wfn.org | Notes about People

[PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org]

3-September-1997 
97342 
 
    Notes about People 
 
    by Jerry L. Van Marter 
 
    Elsie Thompson Wilbanks Pritchard, a longtime Christian educator in the 
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), died Aug. 30 at her home in La Jolla, Calif., 
after a long struggle with Lou Gehrig's disease. 
    Born Elsie Thompson in 1912, Pritchard graduated from Ohio Wesleyan 
University.  She later studied music at the University of Cincinnati and 
the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music.  After teaching music in the Lebanon, 
Ohio, public schools, Pritchard began her church career in 1962 as an 
educator and evangelist at First Presbyterian Church of El Paso, Texas. 
^From 1967 to 1973 she served on national staff in New York as secretary of 
interpretation and stewardship for children and youth in the Program 
Agency.  She then became director of Christian education at Larchmont 
(N.Y.) Presbyterian Church until 1975, when she married the Rev. Francis W. 
Pritchard, a personnel consultant for the PC(USA) in Asia. 
    She is survived by Francis Pritchard; two sons -- Thomas Wilbanks of 
Knoxville, Tenn., and the Rev. Dana Wilbanks of Denver; a daughter, 
Elizabeth Wilbanks Robb of Culver City, Calif.; a brother, Newell Cummins 
Thompson, and sister, Janice Griffith, both of Lebanon, Ohio; three 
stepdaughters -- Lucile Frost of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia; Ruth Dawson 
of Honolulu; and Elaine Bandermann of Toronto; grandchildren and 
great-grandchildren. 
 
                              # # # 
 
    The Rev. M. Scott McClure, 73, a pastor who also created a radio and 
television ministry, died Aug. 30 in Birmingham, Ala.  He was the father of 
the Rev. Marian McClure, director of the Worldwide Ministries Division in 
Louisville, and the Rev. John McClure, professor of homiletics at 
Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. 
    Scott McClure, a native of Lebanon, Ohio, graduated from Maryville 
(Tenn.) College and Princeton Theological Seminary.  He earned a D.Min. 
from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.  He was pastor emeritus of 
Independent Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, which he served from 1967 to 
1995.  He also served pastorates in New Jersey, Tennessee, Ohio and 
Wisconsin.  At the time of his death he was pastor of Springville (Ala.) 
Presbyterian Church.  While a pastor he created a radio program, "The 
Worship Hour," which was heard in 65 countries, and short television spots 
called "Quiet Talks."  McClure was also instrumental in the development of 
a 120-acre retirement center, Kirkwood by the River. 
    In addition to Marian and John, McClure is survived by his present 
wife, Peggy (his wife of 49 years, Margaret, is deceased); another son, 
Scott of Colorado Springs, Colo.; two other daughters, Jane Blaum of 
Fairhope, Ala., and Melissa McClure of Birmingham; a stepson, Steven 
Werdehoff of Mobile, Ala.; four grandchildren and four sisters. 

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