In Memory of Theodore Casten
Theodore Casten
Birthdate: July 8, 1938
Blessing: February 8, 1975
Ascension: March 12, 2022
Seonghwa Ceremony: April 2, 2022
Ted Casten passed away at the age of 83 on March 12, 2022. Ted was the beloved son of Bill and Ella Casten, and brother of Ruth Casten Kreier, who preceded him in death.
Born in Philadelphia, PA, on July 8, 1938, he enlisted in the Air Force after graduating high school, where he received training as a bookkeeper. He became a member of the Unification Church shortly after leaving the Air Force in the late 1960’s. He was blessed in 1975 as part of the 1800 couples Blessing.
Ted worked for many years through the Church in financial administrative positions in the seafood industry in Kodiak, AK and Seattle, WA. At company Christmas celebrations in Kodiak, Alaska, Ted was "hands down" the best Santa Klaus for the children of the families working with him. He loved all the kids, and they sure enjoyed him.
Ted was active in church activities in Seattle, involving himself in witnessing, minister work, small group study and community service. He was a man of prayer and true concern for others. Ted was one to consistently show up for church activities, and it was evident that participating truly mattered to him. He remained a dedicated member of the Seattle congregation until his death.
He found a happy home for three decades at Northaven Senior Living Community in Seattle's Northgate neighborhood. Ted would often share about his Northaven neighbors and his concern for them. He got involved in many group activities there and often reached out to inspire his neighbors with words of encouragement. He moved to Edmonds Bowl Adult Family Home in 2021 where he was known and cared-for as Uncle Ted.
Ted was a gentle, unassuming man, a passionate baseball fan (and a keen student of statistics about minor league players on the feeder teams for the Seattle Mariners), and an avid reader and writer of poetry. Emily Dickinson was his favorite. He was an inspiration and a pleasure to be around. Ted will be truly missed!
He is survived by his niece and nephew, Rachel and Jesse Kreier.
Seonghwa Ceremony
Date: April 2, 2022 at 11:30 AM (reception at 12:30 PM, Wonjeon at 2:00 PM)
Location: Evergreen Washelli Chapel (11111 Aurora Ave N, Seattle, WA 98133)
Flowers can be ordered from Rose Corner Florist at 206-361-5051 (have the flowers delivered to Theodore Casten's funeral at Evergreen -Washelli)
In Memory of Andrew Vance
Andrew Vance
Spouse: Shiho Vance
Birthdate: March 30, 1958
Ascension: March 17, 2022
Seonghwa Ceremony: March 26, 2022
Andrew Vance was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina on March 30, 1958, which was Palm Sunday that year. Andrew was always a very active and curious boy. He loved the outdoors so much that he earned the nickname “nature boy.” In particular, Andrew marveled at lightning bugs and appreciated finding box turtles in the woods near his home. He even marked the turtles’ shells with a piece of masking tape so he could identify them if he found them again after release.
Andrew loved fishing at Tanglewood Park Lake with his dad, a precious bond which continued throughout his life. There were many deep-sea fishing trips with his friend “Hammer” in Miami. Riding bicycles in the neighborhood, sledding in winter, and camping trips to Myrtle Beach were also a big part of his childhood. Andrew was an amazing athlete—he was a star baseball pitcher and also played first base. His father coached the winning Jonestown Orioles, and the team went on to play in the Little League World Series. He loved those times dearly. At R.J. Reynolds High School in Winston-Salem, he continued to play baseball, but soon basketball became his primary sport, playing with a Championship-winning team in both 1976 and 1977.
After high school, Andrew attended North Carolina State University in Raleigh and majored in engineering. He later transferred to Weber State University in Ogden, Utah on a basketball scholarship. While in Utah, he got back into nature as a ski instructor at Snowbird Ski Resort in the Rocky Mountains. Prior to working full time as an account manager for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company in Houston and in North Miami Beach, Andy traveled to Mexico for an extended stay and enjoyed scuba diving and fishing there. He lived in the Los Angeles area for some time and often joined the local surfers at the nearby beaches. Andy then found himself in Phoenix for golfing and later in Chicago. Wherever Andy traveled, he always managed to fit in his love of nature, the great outdoors, and was active in sports as much as possible.
After graduating from the college, as part of Andy’s spiritual journey, he met the Unification Church in San Francisco and joined National MFT. He eventually went out on his own and moved around for several years, taking on different jobs and activities which ultimately led him back to the church community in Miami, Florida. During this time of renewal, he supported the church leader and community activities. He also did security several times when True Parents visited Miami.
