The Rev. Dr. Levurn Luther Dryden, 92, passed away, Tuesday, October 26, 2010, in Oklahoma City.
It may be said of our brother Levurn Dryden, in the words of the Apostle Paul, "The time of my departure is come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me at that day; and not to me only, but also to all them that have loved His appearing" (2 Timothy 4:6-8, American Standard Version).
Several years prior to Levurn Dryden's death, he typed out his funeral service as well as his biography. He did it on a typewriter in all Caps, typical of men his age. The family wanted his obituary to be what he had personally written. They wanted it to be authentic, original, and indicative of the style of writing of their dearly beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. So, here it is just like the family requested in Brother Levurn Dryden's own words:
I was born August 5, 1918. Ninth of eleven children. All born in a four room log house. My father, Mark Luther Dryden, began his ministry in 1909, and was ordained by the Pentecostal Holiness Church in September, 1915.
I remained under the covering of godly parents until I was 15 years old. I left home with an eighth grade education and no money seeking a future.
DECADE OF THE FORTIES:
February 5, 1940, I was married to Bonnie Merle Greene. God blessed us with two wonderful children, Ron (now my Pastor) and Paula.
March, 1941, I began work with the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety.
February 26, 1944, I completed Academy Training School for the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and served as a State Trooper for a number of years.
June 30, 1946, I was saved. Shortly after, I requested to be transferred into the Driver License Division. I was chosen for special training and schooling for the purpose of setting up a program for driver license examiners to begin license procedures that would conform to the national program organized by the National Safety Council, Northwestern Traffic Institurte and the A.A.M.V.A. This required me to complete college level courses at Alabama and Oklahoma Universities and I graduated from Northwestern Traffic Institute in Evanston, Ill. I designed a merit rating system for driver license examiners which was approved by the National Safety Council and recommended for use by other states. Also I compiled the first Oklahoma Comprehensive Driver's Manual.
1943-1954: I was active in Quartet Ministry. We had a daily radio program for many of those years.
July 1947: My wife, Bonnie, her sister, Lovie Miller, and I began assisting Oral Roberts in his Healing Ministry as the ''Original Healing Waters Trio.'' We were special guests at camp meetings in many states: So. Carolina, No. Carolina, Florida, Oklahoma, East Oklahoma, West Oklahoma, also assisted in many church revivals.
July, 1954: I was licensed to preach by the Oklahoma P.H. Conference and was assigned to Pastor the next day. (Had only preached one time). My salary from the church was $10.00 per week and we lived 24 miles from the church.
July, 1956: I gave up my career in safety with many accumulated benefits to accept Pastorate of Central Church in Oklahoma City.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Received several honor awards for support of World Missions.
Built Southgate P.H. Church in Moore, OK. (Mother Church Plan) Crusade Chairman for Oral Roberts Crusade in Oklahoma City. President of Capitol Hill Ministerial Alliance of Okla. City. President of P.H,. Minister's Association of Okla. City. Member of Sunday School Conference Board two terms. Served three years as assistant under Rev. Dan Sheaffer of the Oklahoma Conference Youth Department. Featured soloist for Campus Crusade at Municipal Auditorium for four years.
July, 1956: Received my ordination by the Oklahoma Conference of the Pentecostal Holiness Church.
1962-1988: April 4, 1962: I accepted the Pastorate of the Lamar Pentecostal Holiness Church in Memphis, TN.
1968: Purchased 5 Acres of land in a very prominent community for relocation. The church was built and finished in 1974. It was, and is, a compliment to the community and denomination. Soon after, an Activity Building was built to accomodate basketball, skating, and other activities. It is recognized as one of the best in Memphis. This congregation still holds a special place in my heart. It still feels like family and home. My heart is with them and their fine Pastor.
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Three terms as President of local Memphis Optimist Clubs. (1967-68, received national recognition as an Honor Club). Served on Executive Committee for Securing and Conducting a Billy Graham Crusade.
Bonnie and I built a church in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico in memory of my dad, Luther Dryden.
Served the Pentecostal Holiness denomination on executive level on several committees during most of the years of my Pastorate. I am presently retired. However, I am very involved in the ministries of our church, Cathedral of Praise. I serve as an Elder and a Deacon. Also do some counseling and hospital visitation.
Ron and Paula furnished the following names of the survivors of their faither:
Children of Levurn Luther Dryden:
Son -- Ronny S. Dryden
Daughter -- Paula Gayle Dryden
Grandchildren:
Tawny Cheryl Crouch
Darcy Gayle Custer
Great Grandchildren:
Brandon Paul Crouch
Brittany Brianne Crouch
Carra Linda Crouch
Gabrielle Jordan Custer
Aubrey Elizabeth Custer
Rachel Lauren Custer
The following are all deceased. Dad was the last surviving member of his immediate family.
