Robert Lingswiler

Dr. Robert D. Lingswiler, age 88, of Berea Ohio, passed away January 12, 2016. He was born on June 5th 1927 to Harold and Viola Lingswiler, and grew up in Buffalo, New York. He graduated from Heidelberg College, studied philosophy at Columbia University and received a Doctorate from Illif School of Theology. He served as minister for Grace United Church of Christ in Northampton, PA, and was Assistant Professor at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, before becoming a Professor of philosophy at Baldwin-Wallace University in 1966. Retiring after more than 30 years of teaching, he joined the faculty of BW’s Institute for Learning in Retirement and taught until the fall of 2015, engaging participants in lively discussions on political and social issues. He leaves behind his loving family to cherish his memory; son Robert and wife Carla Fearer, daughter Victoria and husband Marc Hillbrand, grandchildren Alexander and Julia Hillbrand, and former wife, Katherine Winger. He was a dear brother of the late Betty and Kenneth Lingswiler. He is also survived by nieces and nephews, as well as many wonderful friends and students. A celebration of his life will be held at the Lindsay-Crossman Chapel, Baldwin-Wallace University, 56 Seminary Street, Berea, Ohio on Sunday June 12th at 2 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Robert’s memory to Riverside Salem United Church of Christ (http://riversidesalem.org). Arrangements by Craciun Funeral Home (Online condolences at www.craciunfuneralhomes.com).

Biography

Robert Dayton Lingswiler was born in the Black Rock section of Buffalo, New York, on June 5, 1927. He was the eldest of three children born to Harold Dewey Lingswiler, a coppersmith, and Viola Julia (Brandt) Lingswiler, a homemaker and food service worker. He and his siblings, Betty and Kenneth, enjoyed fishing and swimming in the nearby Niagara River. He excelled in school and came under the influence of a local minister, Reverend Hahn, who inspired him to go to college and study theology. In high school, in order to turn his college dream into reality, Bob worked part-time at the local haberdashery and also made floral arrangements. His resulting fondness for fine clothing, shoes and flowers persisted throughout his life.

Bob went on to Heidelberg College in Tiffin, Ohio in 1945, a liberal arts, religiously affiliated college. At Heidelberg, he met the woman who would become his wife of 31 years, Katherine (Midge) Winger. They were married in January of 1948. To pay for their education, every summer he, Midge, and her three siblings worked on the S. S. North American cruise ship sailing the Great Lakes from Chicago to Buffalo. In 1949 he was awarded his Bachelor’s degree.

From Heidelberg, Bob went to Iliff School Theology in Denver, Colorado, where he earned a Master’s degree in theology in 1952. He went on to study philosophy, his true passion, at Columbia University. During his studies at Columbia, he was assistant minister at St. John's Methodist Church in Valley Stream, Long Island, New York. From 1956-57 he was the minister of Fisherman's Methodist Church in Brooklyn , New York. In 1957, he accepted a position to lead a parish at Grace United Church of Christ in Northampton, Pennsylvania. His children, Robert Daniel (1957) and Victoria Marie (1958) were born during his pastorate at UCC. In 1962, Bob returned to Iliff, and upon completion of his dissertation entitled “The Concept of Subjective Aim in the Philosophy of Alfred North Whitehead”, he received his Doctorate. Embarking on his teaching career, his first position took him to the Black Hills where he was assistant professor of philosophy at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City from 1963 to 1966. From there he went to Baldwin-Wallace University in Berea, Ohio, rising to full professor of philosophy. On the campus he was a liberal activist, outspoken proponent of collective bargaining and staunch opponent of the Vietnam War. Retiring after more than 30 years, he joined the faculty of BW’s Institute for Learning in Retirement and taught until the fall of 2015, engaging participants in lively discussions on political and social issues.

In addition to teaching, Bob had numerous passions including boating, camping, astronomy, photography, gardening, and garage sales. He was an avid collector of antiques, paintings, sculpture, fine kitchenware and anything else useful. He followed nutritional guidelines to the tee, while maintaining his penchant for tin roof sundaes and pineapple upside down cake. He also enjoyed European travel with family. He was a generous and dedicated father and proud grandfather of Alexander and Julia Hillbrand. He never missed out on a celebration, ceremony, or the opportunity to lend a hand when needed. His poetic nature often inspired verses, cherished gifts to lucky recipients, found most often in his annual birthday greetings. This reflection was written in February of 2010:

Ode to Winter

As winter comes with ice and snow

to flame the lust for sun and beach -

Now book instead of brook,

And fire the ice tea glass

for mug of steam and Beam;

No garden flowers to gather-

table candles will have to do;

Out back the line whips wildly in the wind

while we put sheets to spin;

For sunlight we'll have fireside glow

with evening darkness well in tow.

Tell me it will end in May or June

and we again can go.

In spite of several complicated medical conditions, his favorite pastime remained reading the New York Times and various literary magazines, which he did religiously up until his death at the Parkside Villa in Middleburg Heights, Ohio on January 12, 2016.