Rev. Harold Witmer

FUNERAL HOME

McReynolds Nave & Larson Funeral Home

1209 Madison Street

Clarksville, Tennessee

Harold Witmer Obituary

Name: Calling hours for Rev. Harold Witmer
Start: 2019-04-13T17:00:00.000Z
End: 2019-04-13T19:00:00.000Z
Location: First Baptist Church of Clarksville

Rev. Harold Witmer

Clarksville - Harold Leroy Witmer, age 82, went to be his Lord Jesus on Saturday, April 6, 2019 while at his home in Clarksville.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 13, 2019 at First Baptist Church of Clarksville with the Rev. Sam Hill officiating. He will be laid to rest with Army Honors at The Community Church Memorial Gardens following the service. Harold's family will begin receiving friends at 12 noon on Saturday at First Baptist Church. Elders and Deacons of The Community Church will serve as honorary pallbearers.

Harold entered into this life on May 30, 1936 in York Co., Pennsylvania to the late Free Woodrow Wilson Witmer and Kathryn Davenport Witmer. As a young man Harold served in the US Army and had a lifelong passion for serving Jesus and founded The Christian Serviceman Center of Clarksville. Furthermore, he founded the Youth Challenge Center for Boys and Girls and worked with many other organizations including the Salvation Army where he served on the Board and also with the PGA where he served as a Senior Tour Chaplain. Additionally, Harold was one of the founding Elders of The Community Church and has been the current Pastor there for a number of years.

Survivors include his wife of over 60 years, Faye Kreidler Witmer; children, Timothy (Lee Anne), Steven (Rebecca), and Melanie Witmer; and siblings, Richard Witmer, Donald Witmer, Joe Arnsberger, and Kathy Ross. He was also the grandfather to five grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to The Community Church for mission ministries. Condolences may be made at NaveFuneralHomes.com.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Leaf Chronicle from Apr. 9 to Apr. 11, 2019.

Memories and Condolences
for Harold Witmer

Sponsored by McReynolds Nave & Larson Funeral Home.

6 Entries

April 18, 2019

Dear Faye, Steve, Tim, and Melanie, Our hearts join with yours in both praise and sorrow. Harold's walk with the Lord was instrumental in our remaining in Clarksville after my military service. It was Harold that taught and encouraged me in witnessing for the Lord. His example, boldness, and honesty blessed my life beyond measure. I miss him, but the reality of God's will is a blessing. May God continue to strengthen and fill your hearts. With special love to each of you, Glen and Jeanie Davis

Marjorie Witmer

April 17, 2019

Please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers, I have many good memories of Harold with his grandchildren and I, he was always kind and thoughtful to me and I will remember his love for the Lord, and how he walked it in truth. Faye, I don't know what else to say, in griefshare I taught the class,there isn't much you can say, lean into God. Love to you and your family at this time, Marge Witmer

Dan snd Donna Johnson

April 13, 2019

Faye, we are so sorry for your loss. The two of you have lead such an amazing life together. The work both you did as a team helped and uplifted so many countless people over the years.

It's hard to imagine this town without Harold driving around in it offering his love, prayers, support and donuts to all he encountered!

We love you and your wonderful family. Our shoulders are here for you to cry on and our arms are here to wrap around you if/when you need it.

All of you will always be a part of our family.

Much Love,

April 12, 2019

Cannot count the times he prayed for our family. We will greatly miss him and his guidance. Wish I were there to hear The Lord say: "Well done good and faithful servant." Thank you Harold! -The Rollison Family

Jim Savage

April 9, 2019

It was with sadness but I learned today of the passing of my friend of over 50 years and with gladness to know that he will be reaping the rewards of heaven for the stately life that he shared with so many. I am sure that many in the Clarksville and larger community share memories of his Christian character and activities.
A few years ago I wrote an endorsement to the book about his life that had been in multiple editions/printings at that time. A shorten theed statement of the below slightly edited was included. I wish to thank his wife Faye and him for making me feel a part of their family. We will all miss Brother Harold.

Growing up in Clarksville, Tennessee in the sixties provided an interesting life for me as a young boy. As a teenager life was good. I delivered the Nashville newspapers both morning and evening. As I finished my paper route on College Street, I occasionally stopped off at the Christian Servicemen's Center. It was a good stop for me to get warm but mainly for the servicemen to do something better than hit the bars downtown.

While I initially met Brother Harold at the Center, I also met other strong Christians who supported the Center. I was fortunate when I first entered the Army to have Harold's friend COL Cecil Hill to recommend me. Harold had worked for him at Ft Campbell when COL Hill was Chief of Staff and Harold was a driver for General Westmoreland (who would later become my commander in Vietnam). Little did I know that I would start a career in the military with the Center's supporters giving me part of that push.

Later I became better acquainted with Brother Harold when he started worshiping at First Christian Church where he helped transform Dr Bill Corley, our minister who had just finished work as a college Dean. The church had many nice people, including my family. Then Brother Bill started preaching the Gospel and the church filled up including Sunday nights (even the rafters upstairs were often full which from what I remember had not been used for years). But, most what I remember about those meetings was the preaching and worship. We had great preaching and praying by men who boldly proclaimed God's Word.

After Vietnam I entered law school in Memphis and my father got cancer. Brothers Bill and Harold often visited and prayed for Dad's healing but the cancer got the better of him. Brother Bill lead his funeral services. My mother was teaching school and supporting by herself my five remaining brothers and sisters but after Dad's death my younger teenage brothers developed some problems during the early seventies. So for a while they were guests at the Christian Youth Challenge and the North Tennessee Bible Institute under the care of Brother Harold. That assistance was welcomed by my mother (whose funeral services 15 years ago was lead by Brothers Harold and Bill).

Through the years I have maintained contact with Brother Harold and his numerous ministries, including Christian Partners which always had exciting and different ministries, such as Tiles for Jesus that provided tons of free tiles for churches, orphanages, and Christian schools not only in the US but in other countries. On a television show that I hosted, I had the opportunity to feature Brother Harold's ministry in the early 90s to his ancestral Poland where he met military men seeking religious freedom after the downfall of the communist curtain. He lead many missions to Russia where he was instrumental in starting its largest evangelical church which in turned started many new congregations.

His Christian witness held us spell bound as one who wanted to help others find salvation. He delivered the Word of God with great passion with many people responding when he preached the Word. Brother Bill, prior to his death, recommended that Brother Harold pastor The Community Church. There he preached and spoke with conviction about the greatest news on earth. One seldom knows what impact they may have on another person. I am happy that the contributions that Brother Harold not only provided to my family but also to me. His encouragement contributed to my military uniform and civil service career.

But my greatest gift from Brother Harold was his witness to me was that the Lord Jesus was my Savior.

LTC James C. Savage III

Retired Judge Advocate and US Civil Service Attorney

54 Elm Street, Worcester MA 01609

Shane Tremblay

April 8, 2019

My first boss who taught me hard work does pay off in the end. I dont know if i would be as successful as i am today without all the wisdom and friendship he showed me all those years ago when i worked for him. You will be missed Harold. We will meet again one day.

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