Harold William Burgess

Harold William Burgess, Wilmore, KY 10/8/1933-3/28/2011

Harold William Burgess was born to school teachers William K. and Gladys Burgess on October 8, 1933 in Marlette, Michigan. His family includes his brother Philip (Marie) and his sister, Nancy Quinn; his wife Marcia; his daughter, Colleen Fitch and her children: Emily Kuehnemund (Stephen), Mary Slininger (Chris) and Katherine Fitch; his daughter, Cheryl Amstutz and her children: Daniel (Kathleen), Hannah, Abigail and Joel and their father, Brian Amstutz.

After graduating from Cass Tech High School in Detroit, Michigan, he pursued further education at Bethel College, Indiana; Asbury Theological Seminary, Kentucky; and the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, where he completed his PhD in 1974 after a concentrated study of the theory of Christian religious education in an attempt to become a more competent and effective teacher.

Harold was ordained to pastoral ministry in the Missionary Church in 1962 and served several churches in this and other denominations throughout his lifetime. However, he invested his life in teaching at: Mountain View Bible College, Alberta; Bethel College; the University of Notre Dame; Messiah College, Pennsylvania and Asbury Theological Seminary.

In 1983 Dr. Burgess, along with Dr. Dennis Kinlaw, helped to establish The Francis Asbury Society where, through February 25, 2011, he was actively involved in writing, editing and publishing resources to further the message of Biblical holiness.

Throughout his research and writing, Harold never left the classroom. His motivating force was always the challenge of helping students and setting them free to minister effectively. He had a spiritual gift for encouraging others, seeing their potential and helping them to see it, and eventually helping to connect them with ministry and vocational positions in which they could be effective.

'The things that give me the most satisfaction and of which I am most proud are the marks that my teaching and who I am have made on the lives of a number of my students. God called me to be a teacher and that's where my major success has been.'

Visitation will be at the Wilmore Free Methodist Church on Friday evening, April 1, from six until nine and Saturday morning, April 2, from nine until eleven at the church. The memorial service will follow at eleven and the committal service will be at Blue Grass Memorial Gardens.

Memorial gifts may be given to The Francis Asbury Society, Box 7, Wilmore, KY 40390.

Betts & West Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Visitation:
6-8pm Friday April 1, and 9-11am Saturday April 2, 2011 at Wilmore Free Methodist Church

Funeral:
11:00am Saturday April 2, 2011 at Wilmore Free Methodist Chruch

Interment:
Blue Grass Memorial Gardens