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Pastors of Memorial
Church
The following biographies on
the pastors of Memorial are abstracted from Memorial's 100th Anniversary
Program: A Century of Hope, printed in 1995.
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| Dr. George Williard |
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Prior to coming to Dayton, Dr. Williard
had spent 54 years in ministry. He had been an author and editor of
missionary journals, had written several books and was a president
of Heidelberg College in Tiffin. Two lots were purchased on East Fifth
Street and the cornerstone was laid on August 5,1895. Doctor W.
A. Hale gave the address and Dr. Williard performed the ceremony of
laying the stone. The first officers of the church were as follows:
Pastor George W. Williard; elders, William H. Rike, David Hiester,
W. K. Eckert; deacons, Dr. Charles H. Leamon, Charles E. Rowe, and
Fred H. Miller. There were 65 charter members. The completed church
was dedicated on May 8,1898. The Ladies Aid Society was organized
with Mrs. Williard as the first president. Dr. Williard retired as
Pastor Emeritus until his death on September 17,1900. |
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| Rev. Daniel Burghalter
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Our next pastor was Rev. Daniel Burghalter
who previously had been pastor of the Reformed Church in Germantown.
He had been very close to Dr. Williard and said of their relationship,
It was one of the most noteworthy and pleasant experiences of my life
to have had the help of this sainted minister of our church associated
with me during those two years. He was like a spiritual father to
me, and I shall always regard this period of my life as a post-graduate
course in some institution of higher learning. In July of 1901, Rev.
Burghalter resigned to become editor of the Christian World |
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| Rev. H. J. Christman
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Rev. H. J. Christman served as pastor
from May, 1901 to July, 1902. During his ministry, a movement was
begun to eliminate the remaining debt of about $6,000. Dr. Christman
later returned to Dayton as President of Central Theological Seminary.
He passed away on June 12,1945. |
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| Rev.
H. H. Hartman |
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Rev. H. H. Hartman began his ministry
at Memorial in November of 1902. The parsonage was purchased through
a gift of Mrs. Amelia Hoefer. The steam heating system was installed
at this time. The mortgage was burned in 1905. In 1907, the Ladies
Missionary Society was formed. Rev. Hartman resigned his pastorate
in 1913. |
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| Orris
W. Haulman |
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Orris W. Haulman began his work at
Memorial as a supply pastor while still a student at Central Theological
Seminary. He was ordained at Memorial on May 1,1915. During his pastorate,
the pipe organ was installed and the marble baptismal font was given
by the Ladies Aid Society. Rev. Haulman resigned in 1921 and went
to Akron as pastor of Grace Reformed Church. |
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| Rev. Edgar V. Loucks
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Rev. Edgar V. Loucks became pastor
in 1922 and served until 1928. During his pastorate, George Molter
became teacher of the Christian Worker's Bible Class. Ford Rollman
and C. E. Semler served as superintendents of the Sunday School. Rev.
Loucks went on to assume a pastorate in Greenville. |
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| Rev. H. Grady Shoffner
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Rev. H. Grady Shoffner became our
next pastor in 1929. During his pastorate, the Reformed Church and
Evangelical Church merged and our name was changed to Memorial Evangelical
and Reformed Church. The Ladies Aid and Missionary Societies combined
to form the Woman's Guild. Rev. Shoffner left Memorial in 1935 to
become pastor of the Reformed Church in Miamisburg. |
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| Rev. William F. Kissel |
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In September 1935, Rev. William F.
Kissel became pastor. Florence Wetzel Brown became our organist and
Robert Darlington served as Sunday School Superintendent. Rev. Kissel
served for seven years before leaving in 1942 to a pastorate in McCutchenville,
Ohio. |
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| Rev. Edward A. Puff |
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Rev. Edward A. Puff came to Memorial
in August 1942. His pastorate encompassed 40 years. It was a most
significant time in the history of our church, community, and country.
We were at war as a nation. Consequently, much of his early work centered
on the war effort and in giving strength to our families whom had
loved ones serving overseas. It was also during his ministry that
the Evangelical and Reformed Church united with the Congregational
Christian Church. Thus, in 1957, we became the United Church of Christ.
Rev. Puff guided the church to a position of active leadership in
our new denomination. Memorial was a leader in purchasing the land
that became what we now know as Trinity Community. Rev. Puff championed
the cause of health care and quality retirement living throughout
his ministry. It was also the time of mandatory busing for school children. Rev.
Puff joined with other clergy and lay people in riding the school
buses morning and afternoons during that first year to ensure the
safety of the children. In 1964, Rev. Puff encouraged the church to
establish a Memorial Fund to help provide for future needs of the
church. Through many generous donations over the years, the Memorial
Fund has helped keep a viable ministry for our community. Also in
1964, Alberta Rollman donated the beautiful mural which adorns our
sanctuary in memory of her husband, Ford. Rev. Puff and his wife,
Ruth, continued to reside in Dayton. In later years, Ruth lived in
Trinity Home, and passed away in September, 1999. |
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Rev. John E. Konz and
Linda,
Rev. Edward Puff and Ruth, and
Rev. Edward Smith and Maria |
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| Rev. John E. Konz became pastor in
September of 1985. He had been a member of Memorial when he began
seminary training in 1980. Memorial helped him finance his education
over the course of the next four year. He had served as pastor of
Knob Prairie United Church of Christ before coming to Memorial.
Rev. Konz led the church into an emphasis on
local mission. With the leadership of Ann Barlow, they were able
to start an after-school program for the neighborhood children.
In 1987 the KIND program (Kids In New Directions) was begun. This
program works with elementary children for eight weeks each summer.
In 1993, the church, in cooperation with various
neighborhood and community agencies, began a dinner program for
the community. To date, more than 3000 meals have been served.
Rev. Konz was also asked to serve on a Strategic
Planning Team for the Dayton Public Schools. With 27 other educators
and community leaders, he helped to establish goals for our educational
system into the 21st century. During these last ten years Memorial
has become a teaching church for seminary students.
Although economic conditions have been difficult
for the church and community, we have become even more involved
in serving our community. Rev. Konz is currently the chairperson
for the Board of Outdoor Ministries for our Ohio Conference. For
the last six years he has conducted an ongoing Bible study at Trinity
Community. John, Linda, Steve and Kevin reside in Fairborn, Ohio.
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| Rev. Edward Smith |
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Rev. Smith grew up in the First Reformed
Church of Xenia, and was pastor of that church from 1965 through 1971.
He has been in the ministry 38 years. Rev. Smith is the founder and
director of Project Help, an East Dayton center that provides food,
clothing and Christian counseling to the community. He also has been
involved in many missionary projects and has traveled abroad over
100 times. Rev. Smith became Interim Pastor of Memorial in July 1995.
In 1996 Rev. Smith was voted in as permanent pastor of Memorial. |
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