Rev. Benjamin H. Holtkamp

The Rev. Benjamin H. Holtkamp, pastor of Meadville churches for 24 years, died yesterday at the Smith Institute.  He was 67.

The Rev. Mr. Holtkamp, who organized the Meadville Gospel Center in 1932, had been inactive since June 25 when he was stricken by a stroke.

The Gospel Center, which had its rise in the midst of the depression and practiced as well as taught charity and neighborliness, was merged last July with the Calvary Baptist Church, Kerrtown.  The Rev. Mr. Holtkamp's illness and the need for expansion of the Kerrtown church prompted the merged congregations which have been served by the Rev. Roy T. Plank, pastor of Calvary.

The local minister is survived by his widow, Mrs. Olga Aegerter Holtkamp; two daughters, Miss Mildred Holtkamp of Meadville and Mrs. W. D. Herrstown of Faribault, Minn.; a grandson, Lyndon Herrstrom; and four sisters, Mrs. Bert Jones of Houston, TX, Mrs. Henry Haberkamp of Toledo, OH, Mrs. Elmer Kruse of St. Mary's, OH and Mrs. Henry Herkener of New Knoxville, OH.

The Rev. Holtkamp operated a religious book store in connection with the church.

He was ordained in the ministry at Helvetia, WV, on July 23, 1911.

He was born in New Knoxville, OH on April 3, 1886, he was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Herman Holtkamp.

He attended New Knoxville schools and was graduated from the Mission House College in Wisconsin and Central Seminary in Dayton, OH.

Services were held at Waid Funeral Home.

Interment was in Roselawn Memorial Gardens.