Engstrom, Ted W. 1916-2006

(Theodore Wilhelm Engstrom)

OBITUARY NOTICE—

See index for CA sketch: Born March 1, 1916, in Cleveland, OH; died July 14, 2006, in Bradbury, CA. Religious leader, publishing executive, and author. Engstrom was the former executive director of the evangelical organization Youth for Christ International and president of the ministry group World Vision International. Earning a B.A. from Taylor University in 1938, he remained there as director of promotion for two years. Engstrom then entered the publishing field as editorial director for the Christian publishing house Zondervan, where he worked for the next eleven years, with the exception of his service in the U.S. Army during World War II. From 1951 to 1963, he headed Youth for Christ International, then moved on to World Vision International, a group that began by supporting ministries in Korea and later branched out to other countries. Here he was executive vice president and chair of the hunger task force until 1982, when he was promoted to president. While leading World Vision, Engstrom brought the budget into balance and helped expand its programs to some eighty countries, focusing on child care, community development, and emergency relief programs. He retired in 1986. The author or editor of dozens of texts, Engstrom published works from the 1940s through the 1990s. Among his books are Bible Stories for Boys and Girls (1948), The Real McKoy (1953), The Making of a Christian Leader (1976), The Fine Art of Friendship (1985), and Reflections on a Pilgrimage: Six Decades of Service (1999).

OBITUARIES AND OTHER SOURCES:

BOOKS

Engstrom, Ted W., Reflections on a Pilgrimage: Six Decades of Service, Loyal (Sister, OR), 1999.

PERIODICALS

Los Angeles Times, July 16, 2006, p. B19.