Obituary: Underhill, Pastor Edward J.
1928 - 2014 Pastor Ed Underhill met his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in the early hours of Monday, April 21, after a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s disease.
He put his faith in Jesus Christ as a child, growing up in Seattle, then devoted himself to leading Bible clubs as a high-school student.
During college at Whitworth, he preached at the Sunset Presbyterian Church, near Dusty, WA.
After graduating from Dallas Theological Seminary (1952), he served as youth pastor at Central Presbyterian Church (Seattle) and was Washington State President of Christian Endeavor.
In 1959 he became pastor of youth and Christian education at Fourth Presbyterian Church (now Fourth Memorial Church) in Spokane.
In that capacity he assumed a leading role in the development of Riverview Bible Camp.
In 1963 Ed became Senior Pastor at Fourth Memorial Church, a position which he held until his retirement in 1989.
During that time he served in the leadership of the Greater Spokane Association of Evangelicals, helped found Inland Empire School of the Bible (now Moody Bible Institute), was heavily involved with the leadership team for the Billy Graham Crusade (1982), and led Fourth Memorial to start Valley Fourth Memorial Church and Northview Bible Church.
He often preached three services on Sunday mornings which were broadcast by radio all over the Inland Northwest.
Ed is survived by his wife of 62 years, Elaine; four sons, John (Carolyn), Ron (Gail), Don (Wendy) Ed (JoAnn); fifteen grandchildren, Alissa Underhill, Stephanie (Thomas) Wright, Mark (Jennifer) Underhill, Melanie (Luke) Jordan, Luke (Andrea) Underhill, Seth (Marisa) Underhill, Nathan Underhill, Zachary (Jessica) Underhill, Abigail (Dalton) Wynne, Brian Underhill, Kelly Underhill, Bradley Underhill, Emily Underhill, Margaretta Underhill, Peter Underhill, as well as great-grandchildren.
A memorial service is planned for 2:00 p.m., Saturday, April 26 at Fourth Memorial Church, 2000 N. Standard, Spokane.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be given to Camp Bighorn, P.O.
Box 4, Paradise, MT 59856.