Dwight Nelson Mcbride

Dwight Nelson McBride, 92, of Casa Grande died on Sept. 29, 2014, at home.

The celebration of life will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Grace Baptist Church, with Pastor Ed Baker officiating. Charley Long will interpret in Navajo. Burial will be in Mountain View Cemetery.

Pastor McBride was born on Dec. 18, 1921, in Elida, Ohio, and was a son of Bert and Gwena McBride. He grew up in Ada, Ohio, and graduated from Ada High School in 1939. He enlisted in the Army in July 1942, during World War II, was a radio operator and participated in the military campaign at Kiska, Alaska. He married Margaret DeLemater on Feb. 13, 1943. He served until June 1945 and was a sergeant in the Air Corps.

When the couple lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico, he was involved in his church and Youth for Christ. In 1958 they started Crosslands Mission, a Navajo children’s home in Thoreau, New Mexico. Soon five baby girls and two baby boys were added to their family of two children. Later they started Crosslands Navajo Church, where he was pastor until 1999, when the couple moved to Casa Grande. He started a church for winter visitors at Foothills West RV Resort and pastored there until 2011, although he occasionally preached until Christmas of 2013. He was actively involved in the city’s Dorothy Powell Senior Adult Center and was emcee of the Little Sweethearts of Casa Grande Fashion Show there for 10 years.

During his life he was an amateur radio operator and mechanic. He enjoyed photography and building things around Crosslands Mission and his home in Casa Grande. Most of all he loved children, talking to people and leading others to a relationship with Jesus.

In addition to his wife, survivors include four sons, Ben Ichikawa of Three Hills, Alberta, Canada, John McBride of Joplin, Missouri, Tim and Mark McBride of Albuquerque; five daughters, Judy Haynes of Henderson, Nevada, Maureen Largo of Albuquerque, Elise Johnson of Casa Grande, Clara Lebsack of Tucson and Sue House of Thoreau; a sister, Leota Barker of Westfield, Indiana; 22 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Beth Gamble; four brothers, Scotty, Howard, Andy and Robert McBride; and three sisters, Elizabeth Pizor, Ruth McBride and Gertrude Thompson.

Memorial contributions may be made to Crosslands Navajo Church.

J. Warren Funeral Services, Cole & Maud The Gardens Chapel is in charge of arrangements.