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Former Seminary Trustee Enters Church Triumphant
April 27, 2010
COLUMBIA - Dr. Herman Woodrow Cauble Sr., 91, Bishop Emeritus of the South Carolina Lutheran Synod, ELCA, died Sunday, April 25, 2010, in Columbia, S.C. Bishop Cauble was born November 11, 1918, in Rowan County, N.C., the son of the late Luther C. Cauble and Pearl Safrit Cauble. A graduate of Lenoir-Rhyne College in Hickory, N.C. and of the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary (Class of 1943) in Columbia, S.C., he was ordained a minister into the United Lutheran Church in America in 1943. He did additional graduate work at Chicago School of Theology and at the University of South Carolina. In 1970, Newberry College awarded him an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree. He also was presented the Distinguished Service Award in 1987 and the Algernon Sidney Sullivan Award in 1990 by Newberry College.
Bishop Cauble served as pastor to three congregations: St. John's, Salisbury, N.C., St. John's, Concord, N.C. and Ascension Church in Columbia, before being elected by the S.C. Lutheran Synod in 1965 to serve as full-time Secretary. In 1971, he was elected President of the Synod, which title was changed to Bishop in 1980. He retired as Bishop at the end of 1987, at which time he was given the distinguished title of Bishop Emeritus by the Synod.
Dr. Cauble served for 30 years on the Lutheran Seminary Board and chaired the committee for the location and building of Christ Chapel as well as several other campus buildings. Each year, an award bearing his name is given to a member of the seminary faculty for distinguished service.
He served on the boards at the Lowman Home, Lutheridge and Newberry College. He gave leadership to the establishment of Kinard Camp and Conference Center near Leesville, S.C. and the Lutheran Coastal Retreat Center on Isle of Palms, S.C. Nationally, he served for 7 years on the Board of Pensions for the LCA and as Secretary of its board. He was a representative of the Lutheran Council USA. Bishop Cauble served as delegate to the conventions of the national church nine times. He was a member of St. Andrews Lutheran Church in Columbia, S.C., for 44 years.
Bishop Cauble served on the Columbia Parks and Recreational Foundation Board, was active in the support of programs for the Boy Scouts and the Lutheran Student Associations at USC and Clemson. He was an honorary member of the Columbia Downtown Rotary Club and a three-time Paul Harris Fellow. He was a patron of the South Carolina Philharmonic Symphony and a member of the Evening Music Club in Columbia.
Bishop Cauble is survived by his wife of 66 years, Elizabeth Petrea Cauble; four children, Herman W. Jr. (Woody) of Cincinnati, Ohio, Dr. Charles E. Cauble of Greenville and Charleston, Cynthia (Cindy) Perry of Clinton, S.C., Susandale Brown (Mrs. John W.) of Irmo, S.C.; eight grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 28, 2010, at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church in Columbia, S.C. Visitation with the family will immediately follow the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials to Bishop Cauble may be made to the Cauble Distinguished Faculty Award Fund at the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, 4201 N. Main Street, Columbia, SC 29203 or to St. Andrew's Lutheran Church, 1416 Broad River Road, Columbia, S.C. 29210, or to the charity of one's choice.
