The Rev. Dr. Gordon E. Folkemer

YORK- The Rev. Dr. Gordon E. Folkemer, 91, died Wednesday, August 12, 2009 at The Lutheran Village @ Sprenkle Dr. in York. He was the husband of Bertha B. (Strayer) Folkemer. The couple celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary on May 18, 2009. A Memorial Service will be Saturday, August 15, 2009 at 1 p.m. at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 839 W. Market St. in York, followed by a time of gathering with the family in the Folkemer Fellowship Hall. His pastor, The Reverend Kevin T. Shively will be officiating at the service. Heffner Funeral Chapel & Crematory, Inc., 1551 Kenneth Rd. in York is in charge of the arrangements. Pastor Folkemer was born in Baltimore, MD on August 9, 1918, a son of the late Paul I. and Laura A. (Becker) Folkemer. Pastor Folkemer was a 1936 graduate of Baltimore City College and in 1941 earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Gettysburg College. In 1944 he received his Bachelor of Divinity from Gettysburg Lutheran Seminary and in 1965 earned his Doctorate of Divinity from Gettysburg College. Pastor Folkemer was ordained June 1, 1944 and served as the Assistant Pastor of St. Matthew Lutheran Church York until accepting the position of Senior Pastor on June 27, 1947. He served St. Matthew Lutheran Church for 40 years, until his retirement on June 24, 1984. In addition to his pastorate at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, he also served on the organizing committee and then Board of Directors of Lutheran Social Services for 30 years where he chaired the board for 18 years and also served as Interim Executive Director. He also served on Lutheran Church in America (now Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) boards such as Parish Education, World Mission and Ecumenism. He was a member of various boards and committees of the former Central Pennsylvania Synod of the Lutheran Church of America (now the Lower Susquehanna Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America) and served as a Dean of the York Conference. He was a member and past President of the Board of Directors of Gettysburg Seminary. He was a charter member and served several terms on the Board of Directors of the York Area Development Corporation, served several terms on the Board of the York County Council of Churches. He also served as Chairman of the Board of Gettysburg Lutheran Seminary. Following his retirement from St. Matthew, pastor Folkemer served as interim pastor for the following parishes: Shiloh Lutheran Church, Our Saviour Lutheran Church in York, Quickel's Lutheran Church, York, St. John Lutheran Church, New Freedom, St. James Lutheran Church, Hellam, St. James Lutheran Church, West York, St. Paul (Lebanon) Lutheran Church, Felton, Messiah Lutheran Church, and Advent Lutheran Church, both in York. Along with his wife, Pastor Folkemer leaves three sons, John G. Folkemer and his wife Donna of Baltimore, MD, David A. Folkemer and his wife Suzanne of York, and The Rev. Dr. Stephen P. Folkemer and his wife Beth of Gettysburg; seven grandchildren, Tina Folkemer Hawkins and her husband Frank, Michael Folkemer and his wife Holly, Philip Folkemer, Paul Folkemer, Joel Folkemer and his wife Ashlee, Margaret Folkemer and Nathan Folkemer; two great grandchildren, Anthony Hawkins and Angelique Hawkins, and a brother The Rev. Dr. Lawrence D. Folkemer of Gettysburg. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Paul L. Folkemer and The Rev. Dr. Carl W. Folkemer. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St Matthew Lutheran Church, Capital Campaign, 839 W. Market Street, York, PA 17401, or Gettysburg Seminary's, Crossroads Campaign-Folkemer Fund, 61 Seminary Ridge, Gettysburg, PA 17325-9961.