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Torrey Family : Reuben Archer Torrey III (Funeral Tribute)

Tribute by The Rev. Ben Torrey

At 7:40 on the morning of August 6th, 2002, Reuben Archer Torrey III went home to his eternal rest. He was 83 years of age, having served God in the sacred ministry as a priest for 56 years and the people of Korea for 45 years. Just over eleven weeks earlier, he had sustained an injury to his head.

It was the Feast of Pentecost, May 19, and the Jesus Abbey family had spent the day celebrating their 37th anniversary. The day was ending with a quiet celebration around a campfire in front of the large new building, Nazareth. Fr. Torrey had had a long day and was feeling quite tired. He decided to turn in a bit early, spoke quietly to his wife, Jane, about going to bed, stood up, stepped forward then fell backwards hitting his head against the corner of the bench on which he had been sitting. He may have slipped or tripped. No one is quite sure. Fr. Torrey was taken immediately to the closest hospital in the town of Changsong. There, a scan showed internal bleeding in his head so, the next morning, he was taken to a larger hospital in the provincial capital, Wonju. An operation was performed to release the blood and, later in the day, another, to insert a tube for draining as a blood clot formed. He remained unconscious the week in Wonju and was then taken by ambulance to Severance Hospital in Seoul. There he remained unconscious in the Intensive Care Unit until August 6th when God graciously took him. The immediate cause of death was a heart attack brought on by his debilitated condition.

His son, Ben and his older daughter, Yancey, were with their mother at the time. They had arrived in Seoul from the US the night before and had an opportunity to be with him. His other daughter, Deberniere (Bunny), arrived later that day.

From the time of Fr. Torrey’s injury on, friends from around the world demonstrated their love and respect with an outpouring of support. With his death, the response was renewed to a breath taking level. Severance Hospital waived much of the fees related to his treatment and the period of visitation out of respect for his years of service in Korea and for the efforts that his father, Reuben A. Torrey, Jr., had devoted to establishing the Amputee Rehabilitation Center of the hospital many years earlier.

From Tuesday until Saturday, there was a steady flow of people coming to pay their respects and offer their condolences. Individuals and organizations including the President of Korea, the Minister of Culture, members of the National Assembly, the hospital and many churches, gave large floral displays. Members of the Abbey community and Fr. Torrey’s family were on hand to greet those who came. In following the Abbey’s routine of daily prayer, several services were held each day in the special room reserved for visitation. These included hymns, Scripture readings, prayer and sharing from visitors remembering times past.

On the morning of Saturday, August 10th, Fr. Torrey’s body was taken in procession from Severance to the Anglican Cathedral for a requiem or funeral mass. At all times of transporting the body—and later the ashes—the procession was led by Samuel Lim carrying a distinctive Jesus Abbey Cross followed by Fr. Torrey’s grandson, Reuben Edward, then would come the casket with The Rev. Ben Torrey, his son, following behind. Samuel ("Sammy"), currently attending Central Bible College in Springfield, Missouri, spent much of his childhood at Jesus Abbey under the close care of the Torreys to whom he looked as grandparents.

The funeral message was preached by the Rev. David Ross, long time friend and former missionary to Korea, who came from the US for the occasion. Bp. Paul Yun of the Diocese of Taejon celebrated the liturgy. Eulogies were offered by a number of individuals representing the different groups who looked to Fr. Torrey as leader and mentor. His son gave a final word expressing appreciation to all. Following communion, hundreds of people filed slowly forward, placing white chrysanthemums on the casket and greeting the family. An estimated 1,500 people attended the overflow service. Many had to stand in the rain outside the cathedral.

Following the service, Fr. Torrey’s body was escorted by close friends, family and members of the Abbey community to be cremated. The ashes were then taken by bus up to Jesus Abbey where they were kept in the Old Chapel until Wednesday, August 14th. During the week, people continued to come and pay their respects.

Following a moving memorial service on Wednesday, the ashes were carried in procession to the Abbey’s small cemetery where they were interred in a columbarium built into a wall.

From the Requiem, August 10, 2002, Anglican Cathedral, Seoul Korea:

From the Memorial Service, August 14, 2002, Jesus Abbey:

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