William F Edsall

Rev. Dr. William F. Edsall passed away suddenly on April 12, 2022, at his beloved home in Pittsburgh. His children survive him: Kristen Edsall Bell of Pittsburgh, PA, and her two beagles, Pumpkin and Mocha, who loved their grandfather, who always provided treats from his pockets when visiting, and Jeremy Edsall and wife Karen of Virginia Beach, VA—also survived by granddaughter Amber Edsall of Round Rock TX and grandson Hunter Edsall of Chesapeake, VA., one sister, Audrey Taylor of Sussex, NJ, and sister in law Sharon (Tom) Moore of Gallatin TN. Additionally, many nieces and nephews and other extended family members.

Bill was preceded in death by his dear wife of sixty-two years, Audrey, who he began dating at age 16. They were true soul mates who spent their life together, and he talked daily about his desire to be reunited with his long-time love. We believe that he indeed died of a broken heart. He was also preceded in death by his parents, William and Lillian Edsall, sister Grace (Ford) Robbins, sister-in-law Joyce (Roy) Pollison, niece Deborah Mohan, and more than 17 aunts and uncles.

Bill had initially planned on attending the Newark college of engineering to pursue a career as a draftsman. His decision, however, was swayed by his cousin, a minister, who felt this was a vocation he should pursue. Upon consideration, he agreed and followed the call to ministry. After graduation from high school, he married his sweetheart Audrey, and together they set off for Kansas.

Upon graduation from Kansas Wesleyan University, the family of three (Kristen was born in Kansas) moved back to New Jersey for Bill to begin his student ministry. As an ordained Deacon, His first church pastorship was St John's Methodist in Hope. The next move was to Teabo and Mt. Hope in Wharton, where his son Jeremy was born. The next move was to Lebanon and Allerton, where he became an Elder. In 1972 he was transferred to Branchville, NJ, where he began work on his Doctor of Ministry program at Drew University. In Branchville, Bill led the Four H photography club and coached the Augusta Angels Little League baseball team. 1979 brought the next move to Stanhope, NJ, where he pastored the church in the Glen. The beautiful church was a place many couples wanted to marry, and Bill had many weddings over the years and grew the congregation considerably. The church also began a bell choir during his time using memorial gifts, and Audrey and Bill started the Bethel Bible Series. Additional accomplishments were his appointment to Chair of the Mission Program for Annual Conference, a Holy Land Tour, and being part of the Minister to Ministers Program. He called the program "the most significant thing that happened to me in my years of ministry." Bill also attended the Walk to Emmaus during this period. In addition, he established a clown ministry while in Stanhope, which expanded to involve the church youth as well.

In 1991 Bill was asked to take the Blairstown church, and he spent the remainder of his ministry here, retiring in 2001 after 40 years of ministry. Upon retirement, Bill and Audrey moved to Pittsburgh to a new home where they were very comfortable and happy. Having resided in New Jersey for most of his life, he was a New York Giants and New York Yankees fan and often took spur-of-the-moment trips into the Bronx to see a baseball game with his son. Of course, once established in Pittsburgh, he and his wife became part of Steelers Nation.

Bill was an avid traveler who enjoyed many trips with his wife and children throughout the United States and abroad. Many of their early trips were to historical landmarks, and they especially enjoyed visiting Colonial Williamsburg. They visited all fifty states and 27 foreign countries in all their years of travel. His last trip was a father-daughter trip to Sedona, Arizona.

Bill enjoyed golfing, gardening, photography, baking, reading, and occasionally dabbled in painting in his spare time. Other hobbies were model railroading, building model ship and airplanes, various collections, and old-time radio. His favorite characters were Superman, The Lone Ranger, and The Shadow. In addition, he assembled an extensive collection of old radio programs and, on occasion, would provide an evening of listening for churches and retirement communities.

He volunteered with a support group for the blind and had just been asked to take over leading the program as the founder was in failing health.

Bill spent many hours in meditation and prayer daily. He was especially concerned for recent widowers and prayed daily for those in that situation and those who would soon learn that their spouse had died. He enjoyed serving as a substitute preacher in various Pittsburgh churches and was honored to fill in at the church his daughter attends - West View United Methodist Church. He was asked to preach on Easter Sunday at Greenstone UMC and had prepared his sermon for this day; however, God called him home earlier in the week.

In his pastoral career, he touched the lives of many different people, both young and old. Many expressed gratitude for his leading them back to church, helping them get through various complexities of life, providing friendship, comforting in times of sorrow, and helping them celebrate new births and marriages. At one time, he was credited with positively intervening in the health of a woman's dog. After the vet determined the dog didn't have liver disease, she commented that he must have a direct line to the man upstairs. He and Audrey enjoyed working with youth and led many camp sessions at Camp Aldersgate and mission trips to Mexico and Belize.

He embodied his favorite childhood characters, a man of steely determination, concerned with truth and justice, a political debater, sometimes going it alone or with his faithful companion, able to get to the heart of people's darkest moments and bring them back into the light. His license plate read WILLPOWER; his informal business card "Sometime Professional Good Guy". If you knew Bill, be assured that his spirit will remain and that he does indeed now have a direct connection to a power greater than us all.

A memorial service will be held on May 14, 2022 at 11am at Calvary United Methodist Church, 971 Beech Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15233.