Dodson, Kavanaugh W.
4/30/1943
February 5, 1868 - April 30, 1943 |
|
| Rev. Kavanaugh W. Dodson was born in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, February 5, 1868. He departed this life in Ruston, Louisiana, April 30, 1943—seventy-five years, two months and twenty-four days of age. His parents moved to Devalls Bluff, Arkansas, when he was a young man. Early in life he chose the ministry as his life’s work, and secured his education at Henderson Brown College and Vanderbilt University. He was admitted on trial in 1888 into the Little Rock Conference. After serving in that Conference for about ten years he transferred to the Louisiana Conference in 1899, giving forty years of active service to Louisiana Methodism. He was in active service for nearly 51 years, being Methodist minister for 55 years. In Louisiana he served ‘as pastor of the following charges in the order named: Algiers and Parker Memorial, New Orleans; Mansfield, New Iberia, First Church, Lake Charles; Minden; DeRidder, Arcadia, Winnfield, and Gueydan. He served as Pre-siding Elder of the following Districts: Monroe-Ruston, Ruston, Minden, and Baton Rouge. He took the superannuate relationship at the Ruston Conference in 1939, making Ruston his home until his death. He was married to Miss Christine Gadster, of Hope, Arkansas, February 14, 1900. His devoted wife and comrade through the years survives him. Four noble Christian children, Mrs. Agatha,, Hastings, now the principal of the Orphanage School in the Louisiana Methodist Or-phanage; Kavanaugh W. Dodson, an important official in the Lyon Oil Co., of Eldorado, Arkansas; Mrs. W. P. Hardeman, the wife of a promi-nent Attorney of Lake Charles, and Wilbur N. Dodson, with the United States Army overseas, also survive to mourn his loss. There are four grandchildren. From the above record it is noted that he rendered long and faithful service in the ministry. His ministry covered the entire State. He was widely known and deeply beloved by the Methodist people of Louisiana. He led a number of young men into the ministry, a number of whom are leaders in our Church today. His loving, gentle nature his high sense of duty and loyalty to his1 church, his deep and abiding faith in God, his purity of mind and heart, his keen sense of humor, his fine appreciation of the slightest favor shown him, made him a friend of man wherever he went. Through his long years of service he helped to make and mold the Methodist Church into what it is today. His influence will abide through the years. To such a life there is no defeat. To such a pure and lofty character there can be but one outcome—the crown of immortal glory! He has gone to his eternal reward! |
|
| Source: Journal of the Louisiana Conference of the Methodist Church, Pages 85, 1943 by Robert W. Vaughn. | |
