Dr. Rev. Bernie Zerkel

The Rev. Dr. Bernie Zerkel, Jr., 89, of Westminster, MD died Wednesday morning, November 12, 2014 at Carroll Hospital Center. Born October 24, 1925 in Mt. Jackson, VA, he was the son of the late Bernie and Beatrice Zerkel. He is survived by his wife, Marjorie Zerkel, and was predeceased by his first wife, Betty Hile Zerkel. Rev. Zerkel was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and served in the Pacific Theater during W.W.II from 1943-46. He graduated in 1949 with a B.A. in Economics from the University of Virginia and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa and the Raven Society. He then graduated from Yale University Divinity School in 1953 with a Masters of Divinity, and was ordained in June 1953 by the Potomac Synod of the Evangelical and Reformed Church. In 1979 he earned his Doctor of Ministry from the Lancaster Theological Seminary. He served as pastor of Grace Evangelical and Reformed Church in Baltimore from 1953-62 and the United Church of Christ in Annapolis from 1962-65. He then went on to serve as Area Conference Minister for the Central Atlantic Conference from 1965 until his retirement in 1989. Rev. Zerkel was a practicing Spiritual Director in his retirement, and formerly served as President of the Board of Trustees at Lancaster Theological Seminary. Most recently he was a resident of Carroll Lutheran Village and was a member of St. Paul's UCC in Westminster, MD. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughter, Deborah Sobus of Braddock Heights, MD; sons, Gregory A. Zerkel of Kiawah Island, SC, Timothy M. Zerkel of Apex, NC, David H. Zerkel and his wife, Sara of Bogart, GA; step-daughters, Barbara Thren and her husband, Rick, of North Myrtle Beach, SC and Sharon Templeton and her husband, Tom, of Westminster; grandchildren, Joshua, Aaron, Meghan, Jacob, Alex, Madeline and Jack Zerkel; 4 step-grandchildren and a number of step great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his siblings, James and Waldo Zerkel, Jean Baric, Audrey Nell Chambers and Beatrice Frye. A Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 22, 2014 at St. Paul's United Church of Christ, 17 Bond Street, Westminster, MD with Rev. Marty Kuchma and Rev. Jerry Fuss officiating. An additional service will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday at Grace United Church of Christ, 10492 Orkney Grade, Mt. Jackson, VA with Rev. Joel Walkley officiating. Burial will follow in Grace UCC Cemetery in Mt. Jackson, VA. The family will receive friends on Friday from 2-4 and 6-8 PM at the Myers-Durboraw Funeral Home, 91 Willis Street, Westminster, MD. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his name to Lancaster Theological Seminary, 555 W. James St., Lancaster, PA 17603.