Hollis S. Pistole

Jan. 13, 1919 - April 19, 2006

Hollis S. Pistole, 87, Anderson, died April 19, 2006, at Bethany Pointe after an extended illness.

He was born Jan. 13, 1919, in Sparta, Tenn., and lived in Anderson for 49 years. He was a professor of applied Theology at Anderson University School of Theology for 25 years, before retiring in 1984. He was a Church of God minister with pastorates in Cleveland, Ohio, Columbia Station, Ohio, and Baltimore and Marbury, Md.

In 1957, he returned to Anderson on special assignment with the Church of God World Service and subsequently with the Board of Pensions, prior to joining the seminary faculty.

He was a graduate from Anderson College, received his Masters of Divinity from Oberlin Graduate School of Theology and received his Doctor of Religion from Chicago Theological Seminary.

In 1992, he was chosen as one of Select Senior Ministers of the Church of God. In 1993, he received the Distinguished Service Award from AU School of Theology and served as Chaplain in Residence at the Seminary. He was a member and past president of Mounds Kiwanis Club, and a member of Church of God Peace Fellowship, Amnesty International, Sierra Club, Interfaith Alliance and Park Place Church of God.

Survivors include two daughters and sons-in-law, Cynthia L. (husband, Carl) Poikonen and Carole (husband, Ed) Greenwalt, all of Anderson; two sons, Dr. David Hollis (wife, Renee) Pistole of Indiana, Pa., and John Pistole and wife, Kathy Harp of Washington, D.C.; one brother and two sisters, Aileen Pistole, George Pistole and Carrie (husband, Jack) Ott, all of Indian Harbor Beach, Fla.; nine grandchildren, Stephen Poikonen, Nancy Poikonen, Drs. Todd and Heidi Bagwell, Mark Bagwell, Brian, Adam and Sarah Pistole, Lauren and Jennifer Pistole; and several nieces and nephews, including Dale and Dorothy Nye of Anderson.

He was preceded in death by his parents, George Monroe and Luella Mae (Kendall) Pistole; his wife of 64 years, Elizabeth (Smith) Pistole, on Dec. 1, 2005; a grandson, Christopher Pistole; and a brother, Lee Pistole.

Services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Park Place Church of God with Dr. David Markle officiating. Burial will be in East Maplewood Cemetery.

Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at Rozelle-Johnson Funeral Service and one hour before service Saturday at the church.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Pistole Family Endowed Scholarship Fund at Anderson University.

E-mailed condolences:

RJFuneralSvc@aol.com