Rev. John G Rhinesmith

Rev. John G. Rhinesmith, age 87

Troy Rev. John G. Rhinesmith, age 87 of Mellon Avenue Troy, died at home on July 22 surrounded by his loving family. He was born on November 28,1916 in Suffern, New York, the son of the late Herbert and Mabel Kern Rhinesmith.

Rev. Rhinesmith graduated from Dickinson College in 1938 and Drew Theological Seminary in 1941. He was ordained an Elder of the United Methodist Church the same year and was appointed to his first church in Newark, New Jersey. A Navy veteran of World War II, Reverend Rhinesmith served as a chaplain in Nevada where he ministered to Marines returning from combat duty in the Pacific.

After the war he served churches in Dumont and Westwood, New Jersey before moving to Troy in 1961. While Pastor of Memorial United Methodist Church he oversaw construction of a new church building and in his retirement became the Pastor Emeritus of the church. In 1967 he became the Superintendent of the Bennington-Troy District serving in that capacity for six years. Upon completion of his term as Superintendent he was appointed to the Pine Grove United Methodist Church in Colonie, where he was the pastor until his retirement in 1982. In his retirement he continued to serve in various capacities in churches throughout the Capital District. The sixty-five years of his ministry were characterized by optimism and a belief in the individual's ability, by faith, to overcome limitations and to reach the potential for which they were created.

He is survived by his wife, Virginia Diehl Rhinesmith; his daughters, Jane Glassman, Ann Jampel (Robert), Martha Leoce (Michael), and Mary Lockwood (David), and three sisters, Betty Austin, Beverly Colgrove, and Lois Lindeman. He is also survived by three grandchildren, Matthew Glassman and his wife Sarah. Rebecca Glassman and her fiancee Jeffrey O'Shea, and Jonathan Jampel. He was predeceased by his wife, Mary Patterson Rhinesmith; his son-in-law, David Glassman; his two brothers, Herbert and Homer and his sister, Jane Hincks.

A memorial service will be held Sunday at 1:00 PM at the Calvary United Methodist Church Corner of Belle Ave & Ridge Place Latham with Rev. Arthur Hagy, Pastor of the Center Brunswick United Methodist Church, officiating. Relatives and friends may call at the Bryce Funeral Home Inc. 276 Pawling Avenue Troy on Saturday from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Contributions may be made in memory of Rev. Rhinesmith to The Community Hospice of Rensselaer County 295 Valley View Blvd. Rensselaer, NY 12144 or Center Brunswick United Methodist Church 990 Hoosick Road Troy, NY 12180 or Trinity United Methodist Church 215 Lancaster Street Albany, NY 12210.

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