Esdras Stuart Gruver, 1912-1989

Esdras Stuart Gruver was born January 17, 1912, in Reliance, Warren County, Virginia, to Ira Kiefer and Elizabeth De Frees Gruver, the third of eight children. Esdras graduated from high school in Hyattsville (Maryland) with highest honors in June 1928. He entered the University of Maryland in 1929, graduating with honors with a Bachelor of Science degree in June 1933.

While working as a food chemist, he acknowledged a call to the ministry, and was granted local preacher's license by the Quarterly Conference of Hyattsville Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in September, 1934. Enrolling in the Duke University School of Religion, he earned his way by working on the Duke Endowment Foundation program and graduated June 1937.

Admitted on trial by the Baltimore conference, M.E. Church, South, October 11, 1937, he was appointed to the Chesterbrook- Langley Charge by Bishop Arthur J. Moore, and ordained deacon by Bishop William Walter Peele in October 1938. He was admitted into full connection in October 1939, at the time of unification of Methodism, and was ordained elder at the Virginia conference of the Methodist Church in Roanoke, October 20, 1940.

Esdras received the following appointments: Chesterbrook-Langley and Andrew Chapel-Langley (10 years); Annandale (11 years); Trinity, Newport News (seven years); Springfield (five years); superintendent, Winchester District (six years); Central, Staunton

(four years). Upon retirement in June 1980, he was called back into active duty as interim superintendent of the Danville District for 10 months, until June 1981. He received the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity from Shenandoah College and Conservatory of Music in March 1976.

Esdras had a strong sense of vocation as a "called minister." He was a faithful pastor to his people, a good administrator, building several church buildings and parsonages, an excellent preacher of the Word with well prepared sermons and orders of worship. He had a seriousness of purpose that led to full application of his time and talents to the tasks of ministry.

Integrity was the mark of the man. He ever showed a deep love for his Lord and for people, while holding to the highest ideals of the Christian life.

Esdras was always good company, with an infectious laughter and good humor. He was a faithful husband and father to his wife, Dorothy, and their children. The same deep love and encouragement he gave to them he also shared with his parishioners. His great tolerance and patience with others in times of stress were born of the crucible of suffering he had experienced in his own life.

Esdras, a good man, lived a full life, vigorous and healthy unit the last few months when he laid aside his labors to enter his Heavenly Home August 3, 1989. Services of Worship and Resurrection were conducted at First United Methodist Church, Waynesville, N.C., on August 5, 1989 by the pastors, the Rev. George Thompson and the Rev. Charles Kyker, assisted by Dr. Beverly Felty of the Virginia conference; and, at Reliance United Methodist Church, Reliance, Va., on August 6, 1989, conducted by Dr. Thomas L. Coffman, Dr. Lee B. Sheaffer, the Rev. John Conner, and Bishop R. Kern Eutsler. Interment was in the Gruver family plot in the Reliance Church cemetery.

Dr. Gruver is survived by his wife, Dorothy Dodge Gruver; a daughter, Susan Elizabeth Gruver of Lake Junaluska, N.C.; a son, William Kiefer Gruver of Herndon, Virginia; a grandson, William Scott Gruver; four sisters and two brothers.

A former parishioner said it appropriately: "Esdras was a blessing here and richly deserves to be with the saints."

-Carl Wrenn Haley