wfn.org | [ENS] Retired Bishop Robert J. Hargrove of Western Louisiana dies

["Matthew Davies" <mdavies@episcopalchurch.org>]

Friday, May 20, 2005

Retired Bishop Robert J. Hargrove of Western Louisiana dies at 67

ENS 052005-1

[ENS, Source: Diocese of Western Louisiana] -- The Rt. Rev. Robert
Jefferson
Hargrove, second Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Western Louisiana
(retired), died Thursday, May 19, at his home in Pineville, Louisiana,
after
a long illness. He was 67 years old.

Bishop Hargrove was a native of Kentucky, and a lover of his country who
earned his Eagle Scout and God and Country awards by the age of 13. A
graduate of Kentucky's Georgetown College with a bachelor's degree in
music
and education, he was active in the college's a cappella choir. Much of
their singing was done at churches and schools. Another member of that
group
was Linda Sprankle, whom Hargrove married in 1957.

The Hargroves moved to the Kansas City area where he studied at Central
Baptist Theological Seminary and pastored DeSoto Baptist Church in
DeSoto,
Kansas. He received his degree from Central Theological Seminary in
1965.

"It was during this period that we discovered the Episcopal Church,"
said
Hargrove in a 1989 interview. "We were 'secretly' confirmed (that is,
without the knowledge of those in DeSoto) at the Episcopal Cathedral in
Topeka before my last Sunday, when my final act at DeSoto Baptist Church
was
to baptize 25 people in the Kaw River. After that Linda and I loaded our
belongings into a borrowed truck, and moved to Evanston, Illinois, where
I
began my studies at Seabury Western Seminary. It was the beginning of a
whole new phase of our lives," recalled Hargrove.

Ordained a deacon and priest in 1967, Father Hargrove began ordained
ministry in the Episcopal Church as assistant to the dean of Trinity
Cathedral in Davenport, Iowa. He served in West Palm Beach, Florida,
before
becoming rector of St. Andrew's in Grand Prairie, Texas, in the Diocese
of
Dallas. He later was named Canon to the Ordinary in that diocese.

The Hargroves' next call was to Grace Church in Madison, Wisconsin, in
the
Diocese of Milwaukee. In 1980, the Hargroves came to Grace Church in
Monroe
in the Diocese of Western Louisiana, and in 1987, he become rector of
Church
of the Ascension in Lafayette, Louisiana, in the same diocese.

Hargrove was elected coadjutor of Western Louisiana and consecrated
bishop
in 1989, and was installed as diocesan in 1990 upon the retirement of
the
Rt. Rev. Willis Henton, first Bishop of Western Louisiana.

Hargrove's tenure as diocesan of Western Louisiana encompassed years of
upheaval in the Episcopal Church, but a major part of his episcopate
involved the strengthening of ministries within his diocese. He was a
strong
supporter of expanded programs for youth. He also recognized the need
for
strengthening the ties between the congregations in his far flung
diocese,
which stretched from the Arkansas border to the Gulf of Mexico. Towards
that
end, in the fall of 1995, after more than two years of study, debate and
discernment, a special session of Diocesan Convention okayed an
ambitious
renovation and enlargement of the diocese's camping facility. Today the
revitalized Hardtner Camp & Conference Center is the acknowledged center
of
scores of diocesan ministries and a growing retreat favorite of
congregations in the diocese.

As his retirement neared, the structure at the Conference Center most
identified with youth ministry was renamed "Hargrove House" in
recognition
of his leadership in the renewal of the camp and his unwavering support
of
youth work.

Hargrove's efforts to help the poor and disadvantaged resulted in the
establishment of The Delta Ministry centered in Waterproof, Louisiana,
serving northeast Louisiana parishes abutting the Mississippi River. By
marshalling national grant resources and manpower and financial gifts
from
parishes within the Diocese of Western Louisiana, The Delta Ministry was
able to deliver medical care, nutrition and education resources, and
self
help programs to residents of the poorest, most disadvantaged area in
Louisiana. The Diocese of Western Louisiana has its offices in Pineville
and
its cathedral in Shreeveport.

The Bishop's School for Ministry, for those with a call to expanded
ministry
in their lives, took root and flourished under Bishop Hargrove's
tutelage.
Programs that emphasized and strengthened women's ministries were also
greatly encouraged by Bishop Hargrove.

Wherever he served, Bishop Hargrove's biblical preaching and teaching
soon
became well known. "He makes it look so easy," was a comment often heard
describing one of his presentations. Few realized how important study
and
preparation were to him, and the importance he placed on being prepared
for
this facet of his ministry.

Bishop Hargrove's June 2001 call for a coadjutor was followed by the
election of the Rt. Rev. D. Bruce MacPherson the following spring.
Hargrove
retired on November 1, 2002, during Western Louisiana's diocesan
convention.
MacPherson was installed as diocesan the following day.

Maintaining their home in Pineville, Louisiana, the Hargroves settled
into
retirement and visited family members across the country, something that
had
not been possible before, given Hargrove's busy schedule.

Bishop Robert Hargrove is survived by Linda, his wife of 47 years, three
sons: Robert J. III of Simi Valley, CA; Timothy of Mandeville, LA; and
Jonathan of Longmont, CO; by his mother, Mrs. Mildred Hargrove Divine of
Phoenix, AZ; and by brothers, Dr. Terry K. Hargrove of Tucson, AZ, and
Roger
T. Hargrove of Phoenix, AZ; and grandchildren, Alex, Devin, Ian and
Genevieve.

There will be a visitation in the nave of St. James Episcopal Church in
Alexandria, LA, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 24, 2005.
A
Requiem Eucharist will take place at 11:00 a.m. with the Rev. Walter J.
Baer, rector of Grace Church, New Orleans as homilist and the Rt. Rev.
D.
Bruce MacPherson presiding and celebrating. A reception will follow in
the
parish hall.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Bishop Robert J.
Hargrove Memorial Fund at the Hardtner Camp & Conference Center, P. O.
Box
640, Pollock, LA, or the St. Francis Cabrini Hospice, 3330 Masonic
Drive,
Alexandria, LA 71301, Attn: Hospice.

[A photograph accompanying this article can be found online at:
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_62267_ENG_HTM.htm]

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