Hyne, Ernest E.

Celebration Service: Ernie Hyne’s “Dash”

A “dash” on a headstone has been well defined as “the life lived between birth and death.” Ernie E. Hyne’s “dash” came between October 7, 1923, and October 19, 2006. Recently, his beloved widow, Kathryn, wrote to us, “What a life my dear Ernie lived! O, how I miss my Ernie!”

Ernie lived in Oklahoma City while in high school and became best friends with Wendell Broom. Little did the two young boys know that they would be life-long friends, brothers in Christ, and fellow- laborers in Nigeria!

While working to become Eagle Scouts, Wendell taught Ernie about Christ and baptized him. After high school, they entered Freed-Hardeman College as roommates in the fall of 1941, just prior to World War II.

In January 1942, Ernie invited Kathryn Marsh to a basketball game and they fell in love almost immediately! However, it was wartime, and Ernie entered the Navy. He continued his college studies via the Navy at Harvard Graduate Business School. With Kathryn now at Abilene Christian University, she was pleasantly surprised when Ernie arrived on March 15, 1945, to put a ring on her finger. They were married on July 21, 1945, at the Brookline Church of Christ in Boston with their dearest friend, Wendell Broom, performing the ceremony.

After he graduated from Harvard, the Navy sent Ernie to Stanford University and later to Guam. After retiring from the Navy, Ernie worked for Dupont in advertising and promotions, introducing the world to such materials as orlon, dacron, and lycra.

But it wasn’t long before Ernie’s “dash” became even livelier. In 1952, with five beautiful children, the Hyne family moved to Chadds Ford, PA. Ernie was still working for Dupont, bue he also took on the special assignment of serving as an elder for Cedars Church of Christ. After Ernie retired in 1967, they eventually moved to Nashville, TN, continued to be actively involved in the Lord’s work, and Ernie’s “dash” again took on new challenges.

In 1987 he and Kathryn spent a semester in Israel with Wendell Broom and twenty students from Abilene Christian University. They traveled to Alaska, Greece, Italy, Kenya, Nigeria, Israel (again), and Honduras. During his mission trips not only did he teacher others about Christ; he also devoted his time, energy, and talents to repairing buildings, building a college campus,

and adding a wing to a hospital. Close to home, Ernie rebuilt the stone wall at Lipscomb’s Caldwell Mansion. A copper plaque on the right entrance column states everyone’s gratitude for his hard work. Another plaque in honor of Ernie’s life, given by Ernie and Kathryn’s only son, was placed in the Missions Department of the Ezell Bible Center at Lipscomb University.

Ernie and Kathryn have loyally supported African Christian Schools for literally decades. Donating his time and travel expenses, Ernie went to Nigeria in the summer of 1999 to help clear land and build the campus of West Nigeria Christian College, which celebrated her tenth anniversary this year. In August 1999, when Hyne arrived at the 22.83-acre site for the new campus of West Nigeria Christian College, he was anxious to hit the ground running. He and John Beckloff staked out each location for the new buildings and, with several thousand cement blocks having been made prior to their arrival, they began construction of the new campus with a tight deadline of November 1 as the opening date for the school. Hyne worked tirelessly diligently overseeing the construction of the guest house, the generator powerhouse, the water tower and storeroom, as well as the underground cistern. After the Beckloffs returned to the U.S. in mid-September, Hyne remained to oversee the construction of the remaining buildings. We are very proud to say that, just as we expected, Hyne did an outstanding job and, with his excellent skills and the Lord’s blessings, the school opened its doors on December 1. With the construction of a much-anticipated Auditorium/Bible Building still on the drawing board, Hyne became seriously ill and was unable to make another trip to WNCC to oversee its construction. He did not live long enough to see pictures of this beautiful new facility. As we continue to admire the work of this great Christian man, we follow his example as we train Africa’s future church leaders.

Ernie’s “dash” was dedicated to serving the Lord first, his wonderful family, and his great country. Ernie worked hard, but he took time to “smell the roses.” He loved tennis and chess and, while living in Chadds Ford, he even taught himself and the children to snow ski. He also shared his passion for chess with each of his children and grandchildren. Ernie loved deeply and celebrated his “dash” with joy, kindness and laughter. And now, as we reflect upon our dearest memories of him, we can’t help echo Kathryn’s loving sentiment, “What a life Ernie has lived!”