Haiti volunteer remembered: Jean Arnwine service at Highland Park UMC
Jean Arnwine, who gave her life to help others.
BY JOHN A. LOVELACE
Special Correspondent
An overflow crowd of more than 800 attended an afternoon service of celebration and thanksgiving at Highland Park UMC, Dallas, Jan 20, for Clara “Jean” Arnwine, 49, who died of injuries suffered in the Haiti earthquake Jan 12.
Hers was the first fatality in the church’s 95-year history of mission outreach, including some 40 years sponsoring an eye clinic outside the Haitian capital of Port au Prince. Ten of the 11 surviving members of the 12-person medical team attended the service. These included ophthalmologist Dr. Ken Foree, 82, the clinic’s founder, and his wife, Lila. Both escaped serious injury in the quake. Each team member wore a pink carnation in honor of Ms. Arnwine’s love of flowers. Like several others in the team.
Arnwine, serving on her first mission team, was research manager for Texas Retina Associates. She was one of five team members inside the eye clinic when it collapsed.
Her husband, David, was one of two persons who offered words of remembrance. He shared memories of their courtship and subsequent raising of two children and recalled the couple’s joy as recently as last month as they attended a national tour production of “South Pacific”
at Dallas’ new opera house. He said she was especially excited about this opportunity to help others. Dr. Rand Spencer, a former employer also spoke.
Survivors in addition to her husband include their adult children, son Ashley Ryan Arnwine of San Francisco and daughter Merilee DeAnne Arnwine of Keller.
Rev. Paul Rasmussen, pastor of Highland Park church’s popular contemporary worship program known as Cornerstone, built his sermon around the concept of clarity of sight, calling it “the very nature of love.”
With approximately 12,500 members, Highland Park is the denomination’s largest. Senior Minister Rev. Mark Craig greeted the worshipers. The chancel choir sang an anthem, and the congregation sang “Blessed Assurance, Jesus Is Mine” and “Precious Lord, Take My Hand.”