The Very Reverend Robert Downes Schenkel Jr.

Robert Schenkel passed away on November 2, 2023. He was born on November 21, 1930, in Baltimore, Maryland, the first son of Robert Downes Schenkel, Sr. and Caryl Palen Hardinge. As a young boy Robert's family moved to Greencastle, Pennsylvania, where his father owned and ran the Greencastle Packing Company. He attended local schools until his junior year in high school when he entered Fishburne Military School in Waynesboro, Virginia (his father's alma mater), graduating in 1948. That same year Robert began his studies at Washington & Lee University, where he was a member of the Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity, lettered in baseball and soccer, and majored in business. In 1952, following graduation he enlisted in the United States Coast Guard and entered the Officer Candidate School, achieving the rank of Lt. JG. Feeling a calling to the priesthood, upon his discharge in 1957 he entered the Virginia Theological Seminary (Episcopal) in Alexandria, Virginia and earned his Masters in Divinity. In 1957, while in seminary, Robert married a young woman he had known since childhood, Anne Mathias of Hagerstown, Maryland. The couple then moved to Baltimore where Robert was deacon of Christ Episcopal Church. In 1963, they moved to Annapolis where he became Rector of St. Margaret's Church. Five years later Robert became Associate Rector of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Kansas City, Missouri, and in 1972, Robert became Rector of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Nashua, New Hampshire. After twelve years in Nashua, Robert was called by the Cathedral Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, to be the Dean and Rector. While in Bethlehem he also served on the Board of the Bethlehem Housing Authority, New Bethany Ministries, and was a very active member of the Rotary Club of Bethlehem. Along the way, Robert and Anne had four boys and many beloved friends. Upon retirement in 1995, Robert continued to work as an Interim Rector for several churches including St. Brigid's Episcopal Church in Nazareth, St. George's Episcopal Church in Hellertown and St. Andrew's Church in Allentown. Robert was never one for hobbies but he had a great love of reading, especially history; working on the New York Times crossword puzzle every Sunday afternoon; following Major League baseball and Lehigh University football; and, later in life, taking up golf.

With four children, five grandchildren and one great-grandchild, and three wonderful daughters-in-law, Robert, while never an emotional man, had a deep pride and love for his family and friends. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Anne. He is survived by his brother, John, his sons Robert, Philip (Maureen), Hunt (Monica Najar), Stuart (Emily), grandchildren Benjamin Barber, Britney Barber (Jennifer), Mathew (Caitlin), Nicholas, and Lorraine, and great grandchild, Beau Barber. Our family has been blessed to have such a wonderful and caring man who lived a very full and productive life caring for others in his own, unique way. Robert and Anne are now together again, Robert enjoying a gin martini with two olives, and Anne, bourbon on the rocks, perhaps watching the Phillies or relaxing after a fraught nine holes.

Services will be held at 11 AM, Friday, November 17, in the Cathedral Church of the Nativity, 321 Wyandotte Street, Bethlehem. Burial will be private.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or the Cathedral Church of the Nativity,Third Millenium Fund. Pearson Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements (www.pearsonfh.com).