On July 25, 2004, Andrew met his wife, Shiho, and they participated in the International Blessing of 400 Million Couples held in Asan City, Korea. They began their family life in Miami, Florida in December 2004. Their beautiful blessed child, Victoria, was born in January, 2008.
The family then moved to Riverview, Florida, where Andrew had been working on his business. At some point his health started declining after he contracted Covid-19 two years ago and was in and out of the hospital. He fought through his health difficulties many times over the last few years. However, on March 17, he peacefully passed away with his wife at his side, with a smile and a heart of gratitude.
We are raising funds through GoFund Me for Andrew’s Seonghwa related expenses and for his family at this difficult time: https://gofund.me/b4bd3b92
Seonghwa Ceremony
Date: March 26, 2022 at 3:00 PM (viewing starts at 2:00 PM)
Location: Southern Funeral Care and Cremation Services, Inc. (10510 Riverview Drive, Riverview, FL 33578)
The ceremony can be watched on Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82476217939
In Memory of Gregory Leonard Carter
Gregory Leonard Carter
Spouse: Rachel Dunphy
Children: Enya Jung Mi Carter
Birthdate: August 20, 1956
Blessing: October 14, 1982
Ascension: March 5, 2022
Seonghwa Ceremony: March 27th, 2022
Gregory “Greg” Leonard Carter was born to the late Theodore R. Boyland and Jean A. Carter in Memphis, Tennessee on August 20, 1956. He lived in Memphis for six years before relocating to Chicago, Illinois with his mother, sister, Sheryl, and stepfather, Robert L. Johnson, where he spent the remainder of his childhood years immersing himself in his studies and developing his talents in music and basketball.
After graduating from Tilden High School in 1975, Greg joined the United States Navy where he committed the next four years of his life in service to this country. While in the Navy, he reactivated his love for basketball by joining the U.S.S. Proteus “Packers” basketball team. They won first place in the 1977 COMNAVMARIANAS All-Navy Basketball Championship Tournament. Greg was so proud of this achievement, because he was representing the Navy with something he loved—basketball.
Greg and Rachel Dunphy were united in marriage on October 14, 1982, while participating in the International One World Crusade. Shortly after their union they relocated to Columbus, Ohio, to continue their ministry work with CARP, the Collegiate Association for the Research of Principles.
Greg studied at the Unification Theological Seminary in Barrytown, NY, where he earned a Master of Divinity degree on June 24, 2000. He was enrolled in the Doctor of Ministry Program and was working on his final dissertation. Greg traveled all over the country with Rachel doing missionary work. In 2001 they settled down in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area where he continued to work for the Unification Church and supported other faith communities. Apart from his missionary work, Greg served as the Co-Director of the Washington AIDS International Foundation (WAIF). In that capacity, he provided education and training on HIV/AIDS prevention, character education, abstinence, and life skills development to school nurses, high school and middle school students. He also developed and conducted educational programs for faith communities.
He traveled to many states, helping to establish chapters of WAIF and the WAIT (Washington AIDS International Teens) Team. On the international level, he worked with embassies in Washington, DC, traveled to the Caribbean, and helped to raise funds for countries such as Uganda, whose first lady he co-hosted with the Institute for Youth Development (IYD).
On July 4, 2002, Greg and Rachel were blessed with a beautiful daughter whom they named Enya Jung Mi Carter. They absolutely adored their daughter and raised her to love God. After the passing of his dear wife, Greg and Enya grew closer together. Greg would often say that his daughter (Sweetie) was his blessing.
Greg never gave up his passion for sports, basketball in particular. For many years, he brought many Unification and Christian Church teams to compete at the World Culture and Sports Festival in South Korea, winning many medals, including goal medals for the US Christian basketball team. He continued that passion outside of the church by recruiting athletes for the Greenbelt Lady’s Angels and the Greenbelt men’s basketball team to compete in the Canadian Basketball League in Montreal, where they won several championships.
Greg worked as the Building Manager of the United Federation of Churches and as the Chief Liaison Officer for all the Washington, DC, properties for over fifteen years. Greg was immersed in the Christian community and this became his service unto the Lord. He gladly found ways to give whatever he could back to the people of God, sometimes to the point of giving his very last to a person in need.
