Believing that everyone should count their blessings and make them count, The Rev. J. Davis Illingworth continues to be thankful for his Wittenberg education more than six decades after graduating.

“For me, Wittenberg was the defining moment in my whole life,” he said, noting the excellent educational background for his life’s work, the opportunity to participate in all aspects of university life and unforgettable friendships formed. ”It was here that I found my way, and I will always be grateful.”

His former congregations across the country and his current community of Sun City, Ariz., could say the same for him.

President of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity, editor of the Wittenberger, member of numerous honor societies and winner of the Ohio State Intercollegiate Peace Oratorical Contest, Illingworth has served without hesitation wherever God has called him. Pastor of seven churches in Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, New York, Arizona, California and Nevada during his 64-year career, Illingworth also founded the 2,000-member Faith Presbyterian Church in Sun City. Out of respect for him and his efforts, the members named the auditorium in the new church complex Illingworth Hall.

Throughout his career and in his retirement years, Illingworth has also displayed his compassion in working to ensure that people have the best resources available. He recently co-founded the $80 million Royal Oaks Life Center complete with a 100-bed Medicare-certified health care center and an assisted living building, aptly named The Illingworth Center. In 2000, the Arizona State Association of Homes and Housing for the Aging named him Trustee of the Year.
In 2005, Wittenberg recognized him as well, awarding him an Alumni Citation Award for his exceptional accomplishments in which service to humanity is placed ahead of personal gain, during its Homecoming and Reunion Weekend, Oct. 28-30.

A history major at Wittenberg, Illingworth earned his master of divinity from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in 1941. Davis and Elkins College later awarded him an honorary doctorate of divinity in 1954.