Former Church of the Nazarene missionary Carol (Gregory) Kratz Bennett passed away January 29 in Bethany, Oklahoma, where she had been residing for the past nine years. She was 89.

She was born in Portland, Oregon, December 13, 1926, to Robert and Wilma Gregory.

Carol was preceded in death by her husband of 44 years, James Elden "Jim" Kratz and their two adopted sons, Melvin Leroy Kratz and Rayburn Dean Kratz. Carol and Jim served as career missionaries for the Church of the Nazarene in Brazil for 28 years before retiring in 1988.

In 1993, Carol married Merril S. Bennett, a retired career missionary in the Church of the Nazarene who served in Japan. They were married for nine years before Merril passed away in 2003.

Carol is survived by her son "James" Eldon Kratz and his wife, Kay (Neuenschwander) Kratz; grandchildren Jonathan (Erin) Kratz of Tulsa, Oklahoma, David (Jeanne) Kratz of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Kayla Kratz of Irvine, California, and five great-grandchildren, Sarah, Hannah, Nathan, Dylan, and Bryn Kratz. 

Eldon and Kay also served for 22 years as missionaries to Brazil and currently are the senior pastors at Upland, California, First Church of the Nazarene.

A memorial service for Carol will be held at 10 a.m. March 19 at Bethany First Church of the Nazarene, 6789 NE 39th Expressway, Bethany, OK 73008. Burial will be at Williamette National Cemetery in Portland, Oregon.

--NCN News submissions