Rev. Dr. Richard Edgar Visser

Reverend Dr. Richard Edgar Visser, 88, of Providence Point Retirement Community, Pittsburgh, PA, died at home on May 14, 2025. Born April 28, 1937, in South Weymouth, MA, he grew up in nearby Hingham, the firstborn son of Edgar and Marjorie (McPhee) Visser. On June 21, 1958, he wed the now Reverend Carol (Edwards) Visser, with whom he enjoyed nearly 67 years of marriage.

He graduated from Hingham High School in 1954 and from Gordon College, Wenham, MA, in 1958 and 1959 with degrees in Bible-Greek and Church Music-Voice, respectively. Afterwards he earned degrees in Divinity and Christian Education from the Gordon Divinity School (now Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary). Throughout his life he remained very close to Gordon College and would keep track of how many extended family members attended there through the years (17 at last count).

He was ordained by the American Baptist Churches (ABC) in 1962, and during a more than fifty year career served churches as senior pastor in Acton, ME; Derry, NH; Warren, PA; and Waynesburg, PA, and on staff in Library, PA, and St. Albans, WV. In 1983 he earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Asbury Theological Seminary. In 2016, he received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Waynesburg University. In retirement, he co-pastored churches with his wife Carol in Warren, PA; Ogunquit, ME; and Cape Neddick, ME.

In addition to pastoral work, he volunteered in both the denomination and his community. During his 20-year pastorate at First Baptist Church, Waynesburg, PA, where he was later Pastor Emeritus, he served as President of the ABC of PA and DE, General Board member of both the ABC USA and the Ministers and Missionaries Benefit Board, and chaired the American Baptist Leadership Institute of Western PA. He served on the community foundation, hospital, ministerial association, human services, Red Cross and Rotary boards. Awards he received include: Excellence in Ministry Award (Ministers Council, ABC of PA and DE), Paul Harris Fellow, Rotary Club (Waynesburg, PA); and with wife Carol, Distinguished Community Service Award (Waynesburg), Apollo Award (Alderson-Broaddus University), Jack Good Community Service Award (Gordon College), and Volunteer of the Year Award (Brunswick, ME).

Surviving along with his beloved wife are three sons, Andrew (Robin), Thomas (Valarie) and Peter. Also surviving are three brothers, Robert (Charlotte), David (Judy) and John (Linda), brother-in-law Reverend Kenneth Wallace, sister-in-law Diane Edwards, step-grandson Nicholas (Catherine) Lutes and great grandchildren Levi, Emma and Aubrey, and many nieces and nephews and their families.

Visitation will be from 2-4 PM and 6-8 PM on Monday, May 19, 2025, at Milliken-Throckmorton Funeral Home, Inc.,197 N. Maiden St, Waynesburg, PA 15370, Shane M. Ayers, Manager. His Funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM, Tuesday, May 20, 2025 at First Baptist Church, 303 W. High St., Waynesburg, PA 15370. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to the Richard and Carol Visser Scholarship Fund at Gordon College, 255 Grapevine Rd., Wenham, MA 01984, the First Baptist Church, Waynesburg, PA, or to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (www.alzfdn.org).