Theodore Veale

VEALE
Reverend Theodore Ervin Veale, local minister for the Disciples of Christ denomination of the Christian Church for over three-quarters of a century, was received into his heavenly home Wednesday, January 1, 2014. "Brother Veale," as he was known, was born on March 18, 1915 in Franklin, Indiana. He passed peacefully at the age of 98 with family members at his side. He was preceded in death by his parents Theodore Ellis and Clara Mae (Whitacre) Veale; wife Joan Anderson Veale of San Antonio; children Violet Veale Vickery of Panama City, Florida and James Gilbert Veale of San Antonio; siblings Edna, Violet, Ellis, Bob, and Paul, all of the Texas Rio Grande Valley. He is survived by children Theodore Ervin Veale II, John Robert Veale (Dorothy Vick Veale), Joan Elaine Laufman, M.D. (Steven Paul Laufman), Stephen Allan Veale (Angela Rushing Veale), and Judith Evelyn Meals, all of San Antonio. He also leaves behind 17 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Betty Veale; numerous nieces and nephews . Brother Veale responded to the call into Christian ministry after the death of his older sister Violet in 1937. He graduated from Yale Divinity School in 1940 and accepted an offer to preach at the First Christian Church of Harlingen, Texas in 1941. There he met his future wife, Joan Anderson of Bristow, Oklahoma. They married in 1942 and over their 64 years of marriage together raised seven children and opened their home to many foster children. He founded Marbach Christian Church in 1965 and ultimately ministered at six churches in the San Antonio and Rio Grande Valley area, including the historic Little Church of La Villita. His love for the pulpit was still evident at age 98 as he continued to lead four bible studies each week from his home and in area retirement centers. Brother Veale was a member of University United Methodist Church and the Slater Class. His ministry included innumerable weddings, funerals, and pastoral calls, but also service through other venues such as Director of Christian Family Camp in Center Point, Texas; professor at International Bible College in San Antonio; and great supporter of many local programs for the needy. He has written over a dozen books of Christian poetry and was a lifelong scholar of the Book of Revelation. But perhaps his most effective ministry was that of daily compassion for the needy, grieved, and infirmed. This ministry was quietly demonstrated through small, selfless acts of kindness and generosity that brought hope and joy to countless individuals across the city. His ministry epitomized Jesus' exhortation that, ". whatever you have done for the least of my brothers and sisters, you have done for me."

SERVICES
Visitation will be on Monday, January 6, 2014 from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. at Mission Park Funeral Chapels North. The Funeral Service will be on Tuesday, January 7, 2014 at 10:00 A.M. at University United Methodist Church, 5084 De Zavala Rd., preceded by visitation beginning at 9:00 A.M. A reception will immediately follow at the Church. The interment will then follow at Mission Burial Park South. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to University United Methodist Church, the National Kidney Foundation or the Epilepsy Foundation. You may sign the on-line guestbook at www.missionparks.com under the obituary section.