In Loving Memory of
Reverend John Raymond Tindell
April 2, 1936 – December 31, 2020
A Virtual Celebration of Life and Ministry was held on January 30, 2021 at 11:00 AM PST
Watch the Celebration of Life
Reverend John Tindell has been called home after a lifetime of service to the Lord, many communities in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, and his family. He died peacefully at home under hospice on December 31, 2020 after a struggle with complications from a stroke.
John was born on April 2, 1936 in Miami, Florida to John J. and Mary L (McLean) Tindell. His mother raised him in their neighborhood Allapattah church, now called the Ebenezer United Methodist Church which led to his goal at age 12 of serving as a Methodist Pastor, a path he followed for almost all of his adult life.
John met Beryl Insinger while they were students at Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida. They were married in 1959 while John was finishing a Master’s in Divinity from Emory University and following Beryl’s agreement to a life of adventure in Alaska and beyond. The two traveled the globe together extensively. Beryl died in 2018 after 60 years of marriage.
In his deepest self he was an explorer, following mission opportunities in Cuba, Appalachia, Scotland and over 35 years in Alaska. His first church as pastor was in Miramar, Florida. He then moved to Alaska and was the founding pastor of the Sitka United Methodist Church and the first pastor of the then newly combined Methodist and Presbyterian Northern Light United Church in Juneau. He also led the East Anchorage and Anchorage First United Methodist Churches. After his official retirement in Alaska, John served four more churches, two in Idaho and two in Oregon. His final assignment was 11 years as pastor of the Seaside United Methodist Church in Seaside, Oregon.
John is survived by his two children, Raymond and Cynthia (Cindy); grandson Kevin; and sister Estelle Lima of Miami. Raymond is a Portland, Oregon attorney and graduate of University of Miami (Florida) and Southern Methodist University Law School. Cindy is a graduate of Georgetown University, has master’s degrees from Columbia University and the Harvard Business School, and is a vice president at NextEra Energy in Palm Beach, Florida. In retirement years, John and Beryl enjoyed being a part of the life of grandson Kevin, a doctoral student at Arizona State University.
In memory of John’s life, donations may be made to the Alaska Methodist Conference, the Pacific Northwest Methodist Conference, or the Seaside Oregon United Methodist Church.
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For family: Sorry my computer was off and I lost your information that you sent us. If you have a recording of the service, please send us the information on how to see it later. Send us your address and phone number again, Cindy. So sorry we missed the Service.
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Cindy and Ray, my mother, Irene Kan, enjoyed Rev. Tindell’s thoughtful sermons on Sundays in Seaside and John and Bea’s good humor outside of church. When my parents’ health was failing, I appreciated your dad’s concern and moral support. Thank you for sharing their lives with us.
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We have many fond memories of John while at East Anchorage UMC and for many years afterward. We appreciate being able to attend this service, one of the positive effects of this pandemic.
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The service honored a wonderful servant of God and a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ.
The service inspired me, at age 81, to reflect on the 81 years behind and to contemplate how to creatively use the days ahead.
From Southerneer memories at Florida Southern to today, as Reverend Fellers said, Well done, thy good and faithful servant.
Thank you for the use of technology so that I could be involved in the celebration of John’s life.
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There aren’t enough words to say how deeply Rev John Tindell touched our hearts. We thank his family for sharing him with all of us. He is missed deeply. He was a most kind and gentle person.
We greatly appreciate the ministry his had with us.
Rest In Peace
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We are grateful for having the opportunity, even briefly, to part of his world and his life.
Blessings-
Michael and Vicki Avila
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Our pastor, our friend, our neighbor John embodied all of these. He was there when you needed a calm caring word and will be missed.
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Reverend Tindell was my pastor at Seaside UMC. He was such a kind and caring person and so filled of the Holy Spirit.
He was such a blessing to our congregation.