Disciples Divinity House

Marvin E. Smith, former President of the Board of Trustees and Acting Dean of the Disciples Divinity House from 1975-77, died March 11 in Gainesville, Florida. He was 97. After receiving the AB and BD degrees from Drake University in 1938 and 1939; he enrolled in the Divinity School as a Disciples House Scholar. He studied Christian education with W.C. Bower and history with W. E. Garrison, and he received his BD from the University in 1941. A native of Illinois, Mr. Smith and his family traced their affiliation with the Christian Church back to Barton Stone's ministry in Jacksonville, Illinois.

In 1940 he married Grady Maxwell. Their two daughters, Emily and Eva, were born in Lewiston, Idaho, where Marvin served a nine-year pastorate. He later served the First Christian Church of Stockton, California, before moving to the Christian Board of Publication (CBP) in St. Louis. As Director of the Local Church Curriculum Division at CBP, he helped to launch the Christian Life Curriculum. For twelve of his nearly 20 years at CBP, he edited the educational leaders magazine, Bethany Guide. The Smiths were active members of Union Avenue Christian Church in St. Louis, and he taught the Interpreters Class.

Marvin Smith became a member of the Board of Trustees of the Disciples Divinity House in 1961.  He served as its President from 1972-75, and then again from 1977-1985. When Dean Blakemore died in 1975, Marvin Smith became Acting Director; he served in that capacity for two years, retiring from CBP to do so. He tended with care the full scope of the work of the Divinity House, from Board policies to the building's furnishings. Generations of students knew his interest and encouragement. In 1989 Mr. Smith was honored as a Distinguished Alumnus of the Disciples Divinity House; in 1998, he was named an Honorary Trustee for Life.  He had previously been honored with Drake University’s Distinguished Alumni Service Award and with the honorary Doctor of Letters degree from Culver-Stockton College.

The funeral service was held at Carlock Christian Church (near Bloomington, Illinois) on Sunday, March 20. Samuel C. Pearson officiated; Katherine Kinnamon and Dean Kris Culp also participated. Marvin and Grady Smith spent their early retirement years in Carlock, where they maintained the family farm. After Grady's death in 1999, Marvin lived with his daughter, Emily Schwartz, in Gainesville, where he remained an avid reader and a volunteer. The day he died, he had gone to his volunteer work at 10:00 am, collapsed, was taken to the hospital, and died about noon of a massive heart attack. His daughters ask that memorial contributions be made to the Disciples Divinity House.