Rev. William “Bill” F. Burd, 86, of Winona Lake, Ind., passed away at 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013, at his residence.

He was born on Feb. 8, 1927, to William Burd Sr. and Esther (Weismer) Burd. On June 10, 1955, he was married to Geraldine “Gerri” Araminta Peil. They were married for 50 years before she preceded him in death on July 4, 2005. He remarried on Jan. 1, 2006, to Judith Reneker, who survives in Winona Lake.

Bill served in the United States Marine Corps from 1946-1948 and again from 1951-1952. He graduated in 1956 from Whitworth College in Spokane, Washington with a B.A. in History and Philosophy. In 1959 he received his Masters of Divinity from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh, Pa., and was ordained on June 21, 1959.

He served as a student assistant from 1956-1959 at the First Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh, Pa., and then as the Assistant Pastor from 1959-1961. He then moved and served as the Pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Holland, Mich. from 1961-1970; and as the Pastor at Wabash Presbyterian Church in Wabash, Ind., from 1970-1980.

From January 1981 – February 1984 he served as the Associate Pastor at the First Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and from February 1984-September 1989 he was the Pastor of the First Presbyterian of Aurora, Ill. He moved back to Indiana and served as the Interim Pastor for the First Presbyterian Church in Valparaiso, Ind., from September 1989-March 1990. From March 1990-November 1991 he was the Interim Pastor of Faith Presbyterian Church in Minnetonka, Minn.

When he moved to Warsaw, Ind., he was the Interim Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church denomination of Warsaw from January 1991-June 1992.

He was on the board of directors from 1966-1970 at the Holland, Michigan Area Chamber of Commerce; President of the Wabash Ministerial Association from 1975-1977; and served as Vice-President of the Wabash Area Chamber of Commerce from 1978-1979; and President from 1979-1980.

He had been a resident of Kosciusko County, Ind., for the past 10 years, where from 2004-2005 he helped bring the Warsaw First Presbyterian Church to become the Warsaw Evangelical Presbyterian Church. He enjoyed attending the fellowship of Men Following Christ.

He was a dedicated servant of the Lord, husband, father and grandfather. His presence and heart were larger than life and he will be deeply missed. He will be remembered for his warm plentiful hugs, infectious smile and healing of relationships; and especially his sense of humor.

He is survived by wife: Judith Burd, Winona Lake, Ind.; his son: James S. (Linda L.) Burd, Huntington, Ind.; daughter: Chayris I. Burd, Los Angeles, Calif.; three step-sons:  Randy (Sherri) Reneker, Warsaw; Rob (Chris) Reneker, Leesburg, Ind.; Rick (Kim) Reneker, Fort Wayne, Ind.; step-daughter: Renee (Sepass) Hernandez, Leesburg; three grandchildren: Christie, Jonathan and Lilie Burd; nine step-grandchildren: Travis (Megan) Reneker, Tyler (Tory) Reneker, Drake Spear, Nick Marsh, Trish, Adam, Katy, Megan and Ryan Reneker; three step-great grandchildren: Zack, Jordan, and Elijah Reneker; and his brother: Dick Burd, York, Pa.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his oldest brother: Dave Burd; and his first wife: Gerri A. Burd.

His memorial service will be conducted at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, at Warsaw Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 210 S. High St., Warsaw, and officiated by Pastor Erik Ohman. A private graveside service will take place at Oakwood Cemetery of Warsaw with Military Rites conducted by active duty Honor Guard.

Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of the church on Friday, Dec. 20. Arrangements were entrusted to Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home of Warsaw.

Memorial donations may be directed to Warsaw Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 210 S. High St., Warsaw, IN 46580; or to Kosciusko Home Care & Hospice, P.O. Box 1196, Warsaw, IN 46581-1196.