Rev. Henry Charles Zimmerman

Rev. Henry Charles Zimmerman, 66, of Meadville, died Wednesday, June 5, 1996, at home, after an extended illness.

He was born in Erie, March 19, 1930, a son of the late Henry Charles and Helena McNees Zimmerman.  He married Nancy Perigo February 11, 1950.  She survives.

Rev. Zimmerman was a United Methodist Clergyman retiring in 1992.  He was a member of the Western PA Conference of the United Methodist Church having served churches in Cornell, IL, Titusville (Bethel United Methodist), Conneaut Charge, Pleasantville, Albion (Grace United Methodist), Meadville (Stone United Methodist0, Chippewa, Hermitage (Hickory United Methodist) and North Richmond-Teepleville Charge.  He was a 1948 graduate of Strong Vincent High School.  He attended Purdue University in the fall of 1948 where he received a full football scholarship.  He graduated from Allegheny College in 1959.  While at Allegheny he played football, was a member of Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity, and was an assistant football coach from 1955-59.  He received his Masters of Divinity Degree from Garrett Theological Seminary, Evanston, IL in 1965.  He also coached football at Conneaut Valley High School, Cornell High School, Cornell, IL, Northwestern High School, Albion, and Hickory High School, Hermitage.  He was a coach at Hickory High when they won the 1989 PA State Football Championship and it was also here that he coached Andre Coleman, who is now playing with the San Diego Chargers.

He was the former chairman of the Conference Council on Finance and Administration, of the Western PA Conference of the United Methodist Church; past president of the Board of Directors of Wesley Woods Church Camp; founder of the Rustic Camp at Wesley Woods; published United Methodist Curriculum; former Allegheny College Trustee; co-founder of the Meadville Area Assn. of Churches; past vice president of Meadville Area Ministerium; co-founder of the Meadville Soup Kitchen; former member of Meadville Parking Authority; past president of the Crawford County Community Action Assn.; Honorary Life member of the Albion VFD and a former Rotarian in Meadville and Hermitage.

Survivors, in addition to his wife, include three daughters, Debra Zimmerman of Glover, VT, Dawn Martin of Conneaut Lake and Diane Craven of Meadville; four sons, Steve of Meadville, Mark of Meadville, Jon of Moorpark, CA and Hank of Conneaut Lake; two brothers, Neal Zimmerman of Gainesville, FL and Carl Zimmerman of LeMore, CA and twelve grandchildren.

Services were held at Waid Funeral Home.

Interment was in Greendale Cemetery.