Reverend Dr. Ervin Donald Rymes

Reverend Dr. Ervin Donald Rymes, 83, of Georgetown, Texas passed away on Thursday, June 4, 2009. A memorial service celebrating the life of Ervin will be held at 2:00 PM on Thursday, June 11, 2009, at San Gabriel Presbyterian Church, 5404 Williams Drive, Georgetown, Texas. Ervin (and his identical twin brother, Ivan) were born May 11, 1926 on a Dutch farm settlement near Hickman, Nebraska to the late Albert William Rymes and Marguerite Lois Mokma Rymes. Ervin is also preceded in death by his sister, Joanne Rijmes and daughter, Mary Rymes Bess. Ervin served his country honorably in the United States Navy during WWII as a radioman aboard the light cruiser ship, U.S.S. Tucson. He married Mary June French on August 7, 1948 in Long Beach, California. After graduating Occidental College, in Los Angeles, and San Francisco Theological Seminary in San Anselmo, Ervin was ordained to pastoral ministry in the Presbyterian Church (USA). Through 38 years of active service and well into retirement, Ervin and June followed God's call and faithfully served in the churches of the Presbyterian denomination, including five communities in the State of Washington, one in Montana, one in Idaho, and two in Colorado. In 1987, Ervin received his Doctor of Ministry degree for completion of six years of work in doctoral studies. Throughout his career, Ervin held numerous offices and leadership responsibilities at every organizational level within the Presbyterian denomination. In addition, Ervin always made time to contribute to one or more active service organizations in the communities in which they lived. In 2002, Ervin and June moved to Georgetown to be near family and found a new church home and place of service at San Gabriel Presbyterian Church. Reverend Dr. Ervin leaves behind, to cherish his memory, his loving wife of 60 years, June Rymes; son, Gerry Rymes and wife Penny; twin brother, Reverend Dr. Ivan Rymes and wife June; grandson, Jesse Rymes and wife Dorothy; great grandchildren, Gabriel and Jayden Rymes; nephew, David and Jeanie Martin; along with many other loving family members and friends. For those wishing to make memorial donations in lieu of flowers, we encourage support for the continued ministry of retired pastors through gifts to either: San Gabriel Presbyterian Church, 5404 Williams Drive, Georgetown, Texas 78628, or The Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Attn: Assistance Program, Room 3024 2000 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-3298 Those wishing to send personal private condolences may do so at www.gabrielsfuneral.com