Switzer - George W. - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Death came suddenly to Dr. George W. Switzer, 85, pioneer member of the Northwest Indiana conference and widely known Methodist clergyman and business man as he sat upon the porch of his summer home on the Battle Gound Assembly grounds, Tuesday afternoon about 3:30 o’clock.  Although in failing health for several years, he remained active and was awaiting the arrival of a friend, whom he had planned to accompany to Lafayette when he was stricken. Because of business connections Dr. and Mrs. Switzer since his retirement from the active ministry have maintained an apartment in St. Joseph Mich as well as their summer home at Battle Ground. They arrived from St. Joseph a week ago. Last Sunday they attended the annual Switzer reunion at the Elmer Switzer home in Otterbein.  Rev. Switzer being the sec-treas of this group.  Earlier that day he had preached a sermon at the Otterbein Methodist Church, where 62 years ago as a youth and student at DePauw University he had first appeared on the pulpit.

Born on a farm in Shelby Township Nov 2, 1854 he was the 7th of a family of 10 children of Peter and Catherine (Shambaugh) Switzer whose parents came to Tipp Co in 1828.  Dr. Switzer spent his early youth on the home farm and attended the public schools and DePauw University graduating in 1881.  Shortly thereafter he went abroad to represent the YMCA at a world convention. During his stay at DePauw he preached two years in the old Greencastle circuit. Returning from Europe he was married to Miss Lida Westfall, daughter of the late Harvey Westfall.  The first home of Dr. and Mrs. Switzer was at Plainfield where he served as Methodist pastor two years going next to Shawnee Mound, then Crawfordsville and Brazil from where he was transferred to W Lafayette in 1895. During his six years pastorate here the present First Methodist Church was erected. From 1901-1908 he was pastor of the Methodist Church at LaPorte, returning to Lafayette to become superintendent of the Methodist District. Duncan Memorial Hall stands on the site of the Switzers’ former home in this city.

Other appointments of the distinguished minister included financial agent of the YMCA, corresponding sec of Methodist Hospitals, a one-year pastorage of Stidham Memorial Church and of Epworth Church, South Bend. He also served the Ohio Methodist Conference for two years as assistant to the pastor of one of the largest church in Cleveland. He was president of the Battle Ground Assembly 1926-31.  He retired in 1932.  Dr. Switzer took great interest in YMCA affairs serving as president of the Laf association for six years and during the erection of the present YMCA structure. He twice served as VP of the state YMCA and president for one year. In 1908 he was a delegate to the general Methodist Conference at Baltimore. Besides his ministerial affiliations Dr. Switzer had large farm interests, was a director and VP of the old American Bank and held large interests at one time in the Baker-Vawter company, a nationally known printing concern of Michigan.  He was active in many groups and organizations including Beta Theta Pi fraternity into which he was initiated at DePauw, April 16, 1877. He is affiliated as one of the Fraternal Fifties of Beta Theta Pi. Last Dec he received an honorary Phi Beta Kappa degree from DePauw upon whose board of trustees he served for several years.  He is also a member of the Montgomery Lodge No 50, F&AM; the Crawfordsville Chapter Royal Arch Masons, Montgomery Council 34, P&SM and Crawfordsville Commandry 25, Knights Templar and a complimentary member of the Kiwanis Club at St. Joseph, Mich. Surviving with Mrs. Switzer are two children, Mrs. Glenn W. Shook, Norton, Mass and Vincent W. Switzer of Benton Harbor, Mich; also one grandchildren, Elizabeth Shook, Norton Mass.  He also leaves two brothers, the Rev. William F. Switzer, Gary and Elmer Switzer, Otterbein.  The body is at the Bradshaw Funeral Home, pending funeral arrangements which will include services in the tabernacle on the Battle Ground Assembly with burial at Montmorenci. - kbz