Richard Hollinger Obituary

Richard Hollinger GREENVILLE, SC - Surrounded by his family, The Reverend Richard Miller Hollinger died on February 26, 2013. He was born in Columbia, SC on April 19, 1926, the son of Nathan Miller Hollinger and Marguritte Muller Hollinger. He graduated from Dreher High School (1943), The University of South Carolina (1949), and The Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary (1952). He received an honorary Doctor of Divinity from Newberry College in 1973. Richard served in the US Army in Germany during World War II. As a veteran, he lived a life of gratitude and service to God. After the war, while attending seminary, he met the love of his life, a Columbia College girl from Ridgeland, SC, DeLouris Miller. They married in 1951 and began their life of ministry together. Richard's ministry began at Trinity Lutheran Church and St. Nicholas Lutheran Church in Fairfax, SC. He was then called as a Mission Developer to Columbus, GA where he established a vibrant congregation, St. Matthew Lutheran Church. From there, he was called to The Lutheran Church of Our Saviour, Greenville, SC. He then served St. Paul Lutheran Church, Clearwater, FL for 23 years. Even in retirement he served as the minister of visitation at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Charleston, SC. Throughout his ministry, Richard was known for his powerful preaching and dedication to stewardship. He served the national Lutheran church in the creation of its Statement on Stewardship, served on the board of trustees for Newberry College, was president of the ministerial association in Clearwater, FL, and served in civic and community organizations throughout his life. Richard believed that the church was to be the hands and feet of Christ serving beyond the walls of the church. He was a dynamic preacher who loved his congregations and served them selflessly. He led by example and loved all of God's creation unconditionally. Richard was a loving husband, father and grandfather and will be remembered and cherished by his family: his wife, DeLouris Miller Hollinger; his son, Dr. Wayne Miller Hollinger, MD and Valerie Bunch Hollinger; his daughter, Melinda Hollinger Matthews and T. Van Matthews; and his grandchildren, Erin Matthews Barton and Andrew Francis Barton, Nathan Tillman Hollinger, Emily Matthews Bugay and J. Lee Bugay, Sara Frances Hollinger Rasmussen and Luke Edward Rasmussen. In his later years, Richard enjoyed spending time with his family, woodworking, volunteering, and helping to care for his beloved community on the Isle of Palms, SC. Richard was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, an animal lover, a shepherd of God's people, and most of all, he lived a life of gratitude never taking anything for granted. Every glass of sweet tea was "the best in the world." A memorial service will be held at St. Michael Lutheran Church, Greenville, SC on Sunday, March 3 at 3pm. Family will receive friends after the service. Memorials may be made to ELCA World Hunger or ELCA Global Missions at PO Box 71764, Chicago, IL 60694 or www.ELCA.org. Recognitions may be sent to DeLouris Hollinger at 15 Habersham Court, Simpsonville, SC 29681. Visit our guestbook at www.legacy.com/obituaries/ charleston