wfn.org | United Methodist Bishop Edwin C. Boulton dead at 72

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>]

May 16, 2000 News media contact: Thomas S. McAnally·(615)742-5470·Nashville,
Tenn. 10-21-71BP{240}

NOTE: A photo is available with this story.

By United Methodist News Service

Retired United Methodist Bishop Edwin C. Boulton, 72, died May 15, in Akron,
Ohio, of a rare autoimmune disease.

Boulton was elected a bishop at the church's North Central Jurisdiction in
1980. He served for eight years as leader of the Dakotas Area and then was
assigned to the East Ohio Area, where he served until his retirement in
1996.

Before his election as bishop, he served in Iowa as pastor, district
superintendent and administrative assistant to Bishop James S. Thomas.  

A native of St. Joseph, Mo., he earned a bachelor's degree from William
Jewell College in Liberty, Mo., and a master of divinity degree from Duke
University in Durham, N.C. He also received five honorary degrees.

He is survived by his wife, the former Betty Ann Fisher, whom he married
July 17, 1949; two daughters, Ann Lisa Rolens and Melanie Beth Pownell; two
sons, Charles Mitchell Boulton and James Clay Boulton.  

He served on numerous churchwide and ecumenical agencies and boards, and
also as a trustee of several educational institutions.

Even though quite ill, Boulton attended the Council of Bishops' fall 1999
meeting at Lake Junaluska, N.C. He had planned daily worship with a focus on
God's grace for the international gathering of bishops and their spouses. 

A memorial service is planned for 2 p.m., May 26, at First United Methodist
Church in Akron.  Memorial gifts may be made in his honor to The Library
Fund, The Methodist Theological School of Ohio, 3081 Columbus Pike,
Delaware, OH  43015.  Mrs. Boulton may be contacted at 3752 Muirfield Road,
Uniontown, OH  44685.
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United Methodist News Service
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