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Bishop David Frederick (Fred) Wertz died Oct. 16, less than two weeks after his 97^th birthday. He was the longest-serving surviving bishop in The United Methodist Church, having been elected to the episcopacy in 1968.

D. Frederick Wertz was elected to the episcopacy by the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference. He was assigned to the West Virginia Area, which he administered for 12 years, until 1980 when he was assigned to the Washington Area. The bishop retired in 1984. In 1990 he was reactivated in order to serve for one year as the bishop of the Harrisburg Area. In his retirement, Bishop Wertz was Pastor Emeritus at Allison UMC in Carlisle, Pa..

He was born in Lewistown, Pa., Oct. 5, 1916, the son of Jesse Price and Ada Barratt Wertz. While attending Dickinson College (A.B., 1937), Wertz served a student appointment at Boiling Springs/Hickorytown, Pa. While attending Boston University School of Theology (M.A., 1939; S.T.B., 1940), Wertz served a church in New Bedford, Mass.

He was ordained an Elder in 1942 by Bishop Adna Wright Leonard and joined the Central Pennsylvania Conference. He held the following pastoral appointments: Doylesburg, 1940-43; Stewartstown, 1943-46; Camp Curtin Memorial, Harrisburg, 1946-49; Allison Memorial in Carlisle from 1949 to 1953). He was District Superintendent of the Williamsport District for two years, 1953-1955, then became President of Lycoming College. Wertz was a delegate to the General Conferences of 1964 and 1968.

Betty Jean Rowe and D. Frederick Wertz were married in 1938. They had four children. She died in 1999.

“He was well-loved during his time as bishop here, but his time here was short,” said Bishop Matthews. “Bishop Wertz was a good, good spirit. He was gentle but firm when needed.”

Bishop Matthews told of an early encounter with Bishop Wertz: “As a young pastor, I was bold enough to invite Bishop Wertz to come to my little church one Sunday. Surprisingly, he said ‘yes’. Not only did he come to the church, but he stopped by the house afterwards, along with his wife. They stayed for dinner and played with the kids. I will always remember that.”

Bishop Wertz has been a trustee of several institutions and a recipient of a number of honorary degrees. He was the President of the Commission on Religion and Race from 1972 to 1976 and from 1976 to 1980, he was President of the General Board of Global Ministries.

Survivors include four children: Robert Gary, Joanne Rowe, Donna Jean and Elizabeth Barratt.

A memorial service was held at Carlisle UMC in Carlisle, Pa., Saturday, Nov. 2.