ALFRED ROD EWING SR.

Meadow Lakes resident Alfred Rodney Ewing, 77, died peacefully at his home March 30, 2005, with his family at his side.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday, at Valley Baptist Tabernacle, off the Palmer-Wasilla Highway. Pastors Charles Miller and Lyn Wyckoff will officiate.

Mr. Ewing was born in Altoona, Pa., on Aug. 24, 1927. He graduated from Altoona Bible Institute, where he later taught and served as a Baptist pastor. He also served as pastor at the Baptist church in Geneva on the Lake, Ohio.

Mr. Ewing joined the U.S. Navy at the age of 17 and served in Okinawa during World War II. He married D. Jeanne Ewing, his wife of 57 years, on Sept. 27, 1947.

In August 1969, they moved to Alaska as missionaries. He co-founded and helped build the Sunny Knik Chapel and the Rainbow Bible Church in Wasilla, and was instrumental in organizing two other churches in Wasilla. As a hobby, he was a citizens band radio operator and enjoyed gold-panning and painting landscapes.

His family wrote, "Rod enjoyed time spent with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.He always put the Lord first in his life. He not only talked the talk, but also walked the walk in his service to the Lord."

His mother and father, Alfred and Mary Ewing, and great-grandson, Andy James, preceded him in death.

He is survived by his wife, D. Jeanne Ewing; sons, Rod Ewing Jr. and Mark Ewing; son and daughter-in-law, Shell and Cindy Ewing; grandchildren, Jeremy, Joshua, Jared, Tiger, Cameron, Alysia, Katy Jean, Noah and fiancée, Candi; six great-grandchildren, Elijah, Amy, Gracie, Christian, Kadin and Cali., and extended family members, Sheila Ewing, Alice Spangler and Debbie Ewing.

Arrangements were with Valley Funeral Home & Crematory in Wasilla.