Dr. Reed M. Stewart, 66

WEST FENWICK ISLAND - Dr. Reed M. Stewart of West Fenwick Island died Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2006, in his home. He was 66.

Dr. Stewart was born March 30, 1940, in Brazil, Ind., son of Ruby M. Stewart, almost 101, of Manhattan, Kan., and the late Robert B. Stewart, former Circuit Court Judge of Clay County.

He graduated from Indiana State University in 1962, and Garrett Theological Seminary. He was a Howes Memorial Scholar, earning a master"s of divinity degree in 1965, and ordained as a United Methodist minister. He graduated from Indiana University with a master"s in student personnel administration in 1970, and a doctorate in higher education administration in 1971.

Governor of Hoosier Boys" State in 1958, Dr. Stewart is best known in his hometown as the winner of the American Legion"s National Oratorical Contest in 1958, when he received nation-wide recognition, appearing on the "Today Show" in New York City.

After serving six United Methodist churches in Indiana, he continued to minister part-time as he worked at five different colleges before becoming president of Wesley College, Dover, in 1983. In 1997, he was honored to be elected President Emeritus by Wesley"s Board of Trustees and awarded a six-month sabbatical when he retired.

Dr. Stewart"s public speaking continued from his high school years through the loss of his God-given voice from thyroid cancer. He was to be the keynote speaker at the Johns Hopkins conference for head and neck patients in April.

Since his retirement, he served Frankford United Methodist Church and continued as one of the board of directors of Artisans" Bank.

Dr. Stewart served as chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives, spoke for the National Prayer Breakfast of the U.S. Air Force and the Dover Mayor"s Prayer Breakfast, was recipient of the Buchanan Award in Dover as their outstanding citizen, was named in 1998 Sagamore of the Wabash as an outstanding citizen from Indiana by Gov. O"Bannon, was a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow, recipient of outstanding service awards from President Clinton, the Delaware legislature, the city of Dover and received too many other honors and awards to list.

In addition to his mother, he is survived by his best friend and wife of 45 years, Beverly; a son, Reed Jr., the Clinical Counseling Coordinator of Albion College and co-founder/psychotherapist of the DBT Center of Michigan, and his wife Kristie; a daughter, Elaine, an R.N. for an outpatient clinic at the University of New Mexico Hospital; two grandchildren, Lucas and Alexandra; a brother, G. Kent, retired professor of Kansas State University, and his wife Barbara; and three nieces and a nephew, Kenna, Jill, Kimberly and Paul.

Services were in French"s Funeral Home, Brazil.

Burial of his body was beside that of his father.

Memorial services will be 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27, in his beloved Frankford United Methodist Church.

Instead of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Frankford United Methodist Church, Post Office Box 37, Frankford, DE 19945; or InterFaith Mission of Sussex County, 31131 White"s Neck Drive, Ocean View, DE 19970.