Rev. Richard E. Muller

REV. RICHARD ERNEST MULLER, died peacefully in his sleep in the early morning of Monday, April 11, 2016. Born March 19, 1928, in New York City, he was the son of German immigrant parents the late Elsie and Ernst Muller. His undergraduate education was in the New York City public schools upon completion of which he received a Bachelor of Science in Education degree from Oswego State Teacher's College, in Oswego, N.Y. While in college, he met and fell in love with Catherine Elaine Kovac. They were married on Aug. 30, 1951 after which he spent two years overseas as a radio operator in the United States Army in the immediate aftermath of World War II. After an honorable discharge from the military, he returned home and completed a Master of Arts (Education) degree from Syracuse University following which he was employed by General Electric Corporation in Utica, N.Y. His only child, Peter, was born in March of 1954. In 1961, Richard was transferred by GE to their plant in King of Prussia, Pa., in suburban Philadelphia. Following the move to Pennsylvania, he developed an intense interest in theology. He pursued and received a Master of Divinity degree from Westminster Theological Seminary in Glenside, Pa., followed by a Master of Arts degree from Temple University in Philadelphia. With these degrees in hand, he did a vicarage, completed a colloquy program and was subsequently ordained as a minister in the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod and joined the faculty at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne. He taught for many years in the Systematic Theology department as well as serving for a period of several years as the Registrar of the Seminary. He taught at Concordia until chronic back problems made it no longer possible for him to do so, at which time he and Catherine retired to The Towne House Retirement Community in an apartment overlooking the seminary where he had worked for so many years. Catherine died in August of 2010, of leukemia. Had she survived to the end of the month, they would have been married for 59 years. After Catherine's death, Richard continued to reside at The Towne House, which is where he lived until his death. His was a long life of dedicated service to those around him. He is remembered fondly by his seminary students and colleagues as a gifted co-worker, teacher and valued mentor. He was an active charter member of Ascension Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne. The nurses and staff at The Towne House, who took excellent and compassionate care of him in his declining months, were fond of his sense of humor and easy going manner. He is survived by his son, Peter, a physician in Rocky Mount, N.C., and his wife, Deborah Fackler Muller, and their four children, Maria Elizabeth Muller, Hannah Jean Sims, Capt. Mark Phillip Muller (U.S.A.F.) and Seth Daniel Muller; and one great-grandchild, Graham Bennett Muller the son of Mark and Blair Muller. Funeral service is 10 a.m. Friday, April 15, 2016, at Ascension Lutheran Church, 8811 St. Joe Road, Fort Wayne, with calling one hour prior. Calling also from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 14, 2016, at Hockemeyer & Miller Funeral Home, 6131 St. Joe Road, Fort Wayne. Burial at Concordia Cemetery Gardens, Fort Wayne. Memorials can be made to the Concordia Theological Seminary or Ascension Lutheran Church. For online condolences, please visit www.hockemeyermillerfh.com.