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The Rev. Frederick William Forkel, 94, a retired Elder, died Nov. 18, less than a month after the death of his wife, Mary Forkel. A Service of Witness to the Resurrection was held Nov. 23, at Catonsville UMC.

He was a graduate of City College of New York City, and studied at Columbia University, Evangelical Theological Seminary and Union Theological Seminary where he obtained his Bachelor of Divinity Degree. Later he was awarded a Master of Sacred Theology Degree from Lutheran Theological Seminary in Gettysburg, Pa.

Forkel transferred from the New York Conference in 1943 to the Atlantic Conference of the Evangelical Church and was appointed to what became, in 1946, the Emanuel Evangelical United Brethren in Baltimore. It later was relocated to Catonsville. Emanuel opened in 1840 to serve the growing German immigrant population. Forkel remained there through conference realignments, denominational mergers (1968), growth, relocation and building challenges until 1970. In all, while there, he served in five conferences and three denominations, “all without switching denominations,” said conference historian the Rev. Ed Schell, who followed him in death five weeks later.

His next, and last, appointment was to Memorial UMC, the first pastor appointed by the new denomination (UMC) to what had been the national church of the United Brethren when it opened in the District of Columbia in 1893. He served for 10 years until retirement in 1980, through its relocation to Silver Spring.

Forkel’s first wife, Emily Schroeder died at the age of 31 in 1952. He was married to four successive wives, all of whom predeceased him. In addition to Schroeder, he married Grace Lovell of College Park, Francis Erb Russell of Catonsville and in 2004, Mary Riddle Lawrence of Catonsville. She died a month earlier in October.

Survivors include three daughters: Ellen Suljak, Phyllis Kepp, and Susan Hamrick; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his stepchildren: Suzan Kiepper, Stephen Russell, Charles and Barbara Lawrence, and Sue and Ray Sidoti.

Condolences may be sent to Phyllis Kepp, 3108 Longfield Road, Glenwood, MD 21728.

Memorial gifts may be made to the Elevator Fund at the Catonsville UMC, 6 Melvin Ave., Catonsville, MD 21228.