Gene Curtis Lewton

Rev. Gene Curtis Lewton was born at Camp Crook, South Dakota to Frank Gorman Lewton and Pearl Myrtle Allinson on May 6, 1929. Shortly after he was born, the family moved to Boman, North Dakota. He met Marion Empie, the preachers daughter, in 1945 and they were married on August 15, 1948 at the Boman Methodist church where her father was the pastor. Because God had called them to be missionaries, two weeks after they were married they moved to Chicago, Illinois to attend Chicago Evangelistic Institute where they studied Bible and missions. After graduating from Bible College in 1952, they pastured three little United Methodists churches in southern Iowa. The were appointed to be missionaries with World Gospel Mission in 1954, and arrived in Kenya, East Africa on March 17, 1955. They served with World Gospel Mission for 42 years, and retired in 1994 and have been a resident of Avon Park since 1997 coming from Oklahoma. Gene is survived by his wife of 61 years-Marion Alice Lewton of Avon Park, Florida; daughters-Colleen Hawk (Terry) of Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Diane Rauschenbach (Chris) of Gilbert, Arizona; sons-Ken Lewton of South Bend, Indiana and Dwight Lewton (Jennifer) of Marion, Indiana; sisters-Gail Murner of Woodland, California and Linda Olpin (Jay) of Highland, Utah; 12 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held Friday, February 12, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. with funeral services beginning at 11:00 a.m. in the Church of the Nazarene, 707 West Main Street, Avon Park, Florida with Rev. Randy Rupert officiating. Burial will be in Gardens of Memory Cemetery in Marion, Indiana. Memorial contributions may be made to the Church of the Nazarene in Avon Park or World Gospel Mission, P.O. Box 948, Marion, Indiana 46952. Stephenson-Nelson Funeral Home Avon Park 863-453-3101 stephensonnelsonfh.com