Dr. Edith Loane, a key figure in the growth of the World Federation of Methodist and Uniting Women, died July 17. She was 92.
According to an article on the World Methodist Council website, the Federation wrote:
Dr. Edith Loane
Dr. Edith Loane, longtime leader of the World Federation of Methodist and Uniting Women.
"We give thanks today for the life of Dr Edith Loane who died on Tuesday morning 17th July. Edith was a former Britain and Ireland Area President 1976-81, World Treasurer 1981-86, and World President 1991-96. Since that time Edith continued to support the World Federation as a valued Senior Friend. We thank God for her commitment and faithful service over many years. Her legacy will live on in ordinary women reaching their potential in response to Edith’s encouragement. She knew Christ and made Him known. May she rest in peace."
The Vice President of the World Methodist Council, Gillian Kingston, writes:
Dr Edith Mary Loane, former President of the World Federation of Methodist and Uniting Church Women, died, after a period of illness, on Tuesday, July 17th.
Edith was born in Richhill, Co Armagh, on October 13, 1926, the eldest daughter of the Rev. Wesley McKinney and Mrs. Alice McKinney. With her sisters, Joan and Kathleen, she experienced life as a daughter of the manse and early acquired that sense of Methodist connection which was to inform her life both locally and at world Methodist level. The family moved to live in County Tipperary when Mr McKinney became the founder and first Principal of Gurteen Agricultural College.
Edith was educated at Methodist College, Belfast, and went on to The Queen’s University, Belfast, to study medicine. It was there that she met a young agricultural student, Oscar Loane. She was later to introduce him to her father and Oscar joined the staff of Gurteen. The rest, as they say, is history: Edith enjoyed the position not only of daughter of the first Principal, but that of wife of the third Principal, of the College.
Oscar and Edith rejoiced in their daughters and son, Barbara, Geoffrey, Ruth and Karen, and later, in their ten grandchildren, Jonathan and Sara, Ciaran, Kevin and Meskerim, Eoin and Grainne, Niall, Caoimhe and Dearbhail.
Edith was as active in the Methodist Church in Ireland as she was in the World Federation of Methodist and Uniting Church Women. An active member of the church’s Council on Social Responsibility, she was the co-editor of a valuable manual on the pastoral care of those affected by suicide.
As a member of the Council for the Status of Women, she represented the women of the Methodist Church with élan and enthusiasm.
Much more could be said – and was said – at the services of celebration of her life in Dublin and in Carlow on Friday, July 20th. In Dublin, the Vice President of the World Methodist Council, Gillian Kingston, recalled Edith as "a great encourager" and one whose Christian faith had upheld her. In Carlow, family friend and colleague, the Rev. Dr. Brian Fletcher, noted that "in Edith we saw the hand of God weaving together her family and church life."
"She is now in the closer presence of the God who sustained her and whom she sought to serve through all the opportunities a rich life afforded," wrote Dr. Kingston.