Edgar A. Towne

1928 - 2018

Edgar A. Towne

Indianapolis - The Rev. Dr. Edgar A. Towne, Indianapolis, died on April 13, 2018, at the age of 90. He was born in Albany, NY, February 27, 1928 to Arthur B. Towne and Margaret Shug Towne, and grew up in Dunkirk, NY, where he became an Eagle Scout and where his father had a successful law practice. He is predeceased by his first wife, Sarah Wright Towne, their daughter Mary Michal, and their grandson, Isaac Courtney Towne. At the time of his death he was Professor Emeritus of Theology at Christian Theological Seminary, where he had taught since 1975. He was educated at The College of Wooster, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, and the University of Chicago. An ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Mr. Towne was a pastor in the Mountaineer Mining Mission in West Virginia, and pastor of the Hyde Park Union Church, Chicago. He learned to fly in West Virginia and received his private pilot's license in Chicago. He was a member, and twice President, of the American Theological Society (Midwest Division), a member of the Highlands Institute for American Religious and Philosophical Thought, The Society of Christian Ethics, the American Academy of Religion, and the Reformed Roundtable of the Synod of Lincoln Trails. He is the author of one book, 71 articles, and 41 book reviews. In Indianapolis he was a member of the boards of the Damien Center, the Indianapolis Peace and Justice Center, and of the Indiana Information Center on the Abolition of Capital Punishment. In 2002 he received the Robert Risk Award from the ACLU of Indiana. Mr. Towne is survived by his wife, freelance writer and author Marian K. Towne, his sons, Stephen, Jonathan, Nathan, stepson Karl Kaufman, and six grandchildren. A Memorial Service will be held on April 28, 2018 at 1pm at Fairview Presbyterian Church, 4609 N. Capitol Ave.