Rev. Reynold E. Wallen, known to all as Ren, was born in Philadelphia, PA on June 24^th, 1946, and went home to be with the Lord “surrounded by his loving family” on April 10^th, 2026, in Springfield, Mo.   Ren was a man of great humor and enjoyed a good laugh. He was an excellent musician in his early years and sat first chair trumpet in high school, playing many years into his adult life. He was an avid Coke drinker and sports fan who loved his Philadelphia Eagles and NY Yankees. Ren was a man who loved God and his family. He enjoyed people and never seemed to meet a stranger and made friends easily and loved sharing his Lord with them. And the joy of his life was his granddaughter, Sarah.

After graduating from Pennsauken High School in New Jersey in 1964, he briefly attended Evangel College and returned home to work. In 1965, he joined Eddie Reece and the Hymntime Singers and traveled with then until he was drafted by the United States Army to Vietnam on July 12^th, 1966, where he served honorably as a combat medic. After discharge, he entered Central Bible College (CBC) in the fall of 1968 on the GI Bill and graduated in May 1972 with a BA degree in Bible. While at CBC he met his future wife Nancy (Grigsby) and they married on June 9^th, 1973. Together they shared almost 53 years of love and ministry.

After graduation from CBC, Ren became a youth pastor at First Assembly of God in Kansas City, KS and spent 3 wonderful years there, making many dear lifelong friends. In 1975 was called to be Campus Action (Chi Alpha) director at Michigan State and a year later became district director of Campus Action for the Michigan District, Assemblies of God.

God blessed Ren and Nancy with a beautiful daughter, Melissa Beth on August 5^th, 1977. In 1979 they had a stillborn daughter named Sarah Ruth. In August 1982, they moved to Downriver Detroit to pastor Faith Chapel, ministering there for 3 years making many more lifelong wonderful friends. In 1986, Kansas City, KS 1^st Assembly of God called him back to pastor the church that he had previously youth pastored and he enjoyed 6 more years of ministry there. In1988 while still in Kansas City, Ren and Nancy adopted a beautiful daughter, Joanna Christin born on January 11^th, 1988, and became part of the family. In June 1992, the church board of Highland Falls Assembly of God called him to pastor in the village of Highland Falls, NY located right outside the gates of West Point. He ministered to the village and to cadets and military personnel and again made many lifelong friends. In June 2014, Ren retired and he and Nancy moved back to Springfield where their love story had begun.

Ren was preceded in death by his infant daughter, Sarah Ruth; his parents Mamie Josephine and Furman Newton Wallen, his sister Edna Mae and her husband Frank Newmiller; and his brother, Newton R Wallen.

Ren is survived by his wife, Nancy; daughter Melissa B Wallen; daughter Joanna C Wallen and her husband Jordan O North; and his granddaughter, Sarah Elizabeth Wallen; who loved her PopPop dearly; nephew Bob Newmiller (JoAnn); Nephew David Newmiller (Bridget); Nephew Stephen Newmiller (Colleen); Nephews Newton Robert, Danny, and Rodney Wallen; nieces Judy Wallen and Bernadette DeSimone; cousins, Carol Mathis, Judy Florentine (Al), Robert Bennett (Debbie), and Amy Bennett; and many other great nephews, nieces, and family members who will miss him dearly.

In the end, there are not enough words to express the man we all know as Ren Wallen. He was a son, husband, father, PopPop, mentor, pastor, teacher, friend, counselor, comedian, music lover and more to so many. He cared deeply and loved all and never met a stranger. We love you Ren, Honey, Dad/Daddy, PopPop and we will miss you so much. Until we see you again in heaven.