Rev. Richard Broome, Jr.
Rev. Richard C. Broome Jr., 66, of Martinsburg, W.Va., died Jan. 21, 2017.The Rev. Rebecca Vardiman officiated at a service Jan. 27, at Centre Street UMC. District Superintendents Edgardo Rivera, Frederick District, and Conrad Link, Cumberland-Hagerstown District, participated.
He was born Aug. 14, 1950, in Hagerstown, the son of Louise (Beckman) Broome and the late Richard C. Broome Sr.
He grew up in Cumberland and was a 1968 graduate of Allegany High School. He graduated from Frostburg State College in 1973 and from Wesley Theological Seminary in 1990. He was ordained in 1993.
Broome worked as a banker in Grantsville from 1974-1985.
The churches he served included Church of the Living Word in LaVale from 1984-86. He was then appointed as associate pastor at Centre Street UMC in Cumberland, 1986-1991, and also served at McKendree. His following appointments were to Mt. Savage UMC from 1991 to 2006, then to Weller UMC in Thurmont where he remained until 2013. He was appointed to Pikeside UMC in Martinsburg in 2013 and was serving there at the time of his death.
He had served on the BWC Board of Ordained Ministry and was on the board of Tri-County Pastoral Counseling.
Broome enjoyed music. He got his first guitar at age 14, teaching himself how to play. He and his buddies formed their own bands, “The Tides of Time” and “Pendragon.” Broome was also a vocalist and was known for composing his own musical arrangements. He played in many bands over the years. In addition to acoustic and electric guitar, he played the piano, harmonica, and banjo. Broome continued his music ministry in all of the churches where he was pastor.
In his spare time, Broome loved working crossword puzzles, skiing, watching movies, and had studied German for nine years. He was a "kid at heart” and enjoyed getting down on the floor and playing with his grandchildren.
In addition to his mother, survivors include his wife, Beth (Kenney) Broome; three children: daughters, Leigh Ann McCusker and her husband, and Jessica Cutter and husband, son Richard C. Broome III and his wife; and nine grandchildren.
The family requests that memorial gifts be made to any of the churches he served.
Condolences may be sent to his wife, Beth Broome, 22 Paynes Ford Road, Martinsburg, WV 25405.