Episcopal Bishop Robert Mize, described as a man of endless faith, compassion and integrity, died Thursday in Fresno at age 93.
Bishop Mize came to the Central Valley in the 1970s and was vicar at St. Raphael's Episcopal Church in Oakhurst from 1977 to 1981 and Assisting Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin until 1989.
Friends of the Kansas native said Bishop Mize was always there for people in need. If someone was down and out, he would offer them money, he would give them food. If someone needed spiritual healing, he would spend hours praying with that person. And if a troubled young bad boy had any potential for good, that is what Bishop Mize would see.
It was this basic belief that people are intrinsically good that inspired Bishop Mize to open Saint Francis Boys Home in 1945 in Kansas, which is now active in seven states under the name the Saint Francis Academy. "He had an unbelievable optimism in the potential of each person," said the Rev. Canon Keith Brown of the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin in Fresno. "He could see the potential in people when no one else could."
Bishop Mize's life came to a peaceful end when he died while sitting in a chair at the Nazareth House in Fresno where he lived the last few years. He was close to so many that no date has been yet set for his funeral because several people from across the country and from Africa are expected to attend.
Bishop Mize was born in 1907 and after high school went into journalism. As a young adult he was not convinced of the wonder of God. He soon changed his mind and decided to become a priest. Bishop Mize went on to serve the Lord in Botswana and Namibia in southern Africa. It was believed that a comment made by Bishop Mize against the then-apartheid government of South Africa led to his being expelled in 1970. "He was a warm, caring man who was absolutely color-blind," said Brown, who added that Bishop Mize was a big sports fan and had a good sense of humor.
Brown recalled with some laughs how Bishop Mize was not the world's greatest driver. "Though he was famous for his saintliness, it probably wasn't seen by others when he was behind the wheel," Brown said. "He must have had a guardian angel. Let's just say all of us were relieved when he gave up driving."
June Waltenberger, executive secretary of the Episcopal Diocese, also remembered Bishop Mize fondly. "He was strong prayer warrior who loved the Lord and wanted everyone else to," Waltenberger said.
Bishop Mize lived a rather spartan life. "I don't know if he ever took a vow of poverty, but he gave almost everything he had to people in need," she said. "He didn't believe in having things. He was so kind. "I'm sitting here looking at a picture of him and he looks just like what I said about him. He was just a sweet person."
Fresno Bee, 8/20/2000
Bishop Mize came to the Central Valley in the 1970s and was vicar at St. Raphael's Episcopal Church in Oakhurst from 1977 to 1981 and Assisting Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin until 1989.
Friends of the Kansas native said Bishop Mize was always there for people in need. If someone was down and out, he would offer them money, he would give them food. If someone needed spiritual healing, he would spend hours praying with that person. And if a troubled young bad boy had any potential for good, that is what Bishop Mize would see.
It was this basic belief that people are intrinsically good that inspired Bishop Mize to open Saint Francis Boys Home in 1945 in Kansas, which is now active in seven states under the name the Saint Francis Academy. "He had an unbelievable optimism in the potential of each person," said the Rev. Canon Keith Brown of the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin in Fresno. "He could see the potential in people when no one else could."
Bishop Mize's life came to a peaceful end when he died while sitting in a chair at the Nazareth House in Fresno where he lived the last few years. He was close to so many that no date has been yet set for his funeral because several people from across the country and from Africa are expected to attend.
Bishop Mize was born in 1907 and after high school went into journalism. As a young adult he was not convinced of the wonder of God. He soon changed his mind and decided to become a priest. Bishop Mize went on to serve the Lord in Botswana and Namibia in southern Africa. It was believed that a comment made by Bishop Mize against the then-apartheid government of South Africa led to his being expelled in 1970. "He was a warm, caring man who was absolutely color-blind," said Brown, who added that Bishop Mize was a big sports fan and had a good sense of humor.
Brown recalled with some laughs how Bishop Mize was not the world's greatest driver. "Though he was famous for his saintliness, it probably wasn't seen by others when he was behind the wheel," Brown said. "He must have had a guardian angel. Let's just say all of us were relieved when he gave up driving."
June Waltenberger, executive secretary of the Episcopal Diocese, also remembered Bishop Mize fondly. "He was strong prayer warrior who loved the Lord and wanted everyone else to," Waltenberger said.
Bishop Mize lived a rather spartan life. "I don't know if he ever took a vow of poverty, but he gave almost everything he had to people in need," she said. "He didn't believe in having things. He was so kind. "I'm sitting here looking at a picture of him and he looks just like what I said about him. He was just a sweet person."
