Remembering Those We Lost in 2025

The Christian Radio and Records community has endured a year of profound grief, bidding farewell to numerous gifted voices, devoted servants, and inspiring leaders who profoundly shaped the industry and touched countless lives through their ministries.

As we grieve their absence, we also celebrate their extraordinary lives, unwavering faith, and enduring legacies. Their stories serve as powerful reminders to cherish every moment, live with eternal purpose, and continue shining the light they so faithfully carried.

May their memories fuel our perseverance in the mission ahead and inspire us to honor them through our continued work. We lift up their families and loved ones in prayer, holding fast to the hope and comfort found in Christ.

Dec 2025 – HisAir is deeply saddened to report Christian Radio veteran Lori Cline has passed after a valiant battle with cancer.

Cline’s career highlights over the past 25+ years include seasons serving at KSBJ/Houston, National CCM Radio Promotions for WORD Records, Independent CCM Radio Promotions through Brighter Promotions, serving with Christian Music Broadcasters (CMB), fundraising support through Dunham+Company / ShareMedia Services and creating weekly devotional broadcast content for Lifeword Media Ministry. Lori started her radio days in 1996 at what was then, KYTN/Little Rock (107.7 Music From Heaven).

In 2023 Lori was hired by KKSP/Little Rock (93.3 The Fish) to host its afternoon show weekdays 2-7PM on the Salem Media station.

Dec 2025 – HisAir is sorry to report the passing of Penny Ayer. Penny worked at WHFC/Bangor (Lighthouse Radio)  for 20+ years on the air and in supportive roles. 

Her warm voice, genuine kindness, and heartfelt interest in others allowed her to build countless lasting friendships and touch numerous lives with her deep faith and compassion.

7-25 Dr. James C. Dobson, renowned Christian Radio broadcaster, leader, psychologist, author, and advisor to five U.S. presidents, passed away today, August 21, 2025, at age 89. He spent his life advocating for biblical values, strong marriages, and the traditional family.

Launching in 1977 Dr Dobson produced the daily radio program Focus on the Family, which was broadcast in more than a dozen languages and on over 7,000 stations worldwide, and reportedly heard daily by more than 220 million people in 164 countries. In 2010, he launched the radio broadcast Family Talk with Dr. James Dobson.

8/25  HisAir is saddened to report the passing of Mark Patterson last week. Mark was a WCIF/Melbourne, FL co-host with Penny Galloway. They hosted the morning show for 6 years, and Mark did the WCIF morning show for many many years before that.

7-26 HisAir is deeply saddened to report John McArthur who passed today at age 86.  MacArthur’s daily radio program, Grace to You began as sermons from the Grace Community Church pulpit recorded on reel-to-reel (and then audio cassettes). In 1977, those sermons were first broadcast on WRBS/Baltimore and the radio ministry of the church was born.

6/27 HisAir is saddened to report Robert Weingartz, founder and longtime Chairman of AirPlay Direct, passed away on June 22 in Nashville at age 63 due to sudden respiratory complications from Acute Myeloid Leukemia. A visionary leader, Weingartz had battled the disease for two years and leaves behind a legacy that spanned military service, the music industry, and digital innovation.

Weingartz founded AirPlay Direct in 2005.

5/20 Former KWPZ/Seattle (Praise 106.5) employee, as well as other Seattle radio stations, Larry Lomax passed away last night after battling an illness for over 2 years.

5/20 American Christian author, Bible teacher and co-founder of Precept Ministries International Kay Arthur passed away 5/20. Arthur has hosted a daily radio, television and online Bible study teaching program called Precepts for Life.  She was 91.

5/13 Former Moody Radio/Nashville employee Ted Randall has passed away. He was 73.

5/6 HisAir is deeply saddened to report the passing of Mike Smith. Mike was CEO Michael Smith And Associates at Artist Management, Booking Agency, Record Label, Conference Company, Book and Music Publishing firm Michael Smith And Associates.

