William Clyde Birch

The Rev. William Clyde Birch, born in Cincinnati, OH January 22, 1946, died at the Visiting Nurse and Hospice Home in Fort Wayne Indiana on Christmas morning, December 25, 2012. Bill was married to St Louisian, Susan L. Guyer, whom he had met while they were attending Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. After knowing each other during seminary, the couple had a whirlwind summer romance and were married two weeks after Susan finished classes, on February 11,1983. They enjoyed their life together serving as ministers in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Bill pastored churches in Cincinnati Ohio (as a Student Minister); Hanover Ohio; Steelville Missouri (as Co-Pastors with Susan); St Louis Missouri; and Howe Indiana (as an Interim Pastor). As pastors, they loved and enjoyed their various flocks. And while they had many "lambs" (parishioners), they had no "kids" of their own. They did enjoy taking under their wings two international students, Joseryl O. Beckley and her brother, Josephus B. Beckley, both of Freetown, Sierra Leone, West Africa who attended colleges in Missouri and Indiana.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Clyde Nolan and Cecilia Charlotte Marie (nee Meyer) Birch. He is survived by his loving wife, the Rev. Susan Guyer Birch, his brothers Robert (Louise) Birch and Roy (Eleanor) Birch, a sister-in-law Catherine Birch, nephews and nieces James (Deborah) Birch, Deborah (Steven) Browne, Eric Birch, Amy (Matthew) Brueck, Erin (Marc) Schreiber, Brittany Guyer, great nieces and nephew, cousins, many friends, colleagues and cherished parishioners.
Bill loved preaching and leading worship. He was an outstanding Biblical teacher and thoughtful pastor. He was also an avid mystery reader, enjoyed researching his family genealogy, wood working, going antiquing, working in art glass and gardening. He and Susan loved traveling the back roads and catching a movie on days off. Bill's dry wit and keen sense of humor will be remembered as well as his marvelous deep voice, booming laugh, his strength, good sense and affection for all things English and Celtic.
Bill wanted to be home for Christmas, and indeed, he was, that eternal abode prepared for him by Christ. We will miss his larger than life presence in our lives.

A pubic Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, January 19, 2013 at Trinity Presbyterian Church 9600 St Joe Road, Fort Wayne IN, 46835 at 11:00 am, led by the Pastor, the Rev Kevin Boyd. Calling will be also be at the church on Friday, Jan. 18th from 4 to 7 pm and at 10 am prior to the Memorial Service. Committal Service will at St John's Cemetery on Neeb Road in Cincinnati OH at a later date.
Memorials may be given to the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance program, which responds to crisis situations, helping survivors and refugees receive the help they need during a disaster, in both this country and abroad. Memory cards are available during Calling or through the Church Office. Make checks out to Trinity Presbyterian Church with a notation that it is in memory of Bill Birch for the PDA. D. O. McComb and Sons Pine Valley Park Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. To sign the online guest book, go to www.mccombandsons.com.

I WILL LOVE YOU
As long as I can dream,
As long as I can think,
As long as I have a memory,
I will love you.
As long as I have eyes to see,
And ears to hear,
And lips to speak...
I will love you.
As long as I have a heart to feel,
A soul stirring inside me,
An imagination to hold you...
I will love you.
As long as there is a time,
As long as there is a love,
As long as I have breath to speak your name
I will love you.
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