Don Wardell, 84, who was well known to generations of Grace College and Seminary students, died at 5 p.m. Thanksgiving Day in the Kosciusko Community Hospital in Warsaw, Indiana.
The “Wardell Ranch” at the end of Robson Road in Winona Lake was a favorite spot for those wishing to purchase fresh honey, and to chat with the naturalist/inventor/author/beekeeper whose three-acre property was dotted with buildings built by Wardell..
Wardell wrote many articles for beekeeping magazines, and was the author of several books. He printed thousands of his best-known, “Practical Help for Christian Workers” and made many cross-country trips in his van to speak and sell the book at Christian colleges and Bible institutes. Most recently he was working on a book on the Old Earth Theory of creation.
A Winona Lake resident since 1960, Wardell was born on the Six Nations Indian Reserve in Ontario, Canada. He was married to the former Marcia Lowe, who preceded him in death in October of 1977. Marcia was a writer and editor who worked with Grace Brethren International Missions and the Brethren Missionary Herald Company. Services for Don Wardell will be at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, November 30 at the Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church. Calling is from 1-2 p.m. at the church, prior to the service.