Rev. Dr. Gerald D. Kauffman

Rev. Dr. Gerald D. Kauffman
Rev. Dr. Gerald D. Kauffman, Pastor Emeritus of Grace United Methodist Church, Carlisle, PA and Trustee Emeritus of Lebanon Valley College, Annville, PA, died Thursday, February 16, 2012 at Green Ridge Village, Newville.
Born June 20, 1923 in Guernsey, Adams County, he was the son of the late Rev. Walter I. and Sarah Welty Kauffman.
Dr. Kauffman was a graduate of Manchester, Maryland High School. He received an AB degree from Lebanon Valley College and a Master of Divinity degree from Yale University. Additional studies were done at Princeton Seminary and at Mansfield College, Oxford, England. He received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Lebanon Valley College, along with the Distinguished Alumnus Award by the Alumni Association.
Dr. Kauffman was ordained in the former United Brethren in Christ Church in 1946 and served congregations in Newburg, PA, Hagerstown, Maryland, York, PA and Grace Church, Carlisle where he served as the Senior Pastor for a period of 32 years. Dr. Kauffman was a member of the historic General Conference of 1968 which finalized the merger of the Evangelical United Brethren Church and the Methodist Church to form the present day United Methodist Church. In addition he served in summer Ecumenical Missions to the countries of Japan and Peru.
In 2004 Dr. Kauffman was the recipient of the Exchange Club of Carlisle Molly Pitcher Award. He was a past president of the local Kiwanis Club, a member of Cumberland Star Lodge number 197 and served with the United Way. Following retirement he worked part time for the Courts of Cumberland County.
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his wife, Eleanor Hershey Kauffman, two brothers, Lester and Bernard Kauffman; a sister, Helen Kling.
Gerald was married in 1946 to Eleanor Louise Hershey, a graduate of Lebanon Valley College. He is survived by two daughters, Karen Sykes and (Edward) of Camp Hill; Kristen Hall and (Keith) of Roaring Spring; one son, Dr. Frederic Kauffman and (Wendy) of Bryn Mawr, PA. He is survived also by nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
A celebration of Rev. Kauffman’s life will be held at Grace United Methodist Church, 45 South West Street, Carlisle at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, February 19, 2012. Burial will be at the convenience of the family.
Memorial contributions, in lieu of flowers, may be made to Grace United Methodist Church, 45 West South Street, Carlisle, PA 17013.
Hoffman-Roth Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc., 219 North Hanover Street, Carlisle is in charge of the funeral arrangements.