Edward Poling Obituary

Rev. Edward Poling

October 10, 1947 - January 6, 2025

Reverend Edward Lee Poling died at the age of 77 on January 6, 2025 at Doey's House in Hagerstown, MD. He died from cancer which he said made him grateful for all the moments he was alive. He was born on October 10, 1947 in Staunton, VA to Newton Lyon Poling and Virginia Dare (Smith) Poling. He graduated from Pennsylvania State University (1969), Bethany Theological Seminary (1971) and Gettysburg Theological Seminary (1992). At Shalem Institute, he completed the 1999 Group Leaders Program and the 2001 Graduate Program in Christian Spiritual Guidance. He is preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by Marjorie, his wife of 55 years, two sons Chandler (Stefanie) and Travis (Karen), three grandchildren (Elias, Mariam, and John), and siblings James (Nancy), Harry (Ann), and Rebecca (Philip) Karras.

Ed was beloved by many in the communities where he lived and served. From 1969 to 2013, he worked a variety of ministry positions: as a director of Camp Eder and Camp Swatara in PA, and pastor at Church of the Brethren congregations in Myersville and Hagerstown, MD, and Waynesboro and Carlisle, PA. He served on the board of many organizations, including Bethany Theological Seminary and Hagerstown Area Religious Council.

Ed volunteered countless hours and raised thousands of dollars for work he believed in. Very often he would challenge others to sponsor or join him in running, hiking, or biking for charities that filled basic human needs such as Micah's Backpack. In 2012, he began the HARC Hike to support the programs of Hagerstown Area Religious Council. Individually, Ed raised over $45,000 for HARC and its mission.

As a pastor, Ed inspired others, through his own actions, to do what they could to make the world a better place. He organized work camps, interfaith community picnics, educational trips, and countless other events to benefit those within and beyond the local church. In the months following September 11, 2001, he worked with HARC to initiate interfaith conversations among local Islamic, Jewish, Christian, and other faith communities. He helped to organize the Dunker Church Service held every fall during the anniversary of the Antietam Battle. As a spiritual director trained through Shalem Institute, Ed mentored many individuals in their spiritual growth. In his retirement, he played guitar, flute, and other instruments around the Hagerstown area, wrote numerous spiritual songs, and took music classes at Hagerstown Community College and Common Ground on the Hill. He initiated the Tri-State Drum Circle at the UU Church in Hagerstown, teaching all who came how to find their own rhythm within the group.

An avid runner for forty years, Ed logged over 60,000 miles in daily runs and occasional races. He finished the JFK 50 Mile ultramarathon in Washington County, MD, eighteen times. His love for the outdoors spread to hiking the Appalachian Trail, walking the C&O Canal Towpath, kayaking on the Potomac River, watching birds at the many feeders out his back door, and traveling around the country to explore natural areas with family and friends. Every new trip or encounter was an adventure to Ed.

Because cooperation across religious differences was so vital to who Ed was, the family requests donations in his memory be sent to HARC or a church, synagogue, mosque or other religious community of your choice.

A Memorial Service will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, February 1, 2025, at Hagerstown Church of the Brethren in Hagerstown, MD. The service will be preceded by visitation with the family at 10 a.m. and followed by a luncheon with a period of sharing memories of Ed together.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Douglas A. Fiery Funeral Home, 1331 Eastern Blvd. North, Hagerstown, MD.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.douglasfiery.com.