Obituary of Richard C. Gabriel

Rev. Richard C. Gabriel, 85, of Honesdale died Thursday, November 27, 2012 in the Wayne Memorial Hospital, Honesdale, after an illness. He is survived by his wife of over 61 years, the former Peggy Pacatte. They were married on June 1, 1951. Born on June 4, 1927 in Walton, NY, he was the son of the late Herbert John and Dorothy Belle (Carroll) Gabriel. A graduate of Roberts Junior College, N. Chili, NY, and Greenville College, Greenville, IL, Pastor Gabriel also attended Asbury Theological Seminary and received a Masters Degree in Pastoral Counseling from Marywood University. Ordained as a minister in the New York Conference of the Free Methodist Church, USA, in 1952, Rev. Gabriel's career included serving as pastor in Philadelphia, PA, Beach Lake, PA, South Canaan, PA, Bowman's Creek, PA, and North Chittenango, NY. For fifteen years his area of service included that of Superintendent of the New York Conference of the FMC USA and a year in that office in the Susquehanna Conference of the FMC, while also pastoring the North Chittenango Church. A proponent of education, Pastor Gabriel was a lifetime member of the PTA and served two years as President of the Western Wayne Joint School Board. For fifteen years he served on the Board of Trustees of Roberts Wesleyan College. Non-clergy positions included two years in the Comptrollers Accounting Division of Manufacturers Trust Co., NYC and two years as Assistant Manager of the Illinois Equity Association of the National Farmers' Equity in Greenville, IL. In addition to his wife, he is survived by two children; Carole Weber and her husband Stephen of White Mills, PA; Donald Gabriel and his wife, Debra of Hopbottom, PA; eleven grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren; and two cousins. Although an only child, Dick was loved as a brother and uncle by his wife's family, which includes Charlene Harnetiaux, Jack Pacatte, Dorothy Urfer, Patricia Kapsar, Christine Barber and Sue Bultman. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, December 1, 2012 at 10:30 A.M. in the Beach Lake Free Methodist Church, Beach Lake. Friends may visit on Friday, November 30, 2012 from 2-4 and 7-9 PM at the Arthur A. Bryant Funeral Home 1228 North Main Street, Honesdale, PA 18431. Interment will be held in the Beach Lake Cemetery. Memorial Contributions may be made in Dick's memory to: Wallenpaupack FM Building Fund c/o Wallenpaupack Free Methodist Church PO Box 663, Hawley, PA 18428 or the International Child Care Ministries c/o Free Methodist World Missions, PO Box 535002, Indianapolis, Indiana 46253.