Floyd Pounds

1921 - 2014

GALESBURG - Floyd Hilburn Pounds, 93, formerly of Galesburg, passed away on Monday, March 17, 2014, surrounded by family, supportive friends, and staff at the Wilshire in Lakewood in Lee's Summit, Mo. His passing came after completing 93 years of life instilled by a dry sense of humor.

Floyd was born Feb. 21, 1921, in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and spent most of his life in the Midwest and Great Plains. During his life, Reverend Pounds was closely affiliated with the Church of the Nazarene as a pastor, first in Wausau and Menomonie, Wis., and then in Galesburg, Ill. After pastoring for 24 years, he was elected to serve as district superintendent for Nazarene churches in northwest Illinois, a position he held until retirement in 1987. He received an honorary doctorate from Olivet Nazarene University in 1983. After retiring to Blue Springs, Mo., near the Church of the Nazarene international headquarters and to their daughter, Beth, Floyd and Carol discovered that he was not so content with retirement and he continued to serve as interim pastor in area churches and as visitation pastor for the Blue Springs Church of the Nazarene. Floyd's faith and commitment brought him opportunities to travel as a working representative of the church. He and Carol traveled to Africa, Guam and Dominica in support of Church of Nazarene missions.

Few of us can imagine what it would mean to grow up on a farm without electricity and later enjoy innumerable connections to friends and family around the world. Floyd knew what that meant, because Carol could do the emails. Floyd Pounds met the love of his life, Carol Hempel, at Northwest Nazarene College in Nampa, Idaho, while studying to become a pastor. They married in 1945 and moved to Wausau, where they lived in a small apartment over a garage, while starting a church and beginning to raise their family of three children.

Floyd is survived by their children, Joel (Suzi) of Richland, Wash., Jon (Olivia Gude) of Chicago, Ill., and Beth (Larry Legler) of Independence, Mo.; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren, all of whom have also survived Floyd's sense of humor.

Carol Pounds passed away in 2010. Floyd Pounds had one brother, Lloyd; and three sisters, Mildred (Dillehay), Eleanore (Poe) and Nina (Hess), each of whom passed away before Floyd.

The Rev. Floyd Pounds will be buried next to his wife in Blue Springs, but not erased from the memory of those who loved him. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday, March 21, 2014, at Blue Springs Church of the Nazarene, 2801 SW Walnut St., Blue Springs, Mo. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, March 21, 2014, at the church.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, you honor the memory of Floyd by sending contributions to the Carol C. Pounds Memorial Mission Fund, care of Blue Springs Church of the Nazarene, 2801 Walnut St., Blue Springs, MO 64015, or to the charity of your choice.