The following is a weekly listing of Nazarene ministers and leaders who recently went home to be with the Lord. Notices were received from 8-12 December 2025.

Pearle Benefiel, 97, of San Diego, California, passed away 6 December 2025. She was the widow of Paul Benefiel, a retired district superintendent, who led the Los Angeles District from 1975-1992. He served as a minister in California. Paul passed away in 2005.

Beryl Edwards, 87, of Wirral, England, passed away 23 November 2025. She was a retired missionary who served for 39 years in Paraguay, Argentina, and Spain. She is survived by her husband, Victor Edwards, whom she served alongside.

Morton Estep, 82, of South Charleston, West Virginia, passed away 11 December 2025. He was a pastor who served in Kentucky, Florida, and West Virginia. He was preceded in death by his wife, Carolyn Estep, who passed away on 26 November 2025.

Claire George, 86, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, passed away 30 November 2025. She was a retired minister who served in Pennsylvania and Michigan. She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul George Jr., a retired minister who served in New York, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. Paul passed away in 2010.

Norman Phillips, 82, of New Palestine, Indiana, passed away 7 December 2025. He was a minister who served in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and West Virginia. He is survived by his wife, Carmen Phillips.

William Smith, 94, of Geneseo, Illinois, passed away 5 December 2025. He was a retired minister who served in Kentucky, Iowa, and Illinois. He is survived by his wife, Charlotte Smith.

Nell Ritchey, 77, of Topeka, Kansas, passed away 25 November 2025. She was a minister who served in Kansas. She is survived by her spouse, William Ritchey, who is the lead pastor of The Woods at Montara Church of the Nazarene in Topeka, Kansas. William has served as a minister and chaplain in Kansas.

Barbara Walter, 85, of Goldsboro, North Carolina, passed away 1 December 2025. She was the widow of Robert Walter, a minister who served in Massachusetts, New York, Maryland, West Virginia, and North Carolina. Robert passed away in 1999.

To view past editions of In Memoriam, click here.

Note: Please join us in prayer for the families who have lost loved ones. Click on names for full stories, funeral information, local online obituaries, and/or guest books (if available). To submit an entry of a minister or church leader, send to news@nazarene.org.

–Compiled by Nazarene News