Andrew K. Meeder - June 29, 2016
The Rev. Andrew K. Meeder, 84, a retired Elder, died June 29, 2016, at the Brighton Gardens Assisted Living Center, where he’d lived the past five years. He died from Parkinson’s Disease. A Memorial Service was held Aug. 8 at Mt. Zion UMC in Fulton, officiated by the Rev. Kenneth Lyons, a long-time family friend.
Andrew Kistner Meeder was born Oct. 9, 1931, in Gatesville, N.C., to the late John Jacob Meeder Sr. and Clara Maei Meeder. He spent his childhood years in Gatesville, N.C., and high school years in Norfolk, Va. He earned a B.A at East Carolina University, Masters of Divinity from Garrett Seminary at Northwestern University, a Doctorate of Ministry from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, and a Doctor of Law degree from the University D.C. Law School.
He and Verona Sparrow Meeder were married in 1970. They had three children who survive.
He considered himself a Washingtonian, and primarily served Washington churches. From 1967 to 1976, he was senior pastor at Union UMC, which became The United Church. He pastored Ryland-Epworth UMC 1978-1989; and Mount Vernon Place UMC from 1989 to 1992, from which he retired. Prior to his Washington years, in the 1950s, he was in Illinois and Virginia. In 1965, he transferred to the Baltimore Conference and served Marvin Memorial UMC (1965-67) and Lanham UMC (1976-78). Meeder was known for his ability to grow a church and increase a congregation both in attendance and in service.
From 1984 to 2010, the Meeders owned a beach house on the quaint island of Ocracoke, N.C. where by ferry boat he enjoyed the beauty of unspoiled national seashore and village life.
After retiring, he served several years as a valued mediator in the D.C. courts. Both his legal scholarship and years of pastoral counselling offered an invaluable contribution to helping families and youth settle issues peacefully outside the courtroom.
His greatest passion was his work for the underprivileged and social causes. He was very active in the civil rights and anti-war movements in the late 1960s. Under his leadership, his churches started tutoring programs for needy children, as well as the Agape halfway house for troubled teens and runaways in Georgetown in the early 1970s, and gospel outreach to college students at G.W. University during the aftermath of campus unrest and radicalism of the 1960s.
Survivors, in addition to his wife, are children Sheila Meeder Weber of New York City, Paul Andrew Meeder who resides with his mother in Columbia, Md., and Hans Kistner Meeder in Columbia; eight grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
Condolences for the family may be sent to his son: Hans Meeder, 6713 Groveleigh Drive, Columbia, MD 21046.
Memorial donations may be made to the Food Pantry at the United Church, 1920 G Street NW, Washington, DC 20006. Checks should indicate Meeder memorial.