Greg truly embodied the soul of a loyal servant to God, one that did not mind spending time devoting his life and service to God. Greg was preceded in death by his parents, Theodore, Jean and Robert, and his devoted wife, Rachel.
Greg’s life will always be remembered and cherished by his loving daughter Enya, his siblings, Sheryl (Jonathan) Lott, Robert Johnson Jr., Debra (Bernard) Coble and Marc Johnson, his nine nieces, five nephews, close cousins, extended family, and friends.
Funds are being raised through GoFundMe to support Greg’s daughter, Enya, as she navigates this difficult time: https://gofund.me/7c79f055
You may also send cards and donations to:
Miss Enya Carter
4F Southway
Greenbelt, MD 20770
Seonghwa Ceremony
Date: March 27, 2022 at 10:30 AM (viewing starts at 10:00 AM)
Location: Beall Funeral Home in Bowie, MD (6512 Crain Hwy, Bowie, MD 20715)
The ceremony can be watched on Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/618147675 (Passcode: 2027)
In Memory of Mark Collins
In Memory of Mark Collins
Mark Collins
Spouse: Kazuko Collins
Birthdate: August 30, 1965
Ascension: March 4, 2022
Seonghwa Ceremony: March 10, 2022
Mark was born in Virginia but spent most of his youth in Georgia. In 2004, he worked for a trucking company teaching new truck drivers how to drive efficiently and safely. One day, a new driver joined him: Bornface Mubuso. Although Mark’s parents were strong Christians, Mark was inconsistent in his search for God. Eventually, he felt the need to join a church. He felt church was an opportunity to recharge his spirit.
“When Bornface entered my truck for his driving lesson, I asked him if he knew of a good church in Atlanta. Bornface invited me to attend the Atlanta Family Church with him. There was a friendly atmosphere and a church leadership of diverse cultures and nations.”
Mark joined the Unification Church because it met his desires. He wanted a church community where he could recharge his faith and where he could meet a good woman who believed in the sanctity of marriage and family.
In 2005, he went to Korea where he was matched to Kazuko by Rev. Moon. They were Blessed in marriage that same year. He and his wife decided to live in Japan. They stayed there for 12 years. Mark shared that it was difficult at first to learn each other’s language. But they learned to love one another. When the couple lived together with Kazuko’s mother, Mark helped Kazuko’s sick mother very lovingly.
In 2018, he moved back to America. Kazuko had stayed behind in Japan, while Mark earned enough money to bring her to America. But, in August 2021, Mark learned that he had stage 4 cancer.
He and Kazuko decided they would unite strongly to defeat the disease. He said, “When we act as one, our unity makes us stronger, and we can overcome many difficulties. I want to share with others what we have learned on this journey. With God’s help and a loving relationship with your spouse, you can live longer. With faith in God and a strong supportive relationship with your spouse, you determine to live as long as possible for your spouse.”
Many people who met Mark and Kazuko commented on their loving relationship. Even nurses in the hospice center were inspired by them.
Mark Collins passed into the spiritual world on March 4, 2022 at 4:30 AM in Atlanta Georgia after battling stomach cancer. His Seongwha Ceremony will be held on Thursday, March 10, 2022 at Georgia True Family Community Center, 3060 Bouldercrest Rd. Ellenwood, GA 30294.
Mark is survived by his loving wife, Kazuko, his elder brother Lee, and his younger sister, Nicole.
Despite having stage four cancer, he had a strong desire to encourage others who are in similar circumstances to overcome obstacles and persevere to win victory for God and True Parents. Pastor Luke Higuchi at Mark’s request helped him create videos of the story of his journey.
Video in English: https://youtu.be/J6rcqESa1
B0 Video in Japanese: https://youtu.be/1d0ikgeCIto
We are raising funds through GoFund Me for Mark’s Seonghwa related expenses and for his wife, Kazuko who sacrificed her job and living situation in Japan to come to America. https://gofund.me/dcce23c5
Seonghwa Ceremony
Date: March 10, 2022 at 9:30 AM (viewing starts at 8:30 AM)
Location: Georgia True Family Community Center (3060 Bouldercrest Rd. Ellenwood, GA 30294)
The ceremony can be watched on Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9639637000
In Memory of Amarjit Takhar
In Memory of Amarjit Takhar
Amarjit Takhar
Spouse: Carol Takhar
Children: Phillip, James, Sarah
Birthdate: October 20, 1958
Blessing: July 1, 1982
Ascension: February 26, 2022
Seonghwa Ceremony: March 6, 2022
Amarjit (AJ) Takhar lived a full life and passed away in his sleep at age 63. His loved ones remember him as a loving and committed husband, father, brother, and friend who dedicated his life to God, True Parents, and his family.