Father - Mark Luther Dryden
Mother - Mamie Beatty
Brothers:
John Dryden
Doyle Dryden
Virgil Dryden
Oscar Dryden
Oather (Sodie) Dryden
Paul Dryden
Sisters:
Velma Fanning
Captola Vigas
Mable (Dryden- I can’t remember her married name)
Jaunita (Dryden – I can’t remember her married name)
Public viewing/visitation will be held on Sunday, October 31, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Cathedral of Praise.
The Funeral Service will be at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, October 31, 2010, at Cathedral of Praise, 7700 N. Council, Oklahoma City, OK.
Memorial contributions may be made to: Cathedral of Praise Missions, 7700 N. Council, Oklahoma City, OK 73132.
Many of you who knew Levurn and Bonnie Dryden may wish to send a card or a letter of condolences to Bonnie. I am confident it will be a blessing to her and a reminder that we all love her and her family..
Mrs. Bonnie Dryden
12300 Green Valley Drive
Oklahoma City, OK 73120
[Editor's comment: I have known Levurn Dryden all of my life. My father knew his father and mother, Luther and Mamie Dryden. He would often speak of them as great Christian people he knew in Oklahoma. My Dad was born in Denison, TX, on December 12, 1884. His father, my grandfather, John Thomas Morgan, was a rancher and they moved from Texas to Oklahoma. It was there that my Dad got acquainted with Pentecostal Holiness people and became one himself.
Over the years I have communicated from time to time with Levurn. I remember once I was flying back to Birmingham from Minneapolis, MN, and had a three-hour layover in Memphis. I called Levurn and he came to the airport and took me on a tour of the community where he lived and pastored for many years. Then, he took me to his home where Bonnie had prepared an early supper for all of us. She is one of the best cooks in the known world.
Levurn was present at the General Conference in Oklahoma city about eight years ago. He was using a motorized wheel chair to get him where he needed to go at the convention center. On another trip to OKC, I attended Cathedral of Praise when Ron Dryden was the pastor one Sunday morning, and Levurn and Bonnie were there. I have called him often, gotten acquainted with Paula via e-mail, and over the years have had Ron sing and preach revivals in my churches. He has one of the clearest, natural tenor voices of any man I have ever heard. He gets that talent from his father and mother.
I have in my personal library a book that Levurn Dryden wrote and had published. It is called, My Memoirs "Just Like It Was." It is a fascinating book with lots of stories, poems, and messages. On page 131, he wrote the following: "I have kept the faith: . . . The trials and battles I've experiences seem so trivial when compared to Paul's; but, I am still so happy to report that though them all, I have kept the faith."
Let me quote from one of the poems he wrote and published in his book:
"I've Been in the Pit"
I've been in the Pit
I know what it is like
To be walking in the darkness
And never see the light.
I've drunk the dregs of its bitterness,
I've suffered its deepest pains.
There was no hope to be found there,
Only winds of adversity, blowing with rain.
I looked all around me and saw the wall,
Inscriptions of heroes that now stand tall.
Names like Joseph, Job, Daniel, and Paul,
Each declaring deliverance, it's provided for all.
The way out is Jesus; He cleanses me from sin,
It comes with repentance, and then new life begins.
I called upon Jesus and He heard my cry,
He lifted me from the pit to a home in the sky.
No more pit for me or drinking dregs of sin,
My life is hidden in Jesus, He now lives within,
I now live on the mountaintop,
Peace is found at last,
Life is exciting with Jesus; I'm having a blast.
Levurn L. Dryden
Let me appeal to you who have read this poem and it touched a chord in your heart. Open your heart to Jesus. Ask Him to give you the gift of repentance, and then place your trust in Jesus Christ as your Savior, Deliverer, and Lord. He is right there where you are. He is closer than your breathing and nearer than your hands and feet. Now is the day of Salvation. Now is the Accepted Time. He will save you, and come into your heart to live forever as you maintain your faith in Him alone for full salvation that is free to all who will come to Jesus.
If you did decide to pray, repent and confess your sins to God, let someone you know who loves Jesus know of your decision. I would be happy to know of your decision as well. May God grant you your request, and I know He will forgive you and cleanse you from all unrighteousness.
You may write to me, Hugh Morgan, at: hugh@hughsnews.com, or at my home:
Hugh H. Morgan
17 Sweet Apple Lane
Winder, GA 30680-3349