Elbridge Bartley Jr.

Elbridge W. Bartley Jr., 100, formerly of Sikeston, Missouri, died Monday, April 10, 2017, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau.

Born July 20, 1916, in Kansas City, Missouri, to the late Elbridge W. Bartley Sr. and Anne Conway Weber Bartley, he was the son of a Methodist minister, becoming acquainted early on with the practice and habit of moving often and living frugally and thus well prepared to continue this transitory lifestyle for the 41 years of his own ministry, becoming the sixth generation of Methodist ministers in the Weber family.

Upon graduation from Smith-Cotton High School in Sedalia, Missouri, Dr. Bartley entered Central College (now Central Methodist University) planning to become a college professor. He graduated in 1937, after having felt “the call” and made the decision to become a minister instead and was then successfully recruited to Vanderbilt Divinity School by Dean Umphrey Lee, graduating from that institution in 1940. Later, he would be instrumental in helping his classmates fund the Umphrey Lee Dean’s Award, which has risen from humble beginnings to a prestigious graduation award.

Dr. Bartley’s first church appointment was to Roanoke Church in Kansas City, where he met a young nursing student in his congregation who soon would become his wife. On Aug. 5, 1943, at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, he was married to Geraldine Hiatt Bartley, who preceded him in death Oct. 26, 2001. Marriage and ministry soon were interrupted by the war, as Dr. Bartley enlisted in the Navy, serving from 1944 to 1946 as a lieutenant commander Naval-Marine chaplain in the Pacific Front.

Dr. Bartley resumed his preaching career upon his return in 1946, serving pastorates in nine Missouri towns and cities, as well as a four-year term as district superintendent of the Poplar Bluff-Sikeston District.

Widely regarded as a capable, competent and extremely creative minister and a powerful pulpit preacher, Dr. Bartley was much sought after as a guest speaker and revival preacher. These same traits, combined with executive expertise and a fierce persevering commitment to the completion of any task required of him, were directly responsible for his many assignments to churches contemplating mergers or building and remodeling. These same qualities lead to his being chosen in 1956 to join the Lawrence LaCouer Missionary Team, at work in Japan. He always regarded his summer’s work there planting a church with the help of a young Japanese Christian and a Japanese interpreter, as the most rewarding work of his entire ministerial career. When he returned to the States, he continued to raise money for that small congregation and 10 years later they were able to build a church building. That friendship resulted in over 50 years of uninterrupted Christmas-card exchanges (continuing into 2016) between the blossoming Japanese congregation and the beloved “funny” American pastor.

Dr. Bartley retired in 1981, serving periodically as an interim pastor for several small churches until being tapped by First United Methodist Church in Sikeston to spearhead the development of its Stephen Ministry Program, this at the “young” age of 85 years.

Thirty years after his graduation from Central College with a B.A., his beloved alma mater, Central Methodist College (in its second iteration of names), bestowed on him the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity. It was one of so many proud moments throughout his life for him and his family. The Rev. Dr. Elbridge Wesley Bartley Jr. goes now to his eternal rest and reward in Heaven having faithfully and steadfastly served his Lord and Savior.

Dr. Bartley is survived by four sons, Elbridge Wesley Bartley of Overland Park, Kansas, William Edwin Bartley of Las Cruces, New Mexico, John Paul Bartley of Ecuador and Robert Benton Bartley of Ironton, Missouri; one daughter, Linda Bartley Ault of Charleston, Missouri; 10 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

In addition to his wife and parents, one brother, John Granville Bartley, and one sister, Betty Ann Rockey, preceded him in death.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until time of funeral services at 11 a.m. Tuesday at First United Methodist Church. The Rev. Mike Wondel and the Rev. Geoff Posegate will be officiating. Burial will be in Old Lorimier Cemetery in Cape Girardeau, under the direction of Ponder Funeral Home.

In Lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to First United Methodist Church, 1307 N. Main St., Sikeston, MO 63801; Charleston United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 351, Charleston, MO 63834; or Grace United Methodist Church, 521 Caruthers Ave., Cape Girardeau, MO 63701.