AJ was born in 1958 in a farming community in Samrai Village in Punjab, India. His parents, Mohan and Harpal, raised AJ and his sister, Sarbjit, in the Sikh religion. Their family lived lives of faith centered on a God of love and goodness. When he was 12, AJ’s family moved to Gravesend, England. AJ worked hard to learn English quickly to catch up in school and adjust to a new life in a new country. He did extremely well in his studies and managed to obtain a place at Kent university studying aeronautical engineering. Having always dreamt of being a pilot he also started taking flying lessons weekly.
AJ’s love for God led him to search for a religious community where he could connect to his sense of purpose. He met the church in England at the end of 1979, where he met his lifelong best friend, Godwin Da Silva. In 1980, AJ came to America to join MFT and began building Good Go boats. During this time AJ had the opportunity to go see Annie in the movie theater with True Parents.
AJ was Blessed and married to his wife Carol at the 1982 Blessing at Madison Square Garden. Right after they were matched, Carol and AJ squeezed into a phone booth to share the news with her mother. Carol explained that they would be married in three days. Her mother asked, “well, does he love you?” Carol handed the phone to AJ, who went red in the face and said, “Of course I do!” They were Blessed and married three days later; Carol’s mother and sister attended the ceremony. After the Blessing, AJ and Carol popped into a Carl’s Jr. for their first date and a bite to eat. Carol suspects they chose Carl's Jr. because it was one of the few places you could get a cup of hot tea at the time. As an international couple, their course was not easy in the early years of their relationship. Over time, their families came to recognize the deep love and appreciation they had for one another. Having cute and well-mannered children didn’t hurt either.
They moved to Seattle in 1989, where AJ began working for True World Foods (then called Happy World). They had their first son Phillip in 1989 and moved to Los Angeles, California soon after. AJ always held a love for Punjab in his heart and always said that California reminded him of Punjab. Their son James was born in 1991, followed by their daughter Sarah in 1995. AJ was an attentive and caring father to his children. Some of their favorite family activities were going to the zoo and playing mini golf together, activities that the Takhar children still love to this day.
In May 2019, AJ suffered from a series of heart attacks and strokes, including undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes. Despite the odds against him, AJ pulled through. With significant support from his family, AJ’s health improved over the following months. While his condition required him to retire from his prior career, AJ’s improving health meant that he could spend more time with his family. He made many trips to his favorite places, including Palm Springs for vacation, IHOP for breakfast, and the beach.
All who have met AJ reflect on his quiet warmth and tremendous strength of character. His passion for God and True Parents guided his adult life. AJ worked hard to support his family and participated in church activities as much as possible in order to strengthen the LA community. As a delivery driver and eventually Vice President of Human Resources at True World Foods, AJ demonstrated steadfast loyalty to the company. He dedicated himself to support True Father’s vision for the seafood industry and went out of his way to support brothers and sisters when he could. His colleagues have shared the sense of respect they had for the way AJ did his job. He always took pride in his work and was able to do difficult things well.
AJ led a disciplined life of faith and worked hard to create a better world for his children. He dreamed of True Parents frequently and kept a strong connection to God’s heart. A close family friend shared that she recently asked AJ, “what makes you happy?” He responded, “When I feel God’s love.” No matter the circumstances, AJ chased after God’s love and dream for this world with his whole heart, mind, and body.
Seonghwa Ceremony
Date: March 6, 2022 at 9:00 AM (PT)
Location: Online at facebook.com/lafamilychurch
In Memory of Rukchlvan Ntumba
In Memory of Rukchlvan Ntumba
Rukchlvan Ntumba
Parents: Kabamba & Esther Ntumba
Sibling: Sun Mi
Birthdate: June 17, 2003
Seonghwa Ceremony: February 27, 2022
Rukchlvan Matthieu Ntumba was born on June 17, 2003, in Atlanta, GA. He is the son of Kabamba Ntumba from Congo and Esther Banda from Suriname and the brother of his older sister, Sun Mi with whom he had an inseparable bond.
