Randall Conklin

Maggie Valley, NC-Randall James Conklin, age 83, of 115 Reuben Branch Road, died Sunday, February 20, 2005 at Canton Christian Convalescent Nursing Home. A native of Newark, NJ, he was the son of Randall William and Harriet Patrick Teelin Conklin. He was also preceded in death by a sister, Harriet MacBeth of England and a brother, Walter W. Conklin of Sarasota, FL. He graduated from Asbury Park High School and was a veteran of World War II. He was made a Deacon in Trinity Church, Asbury Park, NJ in April 1950 and received his bachelor's degree from Rutgers University and his Masters of Divinity from Philadelphia Divinity School in 1950. Following his ordination in 1950, he assumed his pastoral duties at St. John's Church in Maple Shade, NJ. He became the Rector of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Beverly, NJ in 1956. He served in a multitude of ecclesiastical capacities which included acting as supply priest for Grace Church in Merchantville, NJ and St. John's in Maple Shade, the interim Rector of Holy Trinity in Delair, and many years of devotion as Chaplain and Instructor of Religion at St. Mary's Hall/Doane Academy in Burlington, NJ. He also enjoyed many years of teaching at The Girls' Summer Conference in Asbury Park, NJ. The Right Reverend Alfred L. Banyard bestowed the title of Canon upon him in 1968. He was a life member of the American Legion NJ W.A. Cortright, Jr. Post O115, Beverly NJ. and the Beverly Fire Company No. 1. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Anne Cottrell Conklin; a daughter, Claudia A. Raber and her husband, Robert, of Maggie Valley; a sister, Ruth Hummel of Whiting, NJ; five grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; and three great great grandchildren. Memorial services will be held at Noon on Wednesday, March 2, 2005 at Grace Church in the Mountains of which he was a member with Reverend Dr. Howard White, Jr. Rector officiating. The family will receive friends following the committal in the Parish Hall. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Grace Church in the Mountains, 394 North Haywood Street, Waynesville, NC 28786 or St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Beverly, NJ or St. Mary's Hall/Doane Academy in Burlington, NJ.