Carolyn Marie Piper (Gearhart) (Loewer)

Piper (Gearhart) Carolyn Marie Loewer Piper was born on a rice farm in Mowata, Louisiana, on 28 December 1927 to Arthur and Mary Schmeltekopf Loewer. She died peacefully (but unexpectedly) on 25 October 2014 at her home in Worthington after a gentle day of baking bread and gardening. Carolyn is survived by her husband of 26 years: Norman L. Gearhart; children: R. Titus and Barbara Piper (Sandia Park, NM), Mary June-el Piper (Albuquerque, NM), Jonathan and Oliva Piper Riley (Columbus, OH), T. Ryburn and Laura Piper Taylor (Pepper Pike, OH); grandchildren: M. Morgen Piper (Baltimore, MD), K. Amanda Taylor (Houston, TX), A. Wilson Taylor (Pepper Pike, OH), Megan Riley (Columbus, OH), David Riley (Columbus, OH); godchildren: Matthew Corones (Ames, IA), Ian Hallas (Los Angeles, CA), Heather Heckman-McKenna (Boston, MA); siblings: Harold and Glenna Loewer (Mowata, LA), Annette Loewer Lindsey (Waco, TX), Frederick and Kathy Loewer (Mowata, LA), Rex and Mary Martha Loewer Wiegand (Kyle, TX); a host of very special nieces, nephews, and “church children”; and her former husband, Homer W. Piper (Albuquerque, NM). Although Carolyn left the German Baptist community of her youth to explore the world through her college experiences, life as a young professional woman, and then marriage, those German Baptist values of faith, family and hospitality persisted throughout her life. Her on-going call to ministry led her to enroll in seminary in 1967. She was ordained by the American Baptist Churches of the USA in December 1974. Carolyn served as Assistant and then Associate Pastor at University Baptist Church (across from Ohio State) for nearly 20 years, working extensively with students in the North Campus dorms. She spent the next 22 years as a Pastoral Counselor at Pastoral Counseling Services and Northwest Counseling Services. Carolyn taught at the Methodist Theological School of Ohio for 20+ years, helping seminary students become pastors. She held numerous positions at the state and national levels of the ABC/USA — but at her core, she was a pastor to any and all with whom she interacted. Carolyn told people that she was “a girl in the old boys’ network — because there wasn’t an old girls’ network in those days.” And she resonated to the phrase: “I’m not a lady preacher, I’m a woman of God, Called to serve the least, Called to serve the least.” But the essence of Carolyn’s being is expressed in the Micah 6:8 passage, “What does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” Visitation with the family is 2-4 pm and 7-9 pm on 14 November 2014 at University Baptist Church, 50 W. Lane Ave., Columbus, OH 43201 (parking via Norwich Ave., 1 block N of Lane Ave.) A Memorial Service to celebrate Carolyn’s life and ministry will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, 15 November 2014 in the First Congregational Church, 444 E. Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43215. A reception will follow immediately after the service across the street at the Columbus Museum of Art. Interment at Flint Cemetery in a private service, the Reverend Dwight Davidson officiating. In lieu of flowers, consider supporting the International Rescue Committee (www.rescue.org) or Women For Women (www.womenforwomen.org). Arrangements by Rutherford-Corbin Funeral Home, 515 High St., Worthington, OH 43085. You may share your condolences at www.rutherfordfuneralhome.com.

Carolyn Marie Piper (Gearhart) (Loewer)

October 25, 2014