George Torrence

The Rev. Torrence was a past member of the board of trustees of Northwest Christian College, served as youth chairman of South Idaho Christian Churches, belonged to South Kitsap Ministerial Association and Bremerton Ministerial Association, was a former secretary of Port Orchard Kiwanis; and in his later years enjoyed serving on the Election Board.He was an avid fly fisherman and hunter, and enjoyed hiking with church youth groups. He loved singing, and occasionally presented a "sermon in song".Survivors include his wife, Leone, of Port Orchard; son, Steve, of Port Orchard; two daughters, Teri Emmons and husband Gene Emmons of Port Orchard, and Paula Willems and husband Greg Willems of Bainbridge Island: three grandchildren, Cheryl Siemens and husband Adam Siemens of Hansville, Robert Emmons of Port Orchard and Daniel Emmons of Port Orchard; sister, Betty Curtis of Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada.In lieu of flowers, the family suggests remembrances to Northwest Christian College, 828 E 11th, Eugene, OR 97401, or Port Orchard, First Christian Church, 4885 SW Hovde Rd., Port Orchard, WA 98367.Local arrangements are under Pendleton-Gilchrist Funeral Home at Rill Chapel in Port Orchard.The Rev. Martin Torrence of Port Orchard died January 17 at Ridgemont Terrace Convalescent Center. A former pastor of Port Orchard First Christian Church, he was 91. Memorial services will be held Friday, January 24, at the Port Orchard First Christian Church at 1:00 p.m.Martin Torrence was born June 18, 1911, at Dryden, Washington, to George and Mary Luella Peters Torrence. He attended schools in Puyallup and Oroville, Washington, and Gridley, California, where he was graduated from high school. He served in the Civilian Conservation Corps and also worked as a professional actor and performer in a traveling troupe. At one time, he was employed as an usher by the Hegenback-Wallace Circus, later joining a lumber co-op which operated a sawmill in Oregon. in 1945 he enrolled in Northwest Christian College in Eugene, Oregon, studying to become a minister. During his student years he served as pastor in churches in Franklin, Dorena, Madras, and Crabtree, Oregon. He also attended Oregon State College. He was married to Leone Canfield in 1946, and was graduated from Northwest Christian College in 1954.He was pastor to churches in Payette and Kimberly, Idaho, before moving to Port Orchard in 1966, where he served at Port Orchard First Christian Church until his retirment in 1977. After living a few years in Lacey, Washington, the Torrences moved to Montana, where he served as interim pastor at churches in Columbia Falls and Whitefish. After returning to Washington, he also served as interim pastor at Westpark Christian Church and First Christian Church in Bremerton, retiring for the last time at age 81.