Obituary

The Rev. Arley C. “Bud” Worthington, age 89, died on Sunday (Jan. 2, 2011) at Asbury Park in Newton.

Bud was born on Jan. 12, 1921, in Towanda. He was united in marriage to Hazel Barksdale on Nov. 23, 1941. Arley was a World War Two veteran; he was a waist gunner and served with the fifth Air Force B-24 Bombers. He flew out of Darwin, North Australia; Broome, West Australia; and New Guinea. He flew 42 missions.

He was with Baptist Bible Fellowship and Baptist Bible College since the 1950s. Arley was ordained into the ministry in 1951 in Wichita Baptist Tabernacle. Bud graduated from Baptist Bible College in 1952. He pastored Temple Baptist Church in Marshfield, Mo., and Grace Baptist Church in Salina. He founded the Village East Baptist Church in Aurora, Colo., and the Memorial Baptist Church in Denver. Arley retired from construction and pastoring in 1982, then moved to Grove, Okla. Arley was the pastor for Independent Baptist Church in Grove from 1983 until 1987. He attended People’s Bible Baptist Church in Newton.

Bud was the father of three children who all preceded him in death, Gerald Worthington, Clifford Worthington and Julene Hare. Bud’s wife Hazel Worthington survives of the home. Seven grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren also survive Bud.

An open viewing will be held from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. Wednesday (Jan. 5, 2011) at Worley-Luginbuel Funeral Home Chapel in Grove. Visitation will be held at noon Thursday (Jan 6), with services starting at 1 p.m. at Worley-Luginbuel Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow at Olympus Cemetery in Grove.