John Edward Ewald

John Edward (Jack) Ewald, age 71, died at home in Hagerstown, Md., Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, surrounded by his family. The cause was acute myeloid leukemia.

Born Oct. 28, 1940, in Hagerstown to Anna Krapf and Edward Ewald, he attended Allegany High School, American University and Wesley Theological Seminary. Jackâ??s ministry began as a student pastor at the Flintstone Charge in Allegany County, Md.; from there, he went to St. Andrews in Hagerstown, First United Methodist Church of Hyattsville and Calvary United Methodist Church of Mount Airy. He retired from Potomac United Methodist Church in 2006, after nearly 50 years of ministry.

The love of Jackâ??s life was his wife of 50 years, Barbara, whom he married June 16, 1962. He is survived by Barbara and their three children and six grandchildren: son and daughter-in-law, John Ewald and Vicky Starnes of Fulton, Md.; son, David Ewald of Annapolis, Md.; and daughter and son-in-law, Michelle and Mark Hurwitz of Hagerstown. Grandchildren are Hannah and Jacob Ewald, Anna and Matthew Ewald, and Rebekah and Grace Hurwitz.

As a member of the Baltimore Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church, Jack served on the board of church and society and the board of ordained ministry, spending several years as conference relations chair. He was also a member of the Lions Club in Hagerstown and in Washington, D.C. While serving at St. Andrews, Jack facilitated the organization of the Community Action Council, and during his tenure at First United Methodist Church of Hyattsville, he facilitated the department of the Second Mile House, a safe haven for runaways. When Jack served Potomac United Methodist Church, he followed the churchâ??s lead to design and build a new education wing.

The viewing will be Wednesday, Sept. 26, at John Wesley United Methodist Church, 129 N. Potomac St., Hagerstown, from 6 to 9 p.m. Services will be Thursday, Sept. 27, at John Wesley United Methodist Church at 11 a.m. Immediately following the service is the interment and reception at Rest Haven Cemetery, 1601 Pennsylvania Ave., Hagerstown. Family and friends are invited to attend.

Memorial contributions are welcome, and should be mailed to Hospice of Washington County, 747 Northern Ave., Hagerstown, MD 21742 or to Kimmel Cancer Center, 100 N. Charles St., Suite 234, Baltimore, MD 21201.

Thanks to Dr. Kass of John Marsh Cancer Center, and the staff and volunteers at Hospice of Washington for their support.