Rev. Dr. Gerald S. Troutman

Died: Oct. 6, 2012

ATLANTA, Ga. -- The Rev. Dr. Gerald S. Troutman, 78, of Newnan, formerly of Atlanta, died Saturday at Piedmont Newnan Hospital.

The memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, 731 Peachtree St., NE, Atlanta. Clergy and rostered leaders are invited to vest and process (gather in the children's choir room at 1:45 p.m.) The color of the day is green.

The family will receive friends at the church from 12:30-2 p.m. prior to the service. Parking is available in the church lots off of Fourth Street and in the parking deck at 715 Peachtree St., accessible from Third Street.

Pastor Troutman was born in Andrews, N.C., to the Rev. and Mrs. Edwin Nosker Troutman. He attended Appalachian Elementary and High School in Boone, N.C., where he enjoyed and excelled in sports and music.

A football scholarship enabled him to graduate from Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, N.C. Other educational endeavors included a Master of Divinity degree from Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, Columbia, S.C.; Clinical Pastoral Education, Georgia Baptist Medical Center, Atlanta; and a Doctorate of Ministry, Candler School of Theology, Emory University.

He served as pastor of congregations in Greeneville, Tenn., and Atlanta; secretary, president, and bishop of the Southeastern Synod of the Lutheran Church in America; on the staff of the Division for Ministry and Synodical Relations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; Director of Development, Lutheran Ministries of Georgia; and interim/transition pastor in several congregations of the synod, including the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Atlanta; St. Timothy, Forest Park; and Advent Lutheran Church, LaGrange.

He was honored in 2009 by the Southeastern Synod of the ELCA by being named Bishop Emeritus.

Pastor Troutman's additional awards include: a listing in Who's Who in Atlanta and America; D.D., Newberry College; 50th Anniversary Preacher on the "Protestant Hour" (now "Day One"); National Judge: "The American Mother of the Year Contest;" Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary's "Dr. J. Luther Mauney Leadership Award;" Grand Marshall, City of Newnan July 4th Parade; received Lenoir-Rhyne University Alumnus of the Year Award (2009) and served on many boards of directors.

In the community he was proud to serve as chaplain for the police and fire departments; PTA president; Little and Youth League football and baseball coach; the Civic Association Board; host of a weekly television program; member of the Rotary Club, the Chamber of Commerce, Community Foundation and Keith Brooking Children's Foundation Board; graduate of Leadership Coweta and volunteer at the Newnan Health and Fitness Club.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years: Marihope Shirey Troutman; three children and six grandchildren.

McKoon Funeral Home & Crematory is in charge of the arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests memorial contributions to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Fund for Leaders, P.O. Box 71764, Chicago, IL 60694-1764 or http://www.elca.org.

"We remember our brother servant in Christ's Church with deep love and affection for his years in faithful service to the Church. We commend him to the loving arms of God as we celebrate our common faith in the hope of the Resurrection to Eternal Life."