Pastor Clemens B. Farver, age 100, resident of Washington Township, passed away peacefully in his sleep Friday, June 7, 2013 at Edinboro Manor after a short illness. Recently celebrating his 100th birthday, Clem was born March 21, 1913 in Erie, a son of the late Burt B. and Edith Pickett Farver. He was married in 1935 to Inez Porter who predeceased him in 1998, and subsequently, he married Phyllis Vogus Niles who survives.
In 1946, Clem accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior and his life was changed forevermore. Within a year, he was serving as part time pastor of Draketown Christian Church in Edinboro, several years later becoming a full time pastor at The Federated Church in East Springfield and also Stateline Church in Beaver Center. Most of his years pastoring were in Greenville, PA at the Maysville Community Church and Crossroads Community Church where he served 32 years, retiring in 1986. For many of those years he also hosted a radio program called “Miracle Moments”.
Clem was a man of God with many strong convictions– foremost, he believed and desired that all should come to know Christ; he believed that pastoring involved loving people and investing in their lives; and he believed in prayer and made it a daily priority in his life.
Clem was blessed to have a loving family and many friends. Even after his retirement while spending winters in Fort Myers, FL, he was privileged to serve as pastor to his community friends at Poinsettia Park. Clem also was known to be a strong Pittsburgh Pirates fan and a farmer at heart, faithfully planting, even in recent years, a large vegetable garden with plenty of asparagus.
Preceding him in death was his first wife, Inez Porter Farver; a sister, Ione Swift; and an infant granddaughter, Christina Farver.
Surviving family members include his second wife, Phyllis Vogus Niles Farver; six children– Gary Farver and wife Julie of Conneaut, OH, Thomas Farver and wife Phyllis of Davis, CA, Clemens Farver and wife Nancy of Columbus, OH, Sylvia Hallenbeck and husband Frank of Rochester, NY, Bonnie Shuster of Silver Springs, FL, and Louise Huntley of Ft. Worth, TX; four step-children– David Niles and wife Deborah of Jersey Shore, PA, Thomas Niles and wife Tammy of Floyd, VA, Nancy Jo Ralph and husband Dwight of Saegertown, PA, and Barbara Caldwell and husband Craig of Waterford, PA; 65 grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; and a brother, Col. John Burton Farver of Frisco, TX.
Visiting hours will be at the Van Matre Family Funeral Home, 306 Erie Street, Edinboro on Friday, June 14, from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. and the funeral service will be held at The Federated Church, 11995 Main Street, East Springfield, PA on Saturday, June 15 at 11:00 a.m. Officiating will be Pastors William Murrin, Ron Kennedy, and Rick Plucknett. Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made in Clem’s memory to Draketown Christian Church, 12460 Draketown Road, Edinboro, PA 16412.
Clem was a longtime family friend of my parents and grandmother for many years in Poinsettia park. They shared many good times and lots of stories. My wife and I were able to share in the celebration of his 100th birthday with his family in March at the park. Clem will be greatly missed. Our prayers anf sympathies to his family and to all who had the priviledge of knowing him.
Pastor Farver was a wonderful man. He dedicated myself as well as 2 other siblings. Growing up, we spent many happy times at his home with pizza 🙂 He was a rock for my grandmother Sallie til the day she passed. My sincerest sympathies to all family and friends, may you sleep well knowing this man left a magnificent impression upon everyone he met.