Rev. Richard E. Behle

The Rev. Richard E. Behle, 79, Boyertown, died Aug. 3, 2008, in Berkshire Center, Exeter Township.

He was the husband of Kay L. (Henninger) Behle.

Born in Reading, he was a son of the late Edward and Esther (Sterner) Behle.

The Rev. Behle attended Pottstown schools and Ursinus College, in addition to his ministry training.

He was on the board of directors of Fellowship Village, Liberty Corner, N.J., as well as Fellowship Deaconry at Liberty Corner.

He was an Army veteran.

He attended a ministry training program and accepted a call as a full-time pastor in Clifton, N.J. A year later, he was ordained in the ministry and served 10 years at Evangelical Fellowship Chapel, Clifton.

After his service in Clifton, he retired to West Reading where he accepted a part-time position at St. James Church, West Reading. He also was a student in the chaplain's program at Reading Hospital and Medical Center to prepare him to be a chaplain at the hospital.

The Rev. Behle worked almost 28 years as department manager for Firestone Tire and Rubber Co., Pottstown. For four years after that he worked as a production manager of Purex Corp. in the Horsham and Philadelphia areas.

Surviving along with his wife are a daughter, Tricia, wife of David Hurter, Denton, Texas, and a son, Ken R., and wife, Liliana Behle, Alexandria, Va.

He is also survived by a stepdaughter, Karen, wife of Donald Kerns, Boyertown, and a stepson, David R., and wife, Tammy Purnell, Boyertown.

Additionally, he is survived by three grandchildren: Tania Hurter, Tara Scroggins and Ethan Behle; five step grandchildren: Eric and Lauren Specht; and Matthew, Daniel, and James Purnell; and two great-grandchildren, Matthew and Andrew Scroggins.

He was predeceased by a sister, Joan Brewer.

A memorial service will be Thursday at 11 a.m. in St. Andrew's United Methodist Church, Swamp Creek Road, New Berlinville. Burial will be private. Friends may call Thursday, 10 to 11 a.m. in the church.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to Mission Outreach of the Evangelical Fellowship Deaconry, P.O. Box 204, Liberty Corner, NJ, 07938-0204; and/or American Cancer Society, c/o Shelly Stockmal, Admin. Asst., Nat'l Penn Bank, 400 Creekside Drive, Suite 401, Pottstown, PA 19464. Catagnus Funeral Home & Cremation Center Inc., 1020 E. Philadelphia Ave., Gilbertsville, is in charge of arrangements.