Friedrich, Roland
9/26/2011
ROLAND KENDALL FRIEDRICH
SEPTEMBER 4, 1927 – SEPTEMBER 26, 2011
Rev. Roland K. Friedrich passed away quietly at his Hopland, California home at the age of 84 surrounded by his family.
For more than 40 years, Rev. Friedrich served as an ordained elder in the Louisiana Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. His early pastorate was spent mostly in rural churches from 1951-1964. In 1964, Rev. Friedrich began serving as a Chaplain at Central Louisiana State Hospital. In 1989, after 25 years of service, Rev. Friedrich retired from the Central Louisiana State Hospital. At the time of his retirement, he was the Director of the Chaplain’s Department.
Rev. Friedrich then returned to serve the local church until his retirement from the Louisiana Annual Conference in 1991. Retirement did not indicate an end to his ministry, however. Rev. Friedrich continued to serve the ministry of the local church in various roles as substitute, supply and interim minister in the central Louisiana area. He continued to be a valued pastor, teacher and preacher at Horseshoe Drive UMC until this past year.
During his professional career, he devoted numerous hours to volunteer work. He had a key role in the founding and development of the Renaissance Group Home, a residential treatment facility for girls and boys in need of clinical services and housing in the central Louisiana area. He continued to sit on the board of directors for many years.
Rev. Friedrich received his bachelors of chemical engineering from Louisiana Tech in 1954. In 1963 he received his Masters of Divinity from Candler School of Theology, Emory University. Among his numerous credits were: Licensure of Marriage and Family Counseling and Supervisor within the Clinical Pastoral Education Credentialing Process whereupon he was responsible for training other ministers in clinical services. Upon his retirement from Central Louisiana State Hospital, Fred H. Baden, Mayor of the City of Pineville, Louisiana made a public proclamation declaring May 17, 1988 as “Rev. Roland Friedrich Day”.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Earline R. Friedrich; his son, Mark K. Friedrich; daughter, Christine H. Friedrich and son-in-law, Zachary J. Davis.
