In Memoriam - Frank E Girdwood

 

 

Retired American Baptist pastor, Rev. Frank E. Girdwood, age 82 of Lewes, DE, passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 5, 2023, at his home, under the care of Delaware Hospice. He was born on September 7, 1940, in Pittsburgh, PA, son of the late Frank and Elizabeth Girdwood.

Frank attended elementary school in both Pittsburgh and East Deer Township and graduated from East Deer/Frazer High School in 1958, where he lettered in football and baseball. He went on to earn his Bachelor's degree in Philosophy at Eastern Baptist College in St. Davids, PA, now known as Eastern University. While there, Frank took on the position of goalkeeper for the Eastern Men's Soccer team. It was also at Eastern that he met his wife-to-be, Susan Scamman of Augusta, ME, whom he married in 1964.

Frank went on to earn a Bachelor of Divinity degree at Eastern Theological Seminary and eventually a Master's of Divinity degree at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. During his 33 years of ministry, Frank and Susan served churches in Pennsylvania, including the First Baptist Church of Oxford, the First Baptist Church of Bellevue, and the First Baptist Church of Greensburg, in addition to the First Baptist Church of Waterbury, CT, and the First Baptist Church of Bangor, ME.

He was also active in missions work, traveling on mission trips to Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic, and enjoyed his work with the housing agencies Habitat for Humanity and CREDO. Frank retired from ministry in 1999 and spent 15 plus years living in Brewer, ME, enjoying driving a school bus, canoeing to explore the lakes and ponds of Maine, taking up a woodworking hobby, and camping up and down the East coast from Maine to Florida. In 2016, Frank and Susan moved to Lewes, DE, to be close to family, enjoying life in the coastal community and hosting family for vacations and holidays.

In addition to his parents, Frank was preceded in death by his infant brother, David. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Susan Girdwood; his children: Lisa Naldzin (Brian) and Stephen Girdwood (Deborah); his grandchildren: Ian Girdwood, Michaela Girdwood, Emma McLaughlin, and Natasha Naldzin; his brother, Donald Girdwood; his sisters: Janet Morphy, Lois Riggle, and Beth Ann Dunlap; and his many nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Frank's life will be held at the First Baptist Church of Greensburg, PA, at a later date.