Hubert Golden Wardlaw

The Reverend Hubert Golden Wardlaw, Jr., age 78, passed away peacefully after a long illness on March 11, 2023. He was our beloved husband, brother, father, grandfather and dear friend to so many. We are grateful that he is mercifully finally at rest.

Known as "G." by his friends and "Bofa" to his family, Dad had the gift of being able to find common ground -- and often, a good joke -- with everyone he came in contact with. His wisdom, caring and compassionate nature made him a great communicator and also, one who inspired with his leadership and mentoring of others.

Born to Hubert Golden Wardlaw, Sr. and Anne Lee Jackson Wardlaw in Whitmire, South Carolina, G. was a brilliant student. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Presbyterian College in South Carolina and went on to earn his Master of Divinity degree at the Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia.

While serving as a summer intern at the First Presbyterian Church of Abilene, Texas, G. met and fell in love with Jan Wishcamper, an accomplished organist and musician. They were married in 1969, after G. graduated from Columbia Seminary and Jan graduated from Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene.

G. and Jan moved to Johnson City, Tennessee, where G. served as an Associate Pastor at First Presbyterian Church there. They next moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where G. served as an Associate Pastor at Second Presbyterian Church. Their son Matthew Edward Wardlaw was born while they were in Memphis. In due time, they moved to historic Natchez, Mississippi, where G. served as Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church. Another great Natchez moment for G., Jan, and Matt, was the birth of their daughter, Melanie Kay Wardlaw. Eventually, the First Presbyterian Church of Odessa, Texas issued a call to G., and G. and Jan, Matt and Melanie headed west. After Odessa, G. served in an interim capacity for two churches in Illinois, before moving to the Parma-South Presbyterian Church in Cleveland, Ohio for another installed pastorate. From there, G. served multiple interim pastorates in Michigan, Massachusetts, Florida, Minnesota, and in South Carolina before returning to their home in Cleveland.

G. was a multi-talented person. He was creative. He loved restoring vintage cars, taking on all sorts of building projects, and forever tinkering with electronics and sound systems. He was a devotee of classical music-in particular, not surprisingly, that of majestic pipe organs, especially when Jan was at the bench playing them. He loved to sing, as he had sung throughout college in the Presbyterian College Choir. And certainly, he had an unstoppable sense of clever and yes, occasionally corny humor, even in his last years.

Today, Dad is home. Your prayers are appreciated for G.'s wife Jan, his son Matthew and daughter-in-law Annie Zaleski, and his daughter Melanie Kay Wardlaw Merritt and son-in-law Michael and their two children Evan and Julia, dear Michelle Fung, husband Sam Reinhold and precious Henry Reinhold. We are grateful for and request additional prayers for his brother Ted and his wife, Kay, their daughters, Shelby and Claire. Please also pray for G.'s many cousins and relatives. Finally, our love and appreciation go out to Heather Recker -- you have been a part of our family since 1989 and we value the love and friendship you share with all of us, especially Dad and Mom.

A service will be held at Strongsville United Methodist Church 13500 Royalton Road, Strongsville, Ohio, on Saturday, Mar. 25 at 11am with a short reception following the service. Calling hours are scheduled on Friday, Mar. 24 from 4pm-7pm. In lieu of flowers, we encourage a donation to Kemper House in Strongsville and their Memory Care Fund. They have been wonderful and loving caregivers to Dad in the final stages of his journey. We have so much gratitude also for the Hospice of the Western Reserve.