Reverend George William Halstead

HALSTEAD, Reverend George William The Reverend George William Halstead, 96, a retired United Church of Christ minister, died Saturday (December 13, 2008) after a brief illness. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Virginia Lee Halstead. George was born on August 11, 1912, in Bangor Township, MN. He was the second of seven children of Carl and Esther Halstead. He lived in Salk Center, MN when he attended high school. He graduated magna cum laude from Hamline University where he graduated with a major in Philosophy. He continued his education at Chicago Theological Seminary. During his second year at the seminary, he met Virginia and they were married a few brief months later. They had two daughters, Meredith and Carla. They served together as Pastor and Pastor's wife at Waverly Heights Congregational Church, Portland, OR, Mont Clare Congregational Church, Chicago, IL, First Congregational Church, Everett, WA, First Congregational Church, Stoneham, MA, Trinity UCC in Gloucester, MA, Emmanuel UCC, Woodhaven, NY, and as Minister of Visitation at First Church of Christ, Wethersfield, followed by a few months as Interim Associate Pastor at Church of Christ, Congregational, Newington. Mr. Halstead also served as a US Army Reserve Chaplain for 22 years, retiring as a Lt. Col. in 1972. George saw his ministry as offering opportunities to lead people in new directions, particularly toward caring ministries within the church and beyond it. He cared deeply about causes of justice and social concerns. During his retirement, George and Virginia enjoyed traveling throughout the United States and Europe visiting family and friends. George continued as an avid reader of history, philosophy and religion in addition to occasional pulpit supply occasions. As their family grew to include six grandchildren and nine great grandchildren, George was always an active and involved grandparent, attending as many baptisms, birthday parties, graduations and weddings as time, distance and his health permitted. George is survived by his daughters and their husbands, Meredith Halstead Brown and Charles Bruce Brown of Bedford, NY and Carla Raye Sandberg and John Arvid Sandberg of West Hartford. In addition, he is survived by his sisters, Lois Hobbs and Gladys Winkel, both of Oregon. He also leaves six grandchildren, Heather Brown-Huston, Laura Coulam, Andrew Brown, Eric Sandberg, Brian Sandberg, and Amy Sandberg, as well as their spouses and significant others, and the nine great-grandchildren that enlivened his final years. Also surviving is his devoted dachshund, Rosie. George's final days were brightened by visits from family and from Rosie. A Memorial Service will be held at Church of Christ, Congregational, 1075 Main Street, Newington, on Sunday, December 21, at 3 p.m. with a reception following in Fellowship Hall Handicapped access to the service is available through the church South Entrance. Donations may be sent to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 20 Batterson Park Road, Farmington, CT 02032 or to the Memorial Fund of Church of Christ, Congregational, Newington, CT.