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Prayers, Comfort Offered At Service For Pilot

News Channel 8 photo by JOHN WINTERROWD

The Rev. Alan Burner, associate pastor at First Baptist Church of Lutz, talks to the congregation and family members of Marvin Renslow, pilot of the commuter aircraft that crashed near Buffalo Thursday night.

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By NEIL JOHNSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 15, 2009

LUTZ - Congregation members today offered their hugs and prayers to the family of pilot Marvin Renslow, as his widow, son and daughter sat in the front pew.

The service focused on the loss of Renslow, who had been a member of First Baptist Church of Lutz since 1997. Renslow died Thursday piloting a commuter plane that went down in Buffalo, N.Y.

"His family was part of our family," the Rev Alan Burner, associate pastor off the church said, adding that sympathy extended to the families of all 49 killed aboard the aircraft and one person on the ground.

A large screen behind the choir scrolled through the names of all the victims identified so far, ending with Renslow as a piano played a slow, somber rendition of "Amazing Grace" and family members were ushered into the intimate church.

A memorial service for Renslow will be held at 6 p.m. Friday at the church, 18116 U.S. 41 N., Lutz. A fund for the family has been established at Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union under the name: Renslow family.

During his sermon, Burner said people had the choice to follow Satan or Jesus and Renslow chose Jesus.

"He heard Jesus call his name and he followed to abundant and eternal life," Burner said. "We know Marvin Renslow is not with us. He is with the Lord."

Before the service, Tom Hebert, a deacon at the church, said Sunday school classes switched from the normal lessons to prayers for the crash victims.

"We're mournful, not just for Marvin; it's for all who were lost," Hebert said.

Renslow was flying Continental Connection Flight 3401from Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey and was preparing to land at Buffalo Niagara International Airport when the aircraft crashed into a house about six miles from the airport.

The 74-seat Q400 Bombardier aircraft was operated by Colgan Air. Renslow joined Colgan Air on Sept. 9, 2005, and had logged more than 3,000 hours flying while with the company.

Contact reporter Neil Johnson at (813) 259-7731.

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