KANSAS CITY, Mo. (BP)–Two men involved with the doctoral studies program at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Kansas City, Mo., died July 18 when their plane crashed in suburban Lee’s Summit, Mo.
Roger M. Goodwin, 62, of Lee’s Summit, a mentor in Midwestern’s doctoral studies program, and Charles “Phil” Wilson, 47, of Belton, Mo., a doctoral student since last fall, both died shortly after the plane took off from the Lee’s Summit municipal airport around 7:40 a.m.
Goodwin and Wilson were going to Oklahoma to meet with a minister who also is a Midwestern doctoral student.
The plane, a rented Piper Cherokee 180 piloted by Goodwin, crashed into a house about 500 yards from the airport and ignited a fire. No one in the house was injured. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of the crash.
“The faculty and staff of Midwestern Seminary mourn the loss of two good men,” doctoral studies director Tony Preston said. “Dr. Roger Goodwin was the perfect example of the scholar mentor. His tireless devotion to mentoring doctoral students is remembered by all who knew and loved this godly pastor.
“Phil Wilson was everything a professor hopes for in a doctoral student,” Preston continued. “He was clearly intelligent, compassionate, devoted to ministry, disciplined and in every way the Christian gentleman.”
Goodwin, a graduate of Midwestern (M.Div. 1977, D.Min. 1980), had been a peer group supervisor for the seminary since 1988. A peer group supervisor is a mentor to doctoral studies students. He had retired in June after 19 years as pastor of First Baptist Church, Grandview, Mo. Goodwin also was a member of the Missouri Baptist Convention executive board and a trustee for Southwest Baptist University, Bolivar, Mo. He is survived by his wife, Barbara, four children and nine grandchildren.
Wilson, a Midwestern graduate (M.Div. 1981), was studying for a doctor of educational ministry degree. He was a professional counselor in Kansas City and a singles minister for Blue Valley Baptist Church, Overland Park, Kan. He was a graduate of William Jewell College, Liberty, Mo. Wilson is survived by his wife, Debbie, and three children.
A memorial service for Goodwin will be at 3 p.m. Sunday, July 21, at First Baptist Church, Grandview. No information was available yet for Phil Wilson’s arrangements.
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(BP) photos posted in the BP Photo Library at http://www.bpnews.net. Photo titles: ROGER M. GOODWIN and CHARLES “PHIL” WILSON.
