In 2003, Mr. Green was part of an Inquirer report about the difficulties of dealing with Alzheimer's.

"Try as he might," The Inquirer reported, Mr. Green "couldn't hide everything" about his illness. "He was forgetting meetings, losing things - even big things, like his car.

"He'd stand at the pulpit, open his Bible and say, 'Let us pray.' He'd pray. Then he'd open his Bible again. 'Let us pray,' he'd repeat. The congregation would squirm a little.

"Though his sermons were still good, everyone sensed something was wrong.

". . . Nathan Adams, the assistant pastor, noticed that his lifelong friend was losing weight, rushing home to go to bed, withdrawing from life."

Mr. Green retired before the article was published.

Born in Charleston, S.C., Mr. Green graduated in 1956 from Benjamin Franklin High School in Philadelphia.

His son Keith said he was president of the student association and earned the highest grade-point average in his graduating class.

While raising his family and working as a stock clerk on Jewelers Row in Philadelphia, in construction, and as a janitor, Mr. Green earned his certificate from the evening program at the Philadelphia College of Bible in 1964.

In 1973 he earned his bachelor's degree at its successor, Philadelphia Biblical University in Langhorne.

Mr. Green's wife of 48 years, Mary, recalled yesterday that supporting a household was "very hard. It would have been even harder [nowadays]. Glad it was those years."

Apart from his jobs, she said, Mr. Green "used every opportunity to share his faith, whether on street corners, at youth retreats, during door-to-door evangelism, or teaching Sunday school."

In 1968, he became pastor of Christ Baptist Church in West Oak Lane, where he presided for 34 years.

His son said that Mr. Green served "not only as teacher and preacher, but also as carpenter, developer, builder, innovator, and counselor," while in later years teaching at Manna Bible Institute in Northeast Philadelphia and Philadelphia Biblical University.

Besides his wife and son Keith, Mr. Green is survived by sons Byron and Myron; daughters Adrian Holmes and Paula Green-Howard; 11 grandchildren; and a sister.

A viewing and memorial was set from 7 to 9 p.m. tomorrow at Christ Baptist Church, 1509 Church Lane, West Oak Lane. On Friday, an 8 to 10 a.m. viewing at the church will be followed by a worship service. Burial is to be in West Laurel Hill Cemetery.