David Smallbone shared this about his long time friend with HisAir, “Mike was one of kind. He came out of country music at the beginning of the 90’s with a passion to share the hope in Jesus through music and mentor artists. At his 77th birthday in 2023, many of his artists spoke emotionally about his willingness to not only do business well but care for them in a deep way. Mike involved himself in diverse careers from comedy (Brad Stine, Chonda Pierce) through to CCM with the likes of Salvador, Go Fish and Denver and the Mile High Orchestra. Mike was much loved by the artist community and is remembered as a man who refreshingly put Jesus first in how he did business. He also did heroic work as chairman of the Elders at Franklins Church of the City. He made Nashville and the music business a better place due to his commitment to an authentic faith. RIP dear friend .”

5/6 One of southern gospel’s most loved songwriters, Squire Parsons passed away Monday May 5th at the age of  77.

His song “Beulah Land” was awarded the Singing News Fan Award for Song of the Year in 1981.  It is one of the most loved gospel songs of all time and has been recorded by numerous groups and artists.  His songwriting credits include “I Call It Home,” “The Greatest Of All Miracles,” “Look For Me At Jesus Feet”  and “Hello Mama” to name a few.

4/15 Former KFGQ/Boone, IA staffer Michael Myers has passed away. He was 71.

3/13 HisAir is sorry to report former WCIF/Melbourne GM Lee Martinez passed away last week. Lee served and led WCIF for over 30 years, and retired almost a decade ago.

2/18 Condolences to WCIE/Tampa (The JOY FM) PD and morning show co-host Dave Cruse who’s wife Emilie passed away yesterday after a long battle with cancer. Please keep Dave and his children, Jaymes, Nathan, Daniel, and their families in your prayers. Emilie will be greatly missed by her family. But her absence will be felt by all who know and love Dave.

1/31 Warner Chappell Music Nashville President & CEO Ben Vaughn has passed away. He was 49.

Vaughn spent over a decade at the helm of the company, overseeing all creative and commercial activities across A&R, administration, business development, finance and human resources. Vaughn also worked with staff songwriters, while actively engaging in songwriter advocacy and rights protection initiatives.

1/30 Christian broadcasting pioneer David Ruleman has passed away. Ruleman joined Salem Media Group launching KPRZ-AM/San Diego. His journey with Salem continued when the company acquired WAVA/Wash DC where Ruleman served as vice president and general manager for the next 25 years. During his 31-year tenure with Salem, Ruleman expanded its reach and provided operational oversight during the acquisition of more than 20 stations across nine markets.

Christian Radio veteran Susan O’Donnell has passed away. In 2024 she suffered a stroke and never fully recovered.

Most recently, starting in May 2023, Susan was Program Director morning host at KJIC/Houston. Susan formerly was PD at KVNE/Tyler from 2013-2019 and was PD/mornings at KSBJ/Houston for nearly 20 years. Her 40 year radio career started at KTJS in Oklahoma, first doing fill in on air, then becoming their first female Creative Director.

In a 2016 HisAir interview Susan said, “I later worked in the News Department as well preparing me to go to Omaha as a News Anchor and reporter for KFAB – then, the voice of Nebraska Football.  I was News Director for a station in Iowa before landing in Houston and becoming a part of the KSBJ staff.  At KSBJ I began as a Development Director moved into News Director, Assistant Program Director and finally Program Director.  Meanwhile for nearly 20 years I was working as part of the Morning Show.”

Christian Music industry veteran Barbara Eason King passed away on January 6, 2025 near her home in Monroe, Georgia. King began her career in Christian Music in 1987 and worked with several record labels over the course of her career. She served as Director of Radio Promotions for Benson Records, where she achieved numerous #1 radio hits and top ten songs for various artists.

She later served as a Director of Marketing on the Provident Music Group Family of Labels team that represented Reunion Records, Benson Records, and Diadem Records artists including Michael W. Smith, Clay Crosse, Kathy Troccoli, NewSong, and Bob Carlisle. In the past few years, King founded her own marketing agency and worked with the American Marketing Association.