Illinois Great Rivers Conference 2025 Journal-Yearbook
mother, attending as many of her grandchildren’s activities as she could. Fumiko is survived by her sister, Yasuko Ito; son, Tom (Dawna) Brown, daughters Sharon Brown (Ed Harmeyer), Pamela (the late Charles) Molitoris and Patricia (Kevin) Glover. Her grandchildren are Krista (Daniel) Phillips, Tom (Lisa Cook) Brown, Mykie Brown, Patrick Brown, Charles T. Molitoris, Suzanne Glover and Sabrina Glover. Fumiko’s great-grandchildren are Noah Fore, Trevor Brown, AJ Brown, Lexi Brown, Seth Phillips, Jude Phillips, Colin Brown, Lily Brown and Tommy Brown. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, great- nieces and nephews, sisters-in-law and brother-in-law, as well as cousins in Japan. In addition to husband, Thomas, Fumiko was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Takahiko and Katuaki, her father-in-law, Herman Brown, mother-in-law, Dicie J. Brown, aunts, uncles, and several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
Donald G. Carlton 1933-2024 The Rev. Donald G. Carlton, 90, a retired IGRC clergy member, died July 19, 2024 in Santa Cruz, Calif. Born Dec. 26, 1933, in Benton, a son of Donald Gettius and Irene Caroline Carlton, Don was from a family of generations of Method- ists. He worked hard academically, sang in an acapella choir, and played basketball in his youth. He was the first member of this family
to attend a university, earning a degree in botany from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. He LOVED trees and nature and wanted to be a scientist, but God had other ideas. He had a deep prayer conversation with God in the trees overlooking Carbondale and it was then he became clear that he was called by God to become a pastor. Don attended Drew Seminary in New Jersey where he met Irene Jordan, whom he mar- ried Sept. 3,1958. He was ordained a deacon in 1957 by the former Southern Illinois Con- ference and became an elder in full connection in 1959. During his 38 years of ministry, Rev. Carlton served the following pastorates: Mt. Vernon: Epworth, Wesley Foundation at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale (Asst. Director); Carbondale: Grace, Effing- ham: Centenary and Carbondale: First, from where he retired in 1995. In retirement, they remained at Carbondale: First for 24 years, where he was an enthusiastic member of the church choir and he and Irene taught Sunday School. Don loved his family, his many deep friendships, playing tennis, snow skiing, quail hunt- ing, travel, and being in nature. He was kind, warm, affirming, had a strong handshake and a great hug, and truly cared about people. An advocate of the dignity and well-being of others through his action and example, Don led desegregation marches and move- ments for Black equality in Carbondale in the early 1960’s, and was active throughout his career in community organizations, youth programs, and with Irene, led many marriage encounter seminars. He is survived by his three children Lisa (Bruce) Warner, Jeff (Rita)Carlton, and Rachel (Doug) Abrams; seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild; a sister, Sally Nagreski, and two nieces. A Celebration of Life for Donald and Irene Carlton (who died June 26, 2022) was held Oct 19, 2024, in Southern Illinois.
246 Memoirs
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