Converse Peirce Hunter

Converse Peirce Hunter At 84, Converse died of heart failure in his home at Longwood at Oakmont, Verona, Pa. on Nov. 27, 2010. Born Aug. 21, 1926 in Oakland, Calif., he was the son of the late Rev. Dr. Stanley and Elizabeth Hunter. Converse grew up in Berkeley, Calif. and graduated from Berkeley High School. He attended Princeton University, graduating with the class of 1948. He was graduated from Union Theological Seminary in New York City in 1955. He served with the American Friends Service Committee in Germany from 1948 to 1950, where he worked with refugees in post-war Europe. Converse taught school in Stratford, Vt. from 1950 to 1952. He was ordained to the Presbyterian ministry in 1955 and married Dorothea Ranck in 1956. He served Presbyterian churches in New York City, Baltimore County, Md. and, in Rochester, N.Y., Summerville and Third Presbyterian churches. He was moderator of the Genesee Valley Presbytery during part of his pastorate in Rochester. Converse came from a long line of Presbyterians and was a third generation minister. He believed firmly in the governance of his church and the importance of the church speaking to the needs of the world. His ministry was characterized by a passion for peace and justice issues: racial justice, sustainable peace and openness to diversity. In August. 1963, he participated in Martin Luther King, Jr.'s March on Washington. He was active in the peace movement and spoke out on various civil rights issues throughout his life. In each Presbytery he served, he authored statements and led committees that spoke to these issues. In his ministry he enjoyed managing the building of additions to some of the churches he served. He was also committed to improving stewardship and ensuring that appropriate funds were used for mission. Wherever he served he was an active participant in ecumenical and interfaith associations. He was a compassionate pastor to all. Converse's 40-year avocation was the development of the family property on Squam Lake, N.H. He moved from Rochester to Pittsburgh, Pa. in 2000. In later years, he and his wife wrote and edited family genealogies. He is survived by Dorothea, his wife of 54 years; children, Peirce (Jill) of Bow, N.H., Nathaniel (Elise) of Hampton, Pa., Stanley (Juanita Forsythe) of Northampton, Mass. and Dorothy Gordon (Michael) of Pittsburgh; and grandchildren, Dora and Rebecca Gordon, Sonia and Elisabeth Hunter, Hamilton Forsythe and Harrison Hunter, Seth Hunter and Grant Hamilton. He was preceded in death by his brother, Armstrong. Memorial services will be held on December 18 at 2 p.m. at Sixth Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh and January 7 at 2 p.m. at Third Presbyterian Church, 4 Meigs St., Rochester. Interment will be in Rochester. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to American Friends Service Committee, Attn: Development Dept., 1501 Cherry St. Philadelphia, PA 19102; Third Presbyterian Church, 4 Meigs St., Rochester, NY 14607; or Summerville Presbyterian Church, 4845 St. Paul Blvd., Rochester, NY 14617.