Obituaries

Rev. Dr. Albert L. Sauls passed away peacefully with family by his side on Sunday Nov. 17 in Panama City Beach FL. after a brief illness. He was 93.

He passed away around the time he would have finished delivering one of his impactful and meaningful Sunday sermons during his many years as a pastor. Truly a man that walked by faith he loved the Lord and believed and trusted in God’s divine providence and purpose in all aspects of his life, demonstrating and living his faith every day until he was called home by his Heavenly Father. He was the embodiment of faith for many that knew him.

Born Sept. 15, 1931, to Eric and Delma Sauls in Durham NC he was the 5th of 7 children. He spent his early years in Durham and would share stories of how he and his brothers would go door to door selling eggs and bottles of Coca-Cola for a nickel. The family moved from Durham to Newport News VA during his school years. After finishing school, he enlisted in the US Air Force serving 4 years stationed on the island of Guam. After his honorary discharge from the service, he returned home to Newport News in Nov. 1952. It was just days later that his sister Hazel invited him to go on a double date and introduced him to her best friend from high school, Loretta Mae Smith. He was immediately smitten with her and asked her to marry him after only 2 dates. While Loretta was hoping for a spring wedding, he did not want to wait that long for his bride and insisted that they get married right after the holidays. They were married just 2 months later on Jan.9, 1953. They would have celebrated an amazing 72 years of marriage this coming January. Their lifetime of enduring and unwavering love and devotion was evidenced by the fact that they were never apart from one another except for one 5-day period when Loretta was called to lead a disaster relief team down South in the early 1980’s.

Right after their marriage he started work at the Newport News shipyard while Loretta started working at Langley Air Force Base.  It was during this first year of marriage that he felt a calling to go into the ministry. He enrolled in the pre seminary program at Bethany Theological Seminary in Oak Brook IL. After completion of this year-long program he enrolled in Bridgewater College in Bridgewater VA earning his BA degree in 1957. From there he entered full time into seminary school at Bethany Theological Seminary earning his Masters of Divinity degree MDiv in 1960. During his years in seminary, he held his first summer pastorate at a small country Church of the Brethren in Madison VA. It was there that he and Loretta formed a lifetime of friendships and a love for the area, eventually building their retirement home there many years later. He served many small churches on the weekends throughout the VA. area during his seminary years.

He was called to his first full time pastorate in 1960 to the Peters Creek Church of the Brethren in Roanoke VA. It was there that he and his wife Loretta welcomed their daughter Kathy in 1960 and their son Michael in 1962. After his 6 years of service at Roanoke he went on to pastor several more churches. He was pastor at the Oakton Church of the Brethren in Oakton VA from 1966-1970. In 1970 he accepted the call and moved his family out to the state of Washington where they would enjoy a fruitful and meaningful 9 years while he served as pastor of the Wenatchee Brethren Baptist Church United in Wenatchee WA. from 1970-1979. It was during these years that he entered the doctoral program at Bethany Theological Seminary earning his Doctorate in Ministry DMin in 1976. In 1979 he received a call to pastor a large church congregation in Ephrata PA. Once again, he moved his family across the country back to the East coast where he would serve as the full time pastor for the Ephrata Church of the Brethren in Ephrata PA. It would be his longest and last full-time pastorate, serving from 1979-1992. It was in 1992 that he retired from full-time ministry and he and his wife Loretta moved from their home in Ephrata back to their much loved Madison County VA to enjoy their retirement years.

While “retired“ he was called back into active ministerial work serving in various roles and positions at the district level for the Church of the Brethren and was actively involved in the pastor to pastor program. During this time, he also served as an interim pastor at several churches in the Virginia area as well as churches in the Lancaster County PA area. He was called upon once again to pastor at the Ephrata Church of the Brethren during a period of transition in 2001-2002.

In 2005 he and Loretta moved from their country home in Madison VA to Yorktown VA to be closer to their son Mike and his family. During their years in the Yorktown area, he served as interim pastor for the Ivy Farms Church of the Brethren and Parkview Baptist Church in Newport News VA. as well as teaching Sunday School at Orcutt Baptist Church in Newport News VA. where he and Loretta attended for 20 years. He continued to preach and teach well into his eighties.

His 58 years of ministry have been a testament to his life of exemplary service and commitment to the Lord. He touched many lives during his years of ministry with his leadership, guidance, integrity and strength. His wisdom and intellect combined with his caring and supportive presence made him a much beloved pastor in all of the many congregations he served. A “pastors pastor”, he was a well-respected pillar of the community.

In addition to his ministry, he and his wife Loretta were avid travelers, traveling extensively, visiting many different countries and enjoying many memorable trips throughout their marriage. Some of the highlights were their 2 trips to the Holy Land and his course of study while on sabbatical in Salamanca Spain. They also led several tour groups throughout Europe during the 1980’s-1990’s. They enjoyed many years of traveling across the country in their RV as well. During their years in Washington state, they enjoyed many of the outdoor activities the area had to offer. They especially enjoyed boating on the lake, long bike rides, camping and snowshoeing. An avid and enthusiastic golfer as well, he played for many, many years and had the privilege of playing on The Old Course at St. Andrews in Scotland, one of his favorite memories.

A sharp dresser, he took great care and effort in dressing well every day even if just sitting at home but especially on Sundays.

A meticulous and particular person his whole life he had the uncanny ability to spot a spec of lint on the carpet and would not rest until he had picked it up.

His ever-present warm and genuine smile will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved him

In May of this year, he and his wife Loretta moved from their home in Yorktown VA to Panama City Beach FL. to be near their son again.

He was predeceased by his parents and all of his siblings. He is survived by his wife Loretta, daughter Kathy Sauls Zeigler, son Michael and daughter-in-law Julie Sauls, 5 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.

A private graveside service will be held at the Peninsula Memorial Park in Newport News VA.

As a proud and dedicated alumnus and lifelong benefactor to Bridgewater College we ask that those who wish to honor his life do so by making a donation in his name to Bridgewater College: Albert L. & Loretta S. Sauls Learning Services Endowment Fund.