Fresno Bee, 8/20/2000
Episcopal Bishop Robert Mize, described as a man of endless faith, compassion and integrity, died Thursday in Fresno at age 93.
Bishop Mize came to the Central Valley in the 1970s and was vicar at St. Raphael's Episcopal Church in Oakhurst from 1977 to 1981 and Assisting Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin until 1989.
Friends of the Kansas native said Bishop Mize was always there for people in need. If someone was down and out, he would offer them money, he would give them food. If someone needed spiritual healing, he would spend hours praying with that person. And if a troubled young bad boy had any potential for good, that is what Bishop Mize would see.
It was this basic belief that people are intrinsically good that inspired Bishop Mize to open Saint Francis Boys Home in 1945 in Kansas, which is now active in seven states under the name the Saint Francis Academy. "He had an unbelievable optimism in the potential of each person," said the Rev. Canon Keith Brown of the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin in Fresno. "He could see the potential in people when no one else could."
Bishop Mize's life came to a peaceful end when he died while sitting in a chair at the Nazareth House in Fresno where he lived the last few years. He was close to so many that no date has been yet set for his funeral because several people from across the country and from Africa are expected to attend.
Bishop Mize was born in 1907 and after high school went into journalism. As a young adult he was not convinced of the wonder of God. He soon changed his mind and decided to become a priest. Bishop Mize went on to serve the Lord in Botswana and Namibia in southern Africa. It was believed that a comment made by Bishop Mize against the then-apartheid government of South Africa led to his being expelled in 1970. "He was a warm, caring man who was absolutely color-blind," said Brown, who added that Bishop Mize was a big sports fan and had a good sense of humor.
Brown recalled with some laughs how Bishop Mize was not the world's greatest driver. "Though he was famous for his saintliness, it probably wasn't seen by others when he was behind the wheel," Brown said. "He must have had a guardian angel. Let's just say all of us were relieved when he gave up driving."
June Waltenberger, executive secretary of the Episcopal Diocese, also remembered Bishop Mize fondly. "He was strong prayer warrior who loved the Lord and wanted everyone else to," Waltenberger said.
Bishop Mize lived a rather spartan life. "I don't know if he ever took a vow of poverty, but he gave almost everything he had to people in need," she said. "He didn't believe in having things. He was so kind. "I'm sitting here looking at a picture of him and he looks just like what I said about him. He was just a sweet person."
Fresno Bee, 8/20/2000
Bishop Mize came to the Central Valley in the 1970s and was vicar at St. Raphael's Episcopal Church in Oakhurst from 1977 to 1981 and Assisting Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin until 1989.
Friends of the Kansas native said Bishop Mize was always there for people in need. If someone was down and out, he would offer them money, he would give them food. If someone needed spiritual healing, he would spend hours praying with that person. And if a troubled young bad boy had any potential for good, that is what Bishop Mize would see.
It was this basic belief that people are intrinsically good that inspired Bishop Mize to open Saint Francis Boys Home in 1945 in Kansas, which is now active in seven states under the name the Saint Francis Academy. "He had an unbelievable optimism in the potential of each person," said the Rev. Canon Keith Brown of the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin in Fresno. "He could see the potential in people when no one else could."
Bishop Mize's life came to a peaceful end when he died while sitting in a chair at the Nazareth House in Fresno where he lived the last few years. He was close to so many that no date has been yet set for his funeral because several people from across the country and from Africa are expected to attend.
Bishop Mize was born in 1907 and after high school went into journalism. As a young adult he was not convinced of the wonder of God. He soon changed his mind and decided to become a priest. Bishop Mize went on to serve the Lord in Botswana and Namibia in southern Africa. It was believed that a comment made by Bishop Mize against the then-apartheid government of South Africa led to his being expelled in 1970. "He was a warm, caring man who was absolutely color-blind," said Brown, who added that Bishop Mize was a big sports fan and had a good sense of humor.
Brown recalled with some laughs how Bishop Mize was not the world's greatest driver. "Though he was famous for his saintliness, it probably wasn't seen by others when he was behind the wheel," Brown said. "He must have had a guardian angel. Let's just say all of us were relieved when he gave up driving."
June Waltenberger, executive secretary of the Episcopal Diocese, also remembered Bishop Mize fondly. "He was strong prayer warrior who loved the Lord and wanted everyone else to," Waltenberger said.
Bishop Mize lived a rather spartan life. "I don't know if he ever took a vow of poverty, but he gave almost everything he had to people in need," she said. "He didn't believe in having things. He was so kind. "I'm sitting here looking at a picture of him and he looks just like what I said about him. He was just a sweet person."
Fresno Bee, 8/20/2000
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