Born May 15, 1911 and died December 21, 1997
In summarizing the life of Edwin Hartz the task seems impossible,
but Ed would have considered it as a case of going beyond the expected.
What kind of title should be given to a man who touched the lives of so
many?
Looking at his military career he could be called a patriot. He served
his country during WWII as a Chaplain on the USS Dionysius, participated in the Korean Conflict,
and was Chaplain of the First Tank Company USMC in Tallahassee. Yes, Ed was a patriot, he
loved his country but patriot is not the title.
Looking at his many plaques, Ed Hartz could be called a scholar. He spent 30 years teaching
at Florida State University and continued to teach correspondence courses at the University long
after his retirement in 1977. He held an AB Degree in English (State Teachers College, Missouri),
a Bachelor's Degree in Divinity and a Doctorate in Sociology (Duke University). He also learned
to speak fluent French and German. Yes, Edwin was a scholar.
Observing his faithfulness to his wife, children and grandchildren, Edwin could be called a
family man. He met his wife of 63 years in the little town of Commerce, Missouri while preaching.
In his marriage and family living classes, Ed was often heard to say "No marriage can survive
without the hand of God." Yes you would call Ed a family man, but that is not the choice either.
Edwin Hartz was a gardener. While tending his oversized garden, he drew inspiration from
God. When we think of Ed in the garden we are reminded of one of his favorite scriptures, Mark
4:26-27, "This is what the Kingdom of God is like. A man scatters his seed on the ground. Night
and day whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know
why."
Edwin Hartz was a community servant, active in the Lions Club where he served as Chaplain
from 1975-1979. Whether he was tending the garden, tending to the family, or tending to God's
work, Ed was always up to the task. He endeared himself to the task at hand, to people, and lifted
the hearts of all of those he met. He had a way of looking at you as if you were the only person in
the room.
In Edwin's Golden Years, he remembered himself foremost as an Ordained Minister, a Man
of God. He held pastorates in many churches including: Duke University and Grace Methodist in
Roxboro, North Carolina; Linwood Methodist in Kansas City, and Gray Memorial and Woodville
Methodist Churches in the Tallahassee area. After his retirement from FSU he continued to fill
pulpits in Perry, Jasper, Cairo, Quincy, Apalachicola, Sardis and Tallahassee. One of his fellow
ministers put it this way, "If you need someone to fill your pulpit on Sunday, call Ed. He doesn't
know how to say no." Edwin not only filled the pulpit but the pews and the hearts and souls of
those who came to hear him preach.
Yes, Edwin Rueben Hartz shall be remembered as a minister. Intertwined in his teaching,
family life, and career, God was foremost. The day before his death he was sharing his favorite
sermon with a few intimate friends. Go beyond the expected .. strive to achieve ... and be the best
you can be.
Edwin is survived by his wife Helen; two daughters, Jean Beamer and Marie Louise Hickson;
two grandchildren , Gregory Alan Bermer and Cheryl Lynn Padgett; and his two great grandchildren, Michael and Bryan Padgett
Submitted by: Helen Hartz, wife
In summarizing the life of Edwin Hartz the task seems impossible,
but Ed would have considered it as a case of going beyond the expected.
What kind of title should be given to a man who touched the lives of so
many?
Looking at his military career he could be called a patriot. He served
his country during WWII as a Chaplain on the USS Dionysius, participated in the Korean Conflict,
and was Chaplain of the First Tank Company USMC in Tallahassee. Yes, Ed was a patriot, he
loved his country but patriot is not the title.
Looking at his many plaques, Ed Hartz could be called a scholar. He spent 30 years teaching
at Florida State University and continued to teach correspondence courses at the University long
after his retirement in 1977. He held an AB Degree in English (State Teachers College, Missouri),
a Bachelor's Degree in Divinity and a Doctorate in Sociology (Duke University). He also learned
to speak fluent French and German. Yes, Edwin was a scholar.
Observing his faithfulness to his wife, children and grandchildren, Edwin could be called a
family man. He met his wife of 63 years in the little town of Commerce, Missouri while preaching.
In his marriage and family living classes, Ed was often heard to say "No marriage can survive
without the hand of God." Yes you would call Ed a family man, but that is not the choice either.
Edwin Hartz was a gardener. While tending his oversized garden, he drew inspiration from
God. When we think of Ed in the garden we are reminded of one of his favorite scriptures, Mark
4:26-27, "This is what the Kingdom of God is like. A man scatters his seed on the ground. Night
and day whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know
why."
Edwin Hartz was a community servant, active in the Lions Club where he served as Chaplain
from 1975-1979. Whether he was tending the garden, tending to the family, or tending to God's
work, Ed was always up to the task. He endeared himself to the task at hand, to people, and lifted
the hearts of all of those he met. He had a way of looking at you as if you were the only person in
the room.
In Edwin's Golden Years, he remembered himself foremost as an Ordained Minister, a Man
of God. He held pastorates in many churches including: Duke University and Grace Methodist in
Roxboro, North Carolina; Linwood Methodist in Kansas City, and Gray Memorial and Woodville
Methodist Churches in the Tallahassee area. After his retirement from FSU he continued to fill
pulpits in Perry, Jasper, Cairo, Quincy, Apalachicola, Sardis and Tallahassee. One of his fellow
ministers put it this way, "If you need someone to fill your pulpit on Sunday, call Ed. He doesn't
know how to say no." Edwin not only filled the pulpit but the pews and the hearts and souls of
those who came to hear him preach.
Yes, Edwin Rueben Hartz shall be remembered as a minister. Intertwined in his teaching,
family life, and career, God was foremost. The day before his death he was sharing his favorite
sermon with a few intimate friends. Go beyond the expected .. strive to achieve ... and be the best
you can be.
Edwin is survived by his wife Helen; two daughters, Jean Beamer and Marie Louise Hickson;
two grandchildren , Gregory Alan Bermer and Cheryl Lynn Padgett; and his two great grandchildren, Michael and Bryan Padgett
Submitted by: Helen Hartz, wife