Rev. Carl D. Geary

Carl was born and raised by late parents, Donald G. and Katharine K. Geary in Harrisburg.

He became a member of Stevens Memorial United Methodist Church, Harrisburg at ten years of age in 1943.

Following graduation from John Harris High School, Harrisburg in 1951, he began studies at Elizabethtown College; received "the call" to Christian Ministry during the fall of 1951; sang in the college A Capella choir; graduated with a Liberal Arts Degree in 1955.

Carl was granted a Local Preacher's License in 1953 by the Stevens Memorial United Methodist Church Quarterly Conference.

He was appointed to the Bald Eagle United Methodist Parish (Bald Eagle, Grazierville, Ironsville, and Sandy Ridge churches) in July, 1955.

Carl entered Wesley Theological Seminary, Westminister, MD, in the fall of 1955; graduated with a Bachelor's of Sacred Theology Degree (now a Master of Divinity Degree) in 1958.

He became an ordained Deacon in 1956 and Elder in 1958 through the Central Pennsylvania Annual Conference (now the Susquehanna Conference) of the United Methodist Church.

Carl was appointed to the First United Methodist Church, Williamsburg, in July of 1959.

He served as evangelist and/or evangelistic song leader on a number of occasions including local church pastorates, Blackburn United Methodist Church of the Pittsburgh Conference, M.T.C. Camp Meeting at Newton Hamilton, and Annual Conference Commission Evangelistic Missions and Programs.

He was appointed to the Calvary (formerly Grace) United Methodist Church, York, in July of 1964.

Carl attended the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference on Evangelism, Madison, NJ, and Williamsport, PA, for several summers and in 1965 participated in the General Conference on Evangelism of the United Methodist Church at Chicago, IL.

He served as the Harrisburg District Secretary of Evangelism from 1965-1968; served a number of years as the recording secretary of the Conference Town & Country Commission; served several years as the District Secretary on the Conference Commission on Enlistment for Church Occupations.

Carl had the very high honor of leading (what was then) the yearly Love Feast on the concluding Sunday of Annual Conference in 1966.

Upon the recommendation of the late Bishop Newell S. Booth and his Cabinet, following an invitation from the General Board of Evangelism of the United Methodist Church, and the complete support of the Calvary United Methodist Church (York) served as one of thirty evangelists from the United States to the Republic of the Philippines during October, 1967.

Appointed to the Wesley United Methodist Church, Williamsport, in August 1969.

In 1975, completed six years on the Board of Directors of the United Methodist Homes for the Aged, Inc. (Bethany Village, Mechanicsburg, and Epworth Manor, Tyrone). From 1971, served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Lewisburg United Methodist Homes, Inc. (eight years as the recording secretary of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee and then on the Finance and Investments Committee and the Committee on Publicity and Public Relations). In July of 1982, was honored as a ten year member of the Board of Directors (Lewisburg Homes), completing that service shortly thereafter.

Rev. & Mrs. Geary were sent by the Wesley United Methodist Church (Williamsport) as official representatives to the Continental Congress on the Family held in St. Louis, MO in October, 1975.

He was appointed to the Fifth Avenue United Methodist Church, Altoona, PA, in July 1976. While in Altoona he served on the Board of Directors of the City Union of the United Methodist Churches (28 member churches at the time) for five years and as President of the Board of Directors for two years. For two years he served as a representative from the Altoona District to the Urban Work Committee of the Conference Board of Missions.

Carl was appointed as Chaplain at Bethany Village Retirement Center, Mechanicsburg in July, 1981, and Richfield/Mt. Zion United Methodist Charge (Juniata County) in November 1981.

He was appointed to the Fleminton/Trinity, Lock Haven, United Methodist Church (Clinton County) in July, 1984. On October 4, 1987, the Trinity and First United Methodist Churches of Lock Haven united to form one congregation named Covenant United Methodist Curch of Lock Haven. The Flemington Church remained part of the charge; now named Covenant, Lock Haven/Flemington United Methodist Charge. He served on the Williamsport District Council on Ministries as the Williamsport District Moving Coordinator.

Carl was appointed to the Duncannon United Methodist Parish (Perry County, Asbury and Otterbein Churches, in July 1988. He was elected to serve as the New Cumberland District Moving Coordinator until his retirement.

He retired from active ministry June 30, 1996 after 41 years.

He was married to the former Marion Haldeman August 29, 1954. They are the parents of Walter, Hagerstown, MD, James (Sharon), Montgomery, PA, & Paul (Janet) Damascus, MD, grandparents of eight grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life Funeral Service will be conducted at First United Methodist Church, Schuylkill Haven, at 11 AM Tuesday, December 5th. A viewing will be held from 10 AM until the time of service. Interment will follow at Rolling Green Cemetery, Camp Hill.