Robert L. Lemon

Robert L. Lemon Resident of Berkeley, died at home on October 15, 2007, at the age of 82. Born in Chicago, IL, on March 28, 1925, Robert was a tireless champion for social justice. He marched with Cesar Chavez and spoke in anti-war demonstrations in the 1960s. A minister in the Disciples of Christ denomination, he was fired in 1967 from one of his ministerial positions for speaking out. In response, he started a program which helped many other clergy displaced because of social justice activities. He also founded the Richmond Inner-city Ministries, which inspired a community drive to fix sewers and make streets safe in inner Richmond. On April 28, 2007, he received the regional church's first annual Martin Luther King Junior Award. Robert received his MDiv from the University of Chicago Divinity School in 1948, where he met his two life-long friends Bill Terbeek and Dennis Savage. He was ordained on June 6, 1948, and served in the ministry for more than 40 years. He married Adelle Ringstrom in 1950, and eventually went back to school to earn his ThD from the Pacific School of Religion in 1968. Robert ministered to many people in many ways. He was the appointed pastor to Lima Federated Church, Lima, IL; First Christian Church, Havana, IL; Bethany Memorial Church, Bethany, WV; Golden Gate Christian Church, San Francisco, CA; Barrett Avenue Christian Church, Richmond, CA; and Berkeley-Richmond Intercity Ministries, CA. He also served interim pastorates at First Christian Church of Concord, CA; First Christian Church of Stockton, CA; Mills Terrace Christian Church, Oakland, CA; University Christian Church of Berkeley, CA; and First Christian Church of Palo Alto, CA. In addition, Robert taught at Bethany College, Bethany, WV; University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA; and Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley, CA. Robert found many other ways to minister. He served as Chaplain of Bethesda Convalescent Center, Los Gatos, and as the Administrator of Westlake Christian Terrace, Oakland, CA, for 10 years. And he hauled mobile homes for two years for Morgan Drive-Away. Robert was an active member of the Disciples Peace Fellowship, which presented him with the Wittkamper award in 2003 (along with his wife). He was also active in the UCC-Disciples of Christ Justice Action Network and served as the Chair of the regional church Commission on Clergy Training & Care. And in response to his illness, he led the Oakland Parkinson's Support Group for 10 years. Robert is survived by his wife Adelle; all four children, David, Nancy, Mary and John; five grandchildren, Zoë, Arleigh, Ryan, Kaelyn and Calvin; sister, Ruth Gilbert; sister-in-law, Lois Spinrad, sons- and daughter-in-law, Mona, Jay and Blaine, and eight nieces and nephews. A Memorial Service will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, November 3rd at the University Christian Church, 2401 LeConte (at Scenic), Berkeley 94709. Friends of Robert are welcome. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the Christian Church of Northern California-Nevada (www.ccncn.org), 9260 Alcosta Blvd. Bldg C-18, San Ramon, CA 94583-4143); the Parkinson's Institute & Clinical Center (www.thepi.org), 675 Almanor Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA 94805; or any social justice organization.