Ever since he was young, Rukchlvan has been an easy-going person. He got along with everyone, no matter the age. If Rukchlvan was going to be at a social gathering, you could count on him to bring the energy. He loved to make people laugh. His humor was top tier. He wanted to make sure everyone was having a good time.
One of his many hobbies was basketball; he was always the best player on every team. He had a competitive drive and always gave his all in everything he was passionate about.
Rukchlvan had a huge heart towards his family and friends, especially his mother and sister. He did his best to make the family feel whole after the death of his father in 2007.
Rukchlvan was loved within his community and had a heart of gold. Those who had the privilege of knowing him personally knew that beneath the tough boy persona that he jokingly presented, there was a soft, tender heart. Often being involved in church events such as camp and workshops, it was clear that he was very family orientated; many of his friends would attest to that. Rukchlvan was loved and adored by many. Forever and always will he be in our memory and most importantly our hearts.
Seonghwa Ceremony
Date: Sunday, February 27, 2022 at 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Location: Georgia True Family Community Center (3060 Bouldercrest Rd, Ellenwood, GA, 30294)
Live Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9639637000
Passcode: 7000
GoFundMe page: https://gofund.me/51d7f278
In Memory of Katharina Stinard
In Memory of Katharina Stinard
Katharina Stinard
Spouse: Jim Stinard
Children: Melanie, Andrew, Patrick
Birthdate: December 23, 1950
Blessing: July 1, 1982
Seonghwa Ceremony: February 12, 2022
Katharina Stinard was born in Irschenberg, Germany on Dec. 23, 1950 to Anian and Katharina Bacher. She has two older brothers and a younger sister. Kathy grew up on a small farm in southern Germany and helped her siblings and father with the chores, where they milked the cows and harvested crops. They had a large apple and pear orchard from which the harvest was sold in a local market and also made into distilled beverages. Also, the family maintained a large number of beehives from which they harvested honey.
Kathy was a good student and was very active in her church and youth groups. She loved to bicycle with her friends and play the zither and flute and to sing. She also enjoyed bicycling and hiking and skiing in the nearby mountains. She graduated from high school in 1969 and afterward attended business school where she studied business administration and accounting. Upon completion of this training she was an executive secretary for a manufacturing company from 1972-1974.
In Nov. 1974, she joined the Unification Church and helped with religious education programs in Munich before going for missionary training in Frankfurt. It has always been Kathy’s desire to help people in different countries, so she was very pleased to join two other missionaries, one from Japan and one from the United States, to do missionary activities in Ghana. This was a challenging but enriching experience for her. She was Blessed in marriage to Jim Stinard in 1982 and in 1983 he joined her in the mission field. They worked in both Nigeria and Ghana and brought many people to a greater understanding of God and Christ. Kathy was also very instrumental in setting up and implementing a relief program, called the International Relief Friendship Foundation, IRFF, in Ghana.
In 1998 Kathy and Jim returned to the United States and joined the Belvedere Unification community in Tarrytown, New York where they have been participating in church projects and activities over the years. Kathy worked as a sales representative at United Vision Sales and as a team leader in their distribution center. Also, for many years she served as the Human Resources Specialist for the United Peace Federation.
Kathy is known for her cheerfulness and her kind and loving heart. She was always willing to step in and help wherever it was needed. Kathy passed away on February 5th, at age 71, having succumbed to multiple health issues. She is survived by her husband Jim, their three children, Melanie, Andrew, and Patrick, and her sister Maria, brother Alois, and nephews and nieces.
Donations to help cover funeral and burial services can be sent to the GoFundMe link at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-loving-memory-of-katharina-stinard
Seonghwa Ceremony
Date: Saturday, February 12 at 9:00 AM
Location: Edwards Dowdle Funeral Home (24 Ashford Ave., Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522)
Zoom Broadcast for Remote participation will begin at Saturday 9 AM
Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82864791809
Meeting ID: 828 6479 1809
Won Jeon Burial
Will take place immediately after Seonghwa Ceremony at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery (540 N Broadway, Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591)
Prayers, Condolences, and Gifts
Prayers
24-Hour prayer vigil will take place from our homes
Sign up for a 1-hour prayer slot in this [LINK]
Flowers
Flowers can be sent to the Edwards-Dowdle Funeral Home.
Flowers should arrive in time to be set up before the 3:00 PM Viewing on Friday.
Gifts
Checks and Love Offerings can be made out to James Stinard.
GoFundme: https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-loving-memory-of-katharina-stinard
Or send by Zelle to: stinard@aol.com