Rev. Samuel William Schmitthenner Collection

Rev. Samuel William Schmitthenner was born on February 23, 1928 in Rajamundry, India to missionaries August Frederick and Marian (Eyster) Schmitthenner. He received an A.B. from Gettysburg College in 1948, a Bachelor of Divinity from Gettysburg Seminary in 1951, and was ordained that same year by Central Pennsylvania Synod. He also received an honorary Doctor of Divinity from Gettysburg College in 1977.

After seminary, Rev. Schmitthenner received a called by the Lutheran Church in America to serve the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church (AELC) in India, where he served as a parish pastor, evangelistic missionary, and a surveyor of parishes for thirty years. He also served as President of the AELC from 1969-1981. In 1982 he accepted a call to be pastor of Faith United Lutheran Parish in Claysburg, PA where he served until his retirement in 1991.

After retirement, Rev. Schmitthenner became a member of St. James Lutheran Church in Gettysburg, PA and was a supply pastor for the Central Pennsylvania Synod. He passed away on May 17, 2015.