wfn.org | David Steele, Presbyterian writer extraordinaire, succumbs to cancer

[PCUSA NEWS <PCUSA.NEWS@ecunet.org>]

Note #6820 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

29-August-2001
01303

David Steele, Presbyterian writer extraordinaire, succumbs to cancer

by Jerry L. Van Marter

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The Rev. R. David Steele, known lovingly to his friends as
"Good Ol' Dave," died Aug. 28 in Sun City, Ariz., of complications from
cancer. He was 70.

Steele, who was best known for his whimsical "Tuesday Morning" column in The
Presbyterian Outlook, also published a number of volumes of poetry.  His
first book gave a crystal clear indication of his approach to life: God Must
Have a Sense of Humor - He Made Aardvarks, Orangutans, and Me."

His most recent book, The Next Voice You Hear: Sermons We Preach Together,
was published in 1999. At his death, a collection of his "Tuesday Morning"
columns were being compiled into a book.

Steele was pastor emeritus of Christ Presbyterian Church in Terra Linda,
Calif., where he served for 19 years. Earlier he was chaplain at Punahour
School in Honolulu, founding pastor of the Cottonwood Presbyterian Church in
Salt Lake City; and pastor of the Deer Creek Harmony Presbyterian church in
Darlington, Md. After retiring in 1996 he served for a time as interim
director of Montreat Conference Center in North Carolina.

Steele was diagnosed with stage four cancer of the throat more than a year
ago. Despite the rapid spread of the disease, he continued to write and
speak. Most recently, he attended the 213th General Assembly in Louisville,
where he was given a lifetime achievement award by the Presbyterian Writers
Guild and the guild's top award for the best book of the year by a
Presbyterian writer was renamed in his honor.

A fuller obituary will be published by the Presbyterian News Service in the
next couple of days.
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