Linda Gruber, Longtime Phoenixville Pastor And Community Volunteer, Passes Away

Obituary courtesy Campbell Ennis Klotzbach Funeral Home.

PHOENIXVILLE, PA -- Rev. Linda Springer Gruber, OCC, 68, daughter of the late Jonathan and Mary (Yohn) Springer Mackey, died on April 13, 2016, at her home in Upper Providence Township.

Her death was sudden and unexpected, as she was in the midst of a courageous fight against breast cancer – she had successfully completed chemotherapy and was ready to have surgery the day after her death. Her hope and expectation was to be back to her real passions – fishing, gardening and traveling – sometime in the not too distant future.

Rev. Gruber served for 33 years as Pastor of St. John's United Church of Christ in Phoenixville, Pa., retiring at the end of 2013 and being honored with the title Pastor Emerita. She has served as the President of the Evangelical and Reformed Historical Society since 2003 and previously held many Association, Conference and National positions within the United Church of Christ.

Among many other roles, Rev. Gruber served terms on the Executive Council of the UCC and the UCC Church World Ministry Board, as Moderator of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Conference of the UCC, and as Chair of the Church and Ministry Committee of the Ursinus Association.

Other notable volunteer positions which Rev. Gruber filled included time spent on the Board of St. Mary's Franciscan Shelter in Phoenixville, the Advisory Board for Phoenixville Hospital Educational Services, the UCC Historical Council, the Board of the Mercersburg Society, Chair of the Phoenixville Interfaith Council, and the National Steering Committee of Confessing Christ. At the time of her death, Rev. Gruber also served as the Prior of the Order of Corpus Christi.

Rev. Gruber was a graduate of Wilson High School, West Lawn, Pa., and held a Bachelor degree from Albright College, Reading, Pa., and a Masters of Divinity degree from Lancaster Theological Seminary. She was ordained in 1978.

Rev. Gruber is survived by her husband of over 42 years, Christopher O. Gruber; a daughter, Denise, wife of Larry Challenger, of Pottstown; and two grandchildren, Marissa and Bryce.

Friends will be received from 9:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. Tuesday morning, April 19, 2016 at the Campbell-Ennis-Klotzbach Funeral Home, Inc., 610 South Main Street, Phoenixville, PA. Due to the abundance of Rev. Gruber's family, friends and professional relationships, the Funeral Service will be held at the St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 355 St. John's Circle, Phoenixville, PA, on Tuesday, April 19, 2015, at 12:00 p.m. Officiating will be Rev. Dr. F. Russell Mitman and Rev. Dr. Cynthia L. Krommes. Burial will be held on Wednesday, April 20, 2016, at 10:30 a.m. in the Sinking Spring Cemetery, Sinking Spring, Pa.

In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to be made in Rev. Gruber's name to the Evangelical and Reformed Historical Society (555 West James Street, Lancaster, PA 17603), St. Mary's Franciscan Shelter (209 Emmett Street, Phoenixville, PA 19460), or Stretch the Ride (1611 Medical Drive, Pottstown, PA 19464), a fund to help cancer patients at Pottstown Memorial Regional Cancer Center/Radiation Oncology.

Condolences may be made by visiting www.PhoenixvilleFuneralHome.com. Arrangements are being handled by the Campbell - Ennis - Klotzbach Funeral Home, Inc., Phoenixville, Pa.

Image courtesy Phoenixville Fire Company.