Emerick credited for conducting thousands of funerals, weddings during his time at pulpit

Dave McMillion, The Herald-Mail
·5 min read
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Editor’s note: Each Sunday, The Herald-Mail runs “A Life Remembered.” Each story in this continuing series takes a look back — through the eyes of family, friends, co-workers and others — at a member of the community who died recently. Today’s “A Life Remembered” is about the Rev. Louis Emerick, who died March 12 at the age of 95. Emerick’s obituary was published online in The Herald-Mail on March 12.

The Rev. Louis Emerick's service to his God and his fellow man was a marathon.

In a 2005 interview for the "Our Town" series in The Herald-Mail, he recalled giving his first public worship when he was 11 years old.

Given that he was conducting funerals and weddings into his 90s, that's a lot of time at the pulpit.

During Louis' funeral at Emmanuel United Methodist Church on Summit Avenue on March 14, a letter was read from the Maryland Methodist bishop recounting the Allegany County native's accomplishments.

Rev. Louis Emerick in his church office in 1980.
Rev. Louis Emerick in his church office in 1980.

Thousands of ceremonies

It's estimated he conducted more than 2,000 funerals and more than 1,000 weddings, in addition to numerous baptisms and church membership inductions, according to his nephew, Paul Engle.

"That was just with the Methodist church," said Engle, a former Boonsboro Middle School principal who now lives in Hilton Head, S.C.

After Louis' retirement from the Methodist church, he became chaplain at Fahrney-Keedy Home and Village, serving the spiritual needs of residents and staff.

"Many people in the Hagerstown area knew him. He impacted thousands of people," Paul said.

Louis was born on June 30, 1926, in Eckhart, Md., and graduated from Beall High School in 1944 in the midst of World War II. He was drafted in 1944, serving until 1946, and was stationed in the Philippines and Japan with a heavy weapons unit.

Returning home, Louis enrolled at Westminster Seminary at Western Maryland College, now Wesley Seminary in Washington, D.C. He continued his studies at the Chandler School of Theology at Duke University and was ordained as a deacon by the United Methodist Church in 1955. He became an elder two years later. He also did coursework at Emory University.

In 1947, he married his childhood sweetheart, Eleanor.

The Rev. Louis Emerick enjoying an Easter moment at Fahrney-Keedy Home & Village near Boonsboro.
The Rev. Louis Emerick enjoying an Easter moment at Fahrney-Keedy Home & Village near Boonsboro.

During his ministry, Loius pastored at churches including Grace United Methodist Church in Midland, Md.; Union Grove Church in Cumberland, Md.; Trinity United Methodist Church in Cumberland; Frances Asbury in Berkeley Springs, W.Va., Glen Burnie United Methodist Church in Glen Burnie, Md., and Fallston United Methodist Church in Harford County.

His time in Hagerstown also included serving as pastor at Washington Square United Methodist Church on Washington Avenue in the mid-1970s.

The couple did not have children, so they showered kids in the family with devotion.

Paul and his sister Lori recalled fun times spent with their uncle and aunt while they were living in the Washington Square United Methodist Church parsonage on Nottingham Road and at a parsonage in Berkeley Springs. Long visits with them included weekday church activities, baking and going on trips to places like Annapolis and Hersheypark.

Church duties were always sprinkled in the mix.

"What I remember is the phone ringing at all hours of the day and night with needs and requests from church members. They always stopped what they were doing and made time for those calls," Paul said.

"I remember singing as my uncle accompanied me on his personal organ. I am thankful that a few years ago he called me to ask if I would like to have it and of course, I was excited and honored to have this gift," Lori said in an email.

"My Uncle Tubby had a beautiful voice and sang at my wedding in 1985," she said, recalling Louis' nickname.

The Rev. Louis Emerick leading a service at Fahrney-Keedy Home & Village at age 93. It's estimated he conducted more than 2,000 funerals and 1,000 weddings during his time as a minister.
The Rev. Louis Emerick leading a service at Fahrney-Keedy Home & Village at age 93. It's estimated he conducted more than 2,000 funerals and 1,000 weddings during his time as a minister.

Louis and Eleanor were hardly ever seen without each other. She was a talented seamstress, and one time made matching plaid derby caps for them both. They kept the hats in their Buick and always donned them before stepping out of it, Paul said.

During the nation's bicentennial in 1976, she made colonial-style outfits which the couple wore to a Washington Square United Methodist Church event.

Islam, Buddhism, Hebrew

They were ready to explore the world and all its culture. The couple traveled throughout the U.S., and around the world including a trip to the Holy Land. After Louis' retirement, the couple attended Islamic, Buddhist and Jewish places of worship just so they could soak up the experiences.

Louis' last Methodist preaching position was at Fallston United Methodist Church. Upon retirement in the 1980s from the Methodist church, the couple returned to Washington County and made their home in a cottage at Fahrney-Keedy, a senior living community off Mapleville Road north of Boonsboro.

They later moved into an apartment at Fahrney-Keedy and finally into assisted living there. Louis remained devoted to Eleanor as she was diagnosed the Alzheimer's disease and stayed in a memory unit there, known as the Bowman Center. She died in 2018.

Rev. Louis Emerick and his wife Eleanor were hardly seen apart. They traveled the world and studied various religious faiths to broaden their knowledge of different cultures. In this picture. they don colonial-style costumes Eleanor made during the nation's celebration of it's bicentennial in 1976.
Rev. Louis Emerick and his wife Eleanor were hardly seen apart. They traveled the world and studied various religious faiths to broaden their knowledge of different cultures. In this picture. they don colonial-style costumes Eleanor made during the nation's celebration of it's bicentennial in 1976.

After arriving there, Louis became chaplain at Fahrney-Keedy, launching another 15-year run in his work meeting the spiritual needs of people. He conducted weekly services and helped residents and staff alike, performing funerals and weddings for people he met up through his 90s, Paul said.

Every morning, Louis made his rounds to the facility's nursing stations, asking which residents might be in need of a visit from him.

Don't leave anyone alone

"I don't like to leave anyone who's leaving this world alone," Louis said in the 2005 Herald-Mail interview.

He took his love of music in to Fahrney-Keedy too.

"He played the organ every Wednesday afternoon. He put on a little concert and they broadcast it throughout the facility," Paul said.

"Reverend Emerick was welcoming to all and willing

to help anyone in need," said Allison Kelley, director of assisted living and memory care at the Bowman Center. "Even while residing in the Bowman Center himself, he

would offer spiritual guidance and support to other residents at end of

life, and comfort to their families."

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Rev. Louis Emerick's long time in the ministry testament to his faith