Marvin K. Compher (92)
formerly of Richmond, Va., died at his home in Tampa,
Florida, on April 14, 2008. He is survived by his wife of
68 years, Louise Norton Compher, five sons, Keen, Vic,
Bill, Steve, and Danny, and five grandchildren.
Dr. Compher was Pastor
Emeritus of Forest Hills Presbyterian Church, where he
served from 1965 until his retirement in 1981. He also
served for a number of years as the president of the Tampa
Ministerial Association.
Before coming to Tampa he
served as a Pastor in Covington, Va., Kingsport, Tenn.
(Bethel Presbyterian 1943-53); Richmond, Va. (Overbrook
Presbyterian 1953-1960); Elizabethton, Tenn. (Memorial
Presbyterian 1960-1965).
While in Tennessee he
established six new churches. He provided leadership and
support for the creation of additional congregations in his
other pastorates as well. In 1962 he was awarded a Doctor
of Divinity degree from King College, Bristol, Tennessee for
his outstanding service to the church.
Dr. Compher was born near
Leesburg, Virginia, and graduated from high school in
Waterford, Va. He graduated from Hampden Sydney College in
the class 1937 and from Union Theological Seminary in
Richmond, Va. in 1940. He was ordained that year.
Dr. Compher authored two
books. MORE THAN A FARMHAND--LIKE A FATHER is his tribute
to an African American man, Fenton Pollard, who served as
a vital father figure after his own father's death at an
early age. The book describes many amusing and instructive
anecdotes about "Fent" and life on a country farm in
Virginia some 80-90 years ago; the book also serves as a
significant social commentary about that period.
Dr. Compher's autobiography
is entitled, THE ROAD I WOULD TAKE AGAIN, and describes his
life as a minister to a number of diverse congregations. It
too is filled with amusing and poignant stories about a
minister's life and work.
During his pastorate in
Tampa, Dr. Compher served for four summers as an exchange
pastor at different congregations in England. He and his
wife Louise have traveled twice to Brazil to support mission
work there and have taken two trips to the Holy Land, along
with many other international trips.
On
April 21 a reception will be held at Overbrook Presbyterian
Church in Richmond, Virginia (Dumbarton Road) for the
Compher family at 10:00 a.m. with a memorial service in
honor of Dr. Compher at 11:00, followed by a graveside
service at Forest Lawn Cemetery at 12:00 noon.
Contributions in lieu of
flowers may be made to:
"Latin American Missions"
(memo on check: for Alan and
Ezia Mullins work)
Miami, Florida
33152-7900