| |
Jesse Oliver Van Meter
Age 70, pastor of Wilmore Presbyterian Church, died at Good
Samaritan Hospital where he had been admitted February 10; holder of a doctor of
divinity degree; former
president of Lees Junior College, Jackson, Kentucky; native of Independence,
Missouri, son of late William Scott and Anna Rebekah Farra VanMeter, attended
University of South Carolina and South Carolina Presbyterian Theological
Seminary; physical director at Univ. of South Carolina and for a time directed
the school's Department of Extension;
former pastor of Eau Claire Presbyterian Church in Columbia, and was moderator
of the Synod of Kentucky of the Presbyterian Church, U.S.; became president of
Lees Junior College in 1928 (during his tenure, the Presbyterian supported
school obtained new equipment, increased its endowment to more than $100,000,
increased its real property,
and built an athletic field with federal aid); became president emeritus on
December 31, 1948; wife, late Frances VanMeter, associated with him in his work
and served the college in various capacities until her death in 1948; survivors:
son, Lt. (jg) Jesse O. VanMeter, Jr., Medical Corps, U.S. Naval Reserve, now on
active duty and stationed at Virginia
Beach, VA, daughter, Anna Rebekah VanMeter, Lexington, brother, Dr. J. Farra
VanMeter, Lexington, four sisters, Mrs. J. R. Alford, Miss Gladys VanMeter, Mrs.
William Brown, and Mrs. F. L. Draughon, all of Lexington, and two grandchildren,
William Scott and David Martin VanMeter.
From: Lexington Herald, p. 1, 8,
Saturday, February 20, 1954.
|