his retirement. While at Vine Grove and Columbia First, new church buildings were built. While at St. Matthews, a new Educational plant and Chapel were built. During his years in the pastoral ministry, he served on numerous boards and agencies of the Kentucky and Louisville Conferences and the Southeastern Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church, including Chairman of the Conference Board of Ministry, Chairman and Dean of Kentucky United Methodist Pastor’s School and President of the Southeastern Jurisdiction Minister’s Conference. He served on the Conference Board of Pensions, was a member of the Board of Trustees of Wesley Manor, Lindsey College and Kentucky Wesleyan College. He was a delegate to the World Methodist Conference in Dublin, Ireland.

      Kermit was active in civic and community affairs in the various locations where he served. He was a 57 year Mason.

      He is survived by his wife, Ruth, two sons: Kermit Edward (Charlotte) Flener, Jr. of Overland Park, KS. and Rev. Stephen Ray Flener (Oma) of Hartford, KY; five grandchildren: Charity, Loletuth, and Erin Flener , Matthew (Carrie) Flener, and Rebecca (Ben) Heimann; two great-grandchildren, Grace Flener and Emmaline Heimann; one sister, Mary Lou Flener (Hobart, Jr.) of Morgantown, KY; a sister-in-law Jean Flener of Glasgow, KY, and various nieces, nephews, and cousins.

      Memorials may be given to Christ Church United Methodist’s Prepare the Way Building Fund, 4614 Brownsboro Road, Louisville, KY 40207; Lindsey Wilson College Scholarship Fund, Lindsey Wilson College, 210 Lindsey Wilson St., Columbia, KY 42728; or Wesley Manor Retirement Community Benevolent Fund, 5012 E. Manslick Road, Louisville, KY 40219.