Obituary of Robert Horstman

untitled3 Visitation Wednesday, April 4, 2012 2-4 6-8 PM Poling-St. Clair Funeral Home Funeral Service Thursday, April 5, 2012 11 AM First United Methodist Church Burial Buckhannon Memorial Park Rev. Robert Thomas Horstman Rev. Robert Thomas Horstman, age 83, of Buckhannon, WV died Monday, April 2, 2012 at the United Hospital Center in Bridgeport, WV, his immortal soul lives on saved by the grace of God through Jesus Christ. He was born May 1, 1928 in New Martinsville, WV, a son of the late Edwin D. and Emma H. Willard Horstman. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Ernestine M. (Tina) Cutright, whom he married on April 30, 1954. Also surviving are two children, Robyn M. Horstman and companion Dave Canterbury of Newburg, WV and Bryan T. Horstman of Boston, MA; three grandchildren, Christina M. Thompson and husband Chris of Elkins, WV, Justin T. Ketterman of Buckhannon and Tiffany A. Mills and husband Eric of Sevierville, TN; six great grandsons, Logan, Hunter and Blake Rowan of Elkins, Kaedan Hitt and Sebastian Mills of Sevierville and Christian Ketterman of Buckhannon; two nephews, Neil Horstman of Leesburg, VA and Don E. Horstman of FL; one niece, Beth Roush of Owensboro, KY; one sister in law, Shirley Horstman of Owensboro and many cousins. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Mildred and Betty Horstman and two brothers, E. Willard and Donald Horstman. He graduated from Moundsville High School, Moundsville, WV in 1948 and from WV Wesleyan College, in 1951, with a BA Degree in English and Psychology. His Theological training was at Candler School of Theology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, where he received a Master of Divinity Degree in 1957. He was licensed as a local preacher in the United Methodist Church in 1947 and ordained as an Elder in 1957. He served as a student pastor in WV and GA, and as an Elder in Kansas. After retirement in 1991 he served two short term appointments in Gassaway and Flatwoods, WV. His last sustained service was as Stated Supply Pastor of the Presbyterian Church of our Savior, Clarksburg, WV. As a student in Seminary he was a Staff Counselor at the Georgian Clinic for the rehabilitation of Alcoholics, Atlanta, GA. He did his Clinical Education at Topeka State Hospital, KS, and received certification as a Clinical Chaplain. He was Director of Pastoral Care at Embreeville, State Hospital, West Chester, PA. for 10 years. Returning to WV he became the Director of the Substance Abuse Unit at Weston State Hospital and joined the Counseling staff of the Appalachian Institute in Bridgeport. WV. In 1979 he was appointed as the Chief of Chaplains at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, MA. In retirement he continued a practice in Pastoral Counseling. Friends will be received on Wednesday, April 4, 2012 from 2-4 & 6-8PM at the Poling-St. Clair Funeral Home. Funeral service will be held 11 AM, Thursday at the First United Methodist Church in Buckhannon with the Rev. Steven Meadows officiating. Burial will follow in the Buckhannon Memorial Park in Buckhannon. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts be made to Hall House and the Upshur Parish, Buckhannon, WV in pursuit of ongoing programs. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.polingstclair.com. Poling-St. Clair Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.