RUSSELL O. SILER

RUSSELL OLIVER SILER  
Passed away in his home in Weems, Virginia on December 26, 2014. He was 72 years old.Born in Martinsburg, West Virginia, July 30, 1942, to Howard and Esther Siler, he is survived by his wife of 50 years, Anne Blitch Siler; his sister, Jane Siler Morriss of Martinsburg, West Virginia; daughter Elizabeth Anne Siler and her husband, Duncan Wilkinson Gowdy, and grandson Carter Wilkinson Siler Gowdy of Holden, Massachusetts; and son, James Russell Siler and his wife, Cheryl Lynn Phillips Siler of Torrance, California.Russell Siler received his B.A. in English at The University of Richmond in 1964; Masters of Divinity at Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania in 1968; and J.D. at Antioch School of Law, Washington, DC in 1986. He served as pastor of numerous congregations from 1968 to 1992 in Virginia and most recently served as interim pastor at the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Jerusalem in 2003 to 2007 and again in 2010. He served as Director, Lutheran Office for Governmental Affairs in Washington, DC, 1997 to 2003, and Director, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania from 1993 to 1997, and Court Appointed Attorney Juvenile Domestic Relations and District Court for Virginia Beach, Virginia from 1987 to 1992.Russell Siler was a courageous champion for justice. He embodied the rare -and needed - blend of kindness, great humor, insightfulness about complicated issues, and an unwavering hope for positive change. Those who knew him will miss his ready smile and jokes. Russell also enjoyed all manner of sports, especially Washington, DC teams.Service will be held at the Bethel Lutheran Church in Winchester, Virginia at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, December 30, with reception following at the church. He will be interred at Rosedale Cemetery in Martinsburg, West Virginia. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to ELCA World Hunger Appeal or local food bank in their own community.