Disciples Divinity House

Peace, justice, and ecumenism were enduring commitments in Ernie O'Donnell's life and ministry. He died May 28 in Fort Worth; he was 91. He served local congregations in Rogers, Arkansas, and in Dallas, Longview, and, for twenty-one years, First Christian Church of Richardson, Texas.

Born in 1931 in Johnston, Pennsylvania, B. Ernest O'Donnell grew up in Tucson, Arizona. As a youth, he joined the First Christian Church and experienced the formative mentorship of its minister, Harold Lunger. Ernie attended Chapman College (now University) on a full scholarship. He graduated in 1952 and entered the Disciples Divinity House and the Divinity School that same year. In 1955, after receiving his BD degree from the Divinity School and being ordained, he served at the Hazel Green Academy in Kentucky, All Peoples' Christian Church in Los Angeles, and with the WCC InterChurch Service to Greek Villages in northern Greece. In 1959, he was called to the staff of what is now the Southwest Region as youth minister, and he met Judy Crow. They were married in 1960, and raised two sons, Kelly and Sean. Their partnership included her own MDiv and DMin degrees and congregational ministry, as well as international travel and involvement at University Christian Church in Fort Worth after their retirements.

Ernie O'Donnell co-founded the Dallas Peace Center and was active in the Disciples Peace Fellowship. He served two separate terms on DDH's Alumni/ae Council, including as its President from 1988-89. They established the B. Ernest and Judy Crow O'Donnell Fund at DDH. He is survived by Judy Crow O'Donnell, their sons, and their grandchildren.