Rev. Roy Leon Trexler

Rev. Roy Leon Trexler, 87, passed away Thursday, June 14, 2018. He was born in Salisbury, NC on June 23, 1930, son of the late Nat F.H. Trexler and Clara Morgan Trexler. Rev. Trexler was baptized by Pastor Kenneth Hewett of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Rockwell, NC on September 7, 1930. He was an active member of St. Peter’s and Boy Scout Troop #79 of Granite Quarry. In six years, he obtained the Silver Palm and 15 merit badges above the Eagle Scout award. In scouting, he served as Scoutmaster, Patrol Leader, Cub Scout Leader, Order of the Arrow and Eagle Scout. Academic achievements include Granite Quarry High School 1949; Lenoir-Rhyne University A.B. degree; Lutheran Southern Seminary 1956; Catawba College Teaching Certification 1972; and UNCC degree, M.A. in Administration. He accrued three Master’s Degrees during 21 years public school teaching at Monroe Middle School. After his ordination, Roy served five congregations in the NC Lutheran Synod. They include Cross of Christ (Prosperity), Concord; St. Andrews in the Mountains, Andrews; Bethel and St. Paul’s, Crouse Parish and St. Mark’s, Salisbury. He served Cold Water Lutheran Church in Concord for eleven years as a “Tent-Making” minister; this while teaching full-time and earning a Master’s degree. In 1991, he retired from Monroe School System and the Lutheran Church in America (LCA). In 1956, Roy married Dorothy Shealy from Batesburg, SC. They were blessed with three children, who graced them with six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Each of those children is a college graduate. Kate graduated UNCG with a Bachelor’s in Nursing; Ruth followed with a double majors in Voice Performance and Music Education, and earned her Master’s in School Administration; and Paul served six years in the U.S. Navy and graduated Strayer University in Computer Science. Since Roy was the eldest grandson in both the Trexler and Morgan families, he grew up surrounded by an abundance of aunts and uncles who were not too much older than he. Those times were full of joy and love, sprinkled with plenty of work on the farms and construction work of both sets of grandparents. Our country was in the midst of WWII. Most of those uncles were in the Military, causing a need for help for those hard-working grandparents. The seminary class of 1956 was challenged to choose a scripture verse that they could devote toward their ministry. Roy chose Matthew 5:14 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Funeral service will be held Saturday, June 23, 2018 at 11:00 AM in St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, Monroe, NC, followed by burial at St. Peter’s Church Cemetery in Salisbury, NC at 2:30 PM. The family will visit with friends and relatives Friday, June 22, 2018 from 6:00 - 7:30 PM at Gordon Funeral Service, 1904 Lancaster Avenue, Monroe, NC. Rev. Trexler is survived by his wife of 62 years, Dorothy Shealy Trexler; children, Mary Katherine Harrelson (Mark) of Georgetown, SC, Martha Ruth Van Sciver (Michael) of Myrtle Beach, SC and Paul Andrew Trexler (Lynn) of Monroe; grandchildren, Krystal Collins Owens (Jimmy), Kristoffer Michael Collins (Emily), Kenneth Van Sciver-Hawthorne (Bart), Kathryn Van Sciver, Teri Trexler Johnson (Joe), Colleen Trexler Jordan (Adam) and Trevor Redding; six great-grandchildren, Bella Rose Collins, Scarlet Owens, Connor Collins, Rachel Faseler, Colton Faseler and Victoria Warford; sisters, Norma Jean Brown (James G.) and Carole Jeanette Lowman (Perry), both of Salisbury; many nieces and nephews; and very special friends, Ann and Marc Johl and L.D. and Ethel Ann Russell. The family would like to express their gratitude to Hospice of Union County for the care and compassion they shown for Roy and our family. Memorials may be made to St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, 909 Circle Drive, Monroe, NC 28112. Online condolences may be made at www.gordonfuneralservice.com Gordon Funeral Service and Crematory is caring for the Trexler family.