Dr. Paul Richard Orjala

Dr. Paul Richard Orjala, 80, passed away Friday, December 2, 2005, in Olathe, KS. A Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m., on Saturday, December 10, 2005, at the Nazarene Theological Seminary Chapel, 1700 E. Meyer Blvd., Kansas City, MO (816) 333-6254, Dr. Orjala was born August 2, 1925, in San Diego, CA, and has lived in Olathe since 2001. Paul, with his wife, Mary, pioneered the missionary work for the Church of the Nazarene in Haiti between 1950-1964. Dr. Orjala was professor of missions at Nazarene Theological Seminary in Kansas City, MO between 1964-1986; mission field director in France between 1986-1989; and a religion professor at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, CA between 1989-1995. He was an important linguistic scholar on the dialects of Haitian Creole. He authored several books and many articles on missions and church growth, was known as an inspirational preacher and teacher and a creative musician. He is survived by his wife of 57 years Mary (Bowerman) Orjala, daughters Dr. C. Jeanne (Orjala) Serrao, Lorie (Orjala) Beckum and son, Dr. Jon E. Orjala; grandchildren Sara C. (Beckum) Jamieson; Aaron P. Beckum; Emilie A. Beckum, Alyssa N. Beckum, Luke P. Orjala, and Sophia L. Orjala. In lieu of flowers the family suggests that contributions be made to the Orjala Endowed Scholarship Fund at Nazarene Theological Seminary. (Arrangements Park Lawn Funeral Home 816-523-1234)