Rev. G. Richard Linderman, 81, Lutheran pastor

After he retired as a Lutheran pastor in 2000, the Rev. G. Richard Linderman did not silence his church voice.

From 2000 to 2004, Pastor Linderman was a congregational teacher at St. Thomas Lutheran Church in Brick Township, near Toms River.

From 2004 to 2012, he was a member of the University Lutheran Church in West Philadelphia, working as a volunteer with Feast Incarnate, a ministry for the HIV/AIDS community.

And since 2012, he had been a member of St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ardmore, helping with the stewardship and Christian education programs.

"Being a pastor was his life," son Michael said, "so he really lived for preaching and teaching."

Services have been set for Pastor Linderman, 81, of Wynnefield, a Lutheran pastor since 1960, who died of complications of a stroke, Wednesday, May 4, at Lankenau Hospital.

A memorial service has been set for 11 a.m. Saturday, July 9, at St. Paul's Church, 415 E. Athens Ave., Ardmore. Burial is private.

The Rev. John Elstad, who retired in 2004 as pastor of St. Thomas in Brick, said Pastor Linderman "was a wonderful teacher," whether with adults or children, during the week or on Sundays.

"He was a guy who was very caring, very principled, and innovative," Elstad said. "Just a fun guy to be with."

Born in New Kensington, Pa., Pastor Linderman earned a bachelor's in education at Thiel College in Greenville, Pa., a school related to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

He graduated from Gettysburg Seminary in 1960 and was ordained that year.

His career covered six congregations, his son said.

He was an associate pastor at his first three - Epiphany Lutheran in Baltimore from 1960-64, Mount Lebanon (Pa.) United Lutheran from 1964-66, and Gloria Dei in Huntingdon Valley from 1966-68. And he was pastor at his last three - Bethel Lutheran in Trenton from 1968-73, Abiding Peace Lutheran in Mount Olive (N.J.) from 1973-88, and Zion Lutheran in Rahway from 1988-2000.

Abiding Peace was the place where he ministered the longest and had the most impact, his son said.

"It was a good move for him at the time," he said.

"It was a mission, the congregation only three, four years old," he said. "They worshipped in a public school cafeteria."

In the 1980s, Pastor Linderman led the congregation to buy land, built a church, a nd set up a public day-care center elsewhere in Mount Olive Township, in Morris County.

"He called it part of his community service," his son said.

Besides that effort, Pastor Linderman was an original board member for Mount Olive Manor, 60-apartment housing for low-income seniors built there in the 1980s, his son said.

The manor is now a part of Lutheran Social Ministries of New Jersey.

Besides his son, Mr. Linderman is survived by wife Dorothy, daughter Lisel Karen, a sister, and four grandchildren.

Donations may be sent to Feast Incarnate HIV/AIDS Ministry, University Lutheran Church, 3637 Chestnut St. Philadelphia 19104.

Condolences may be offered to the family at mcilvainemundyfuneralhome.com.

wnaedele@phillynews.com

610-313-8134@WNaedele