Rev. Richard Harrison Chamberlin passed away peacefully on July 9, 2025 at the Ephriam McDowell Medical Center in Danville, Kentucky.

Richard was born on his family’s farm near Mason City, Nebraska during the Great Depression. He is one of seven children of Wright & Emma Chamberlin. His childhood was established with daily Bible lessons with his mother and father and was shaped by the small Methodist church his family regularly attended in Mason City. Under the ministry of his Pastor Ms. Alice Elison, Richard sensed and accepted the call of God to ministry in the early 1950s.

He attended Asbury College and Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. While at Asbury, he says he "checked out the librarian and never returned her", referring to his beloved wife Virginia Kays Chamberlin.  Richard and Virginia were married on August 27, 1954.  Richard served at the Baptist Church in Mason City, Nebraska then moved to Kentucky with his new wife to begin faithfully serving Methodist churches in Kentucky includingChaplin/Greens Chapel, Bloomfield, Eminence, Covington St. Luke, Catlettsburg, Carlisle, Campton, Barbourville, Lancaster, and Frankfort St. Paul. Richard and Virginia were a beloved pastoral family at each of these churches. 

Richard demonstrated what loving devotion to your spouse & family really means. His wife Virginia was the center of his earthly world; he loved & adored her every day for the rest of her life and mourned her loss every day since her passing in 2018.  He always grew beautiful roses and other flowers and made sure to bring some into the house nearly every day for Virginia to enjoy. He always complimented her on meals, even if they were leftovers, and unfailingly spoke tenderly to her at all times. He never spoke a negative word about Virginia. 

Out of their marriage Richard and Virginia had 5 children, 13grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren.  Richard was proud of each of his five kids and what they achieved.  He was a loving grandfather who cared deeply for his grandkids and took the time to teach each of them so many things from history to politics to faith. 

Richard poured himself into his ministry. Over his 40 year career, he left every church better off than when he came. He was particularly interested in making sure the children and youth ministries were strong and often hired the first youth ministers these churches ever had. He always put churches on a growth path because he wanted to reach everyone no matter their color or social status. One of his biggest concerns with fellow pastors was their lack of focus, not reaching out to the community andtheir complacency to not make improvements where they served.  For the most part, pastors who led Richard’s former churches would say the high point of that church's lifespan was under his leadership. He was very loyal to the United Methodist system,submitting his own needs or ego to the greater good. He never sought to use churches as steppingstones to something better. He said you can't serve your church with one eye on where you are and the other eye on where you wish to be. He simply took what was handed to him and made it better. He never wanted celebrity or greatness, but he achieved both in his own sphere of life by serving unselfishly every day

Richard never met a stranger, and he made a point to stop andtalk to everyone. His family was always the last to leave anyevent because Ricard was talking to someone new and making them feel welcome. He had an incredible memory for people’s names and knew their family connections in a remarkable way. In restaurants, he would get the coffee pot and fill everybody's coffee; taking time to talk to each person . He was never ‘too good’ to talk to people and people were never below him. When visiting the hospital, he would visit random patients who didn’t have a pastor listed on their admission form to minister to them - even though he may never see them again. He would help people in need often taking money from his meager salary to help provide shelter and food. 

For the 20 years following his retirement, he was a substitute teacher in public schools where he touched the lives of kids from kindergarten through high school.  Any student he’s ever interacted with will happily tell you about the “Soap Story” or ask to trade a state quarter with you.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents Wright and Emma Chamberlin, brothers Calvin, Porter, Wayne, and Eldon Chamberlin and sister Emma Caroline Chamberlin. He is also preceded in death by his wife Virginia Kays Chamberlin, son-in-law Clark Siler, and grandson Brian Lewis.

Richard is survived by his sister Lila Peyton, Hotchkiss, Colorado; his children Anne Lewis, Hanover, Indiana; Carol Siler, Richmond, Kentucky; Laura (Randall) Williams, Lancaster, Kentucky; John (Susan) Chamberlin, Cold Spring, Kentucky; and Rev. Philip (Danna) Chamberlin, Port Neches, Texas; his grandchildren and step grandchildren Jessica (Jeff) Caicedo, Randi (Matt) McQueary, David (Kayla) Williams, Shelby Chamberlin, Jacob Chamberlin, Luke Chamberlin, Natalie (Eric) Gehrig, Rachel Putman, Adam Chamberlin, Megan (Ethan) Savarese, Jordan Hafner, and Kelsey Hafner; and his greatgrandchildren and step great grandchildren Gabriel and Trinity Caicedo, Spencer and Lincoln McQueary, Walker Williams, Jariah Short, Leon Gehrig, and Ezra Savarese.

Visitation will be on Friday, July 11, 2025 from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Spurlin Funeral Home in Lancaster, Kentucky. Funeral services will be Saturday, July 12, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. with Rev. Joshua Wiggs and Dr. Philip Chamberlin officiating.  Interment will immediately follow the service at Lancaster Cemetery.

Active pallbearers will be the grandchildren. Honorary pallbearers are the staff of Walker's Trail Senior Living Center.

Donations in his honor are suggested for Homeward Trail Bible Camp in Mason City, Nebraska.  Richard’s parents donated a portion of their family farm in the 1950s to establish this camp,which is still in operation today, to proclaim the Gospel to the children and youth of Central Nebraska.  https://homewardtrail.org/

“A charge to keep I have, a God to glorify, a never-dying soul to save, and fit it for the sky.” Charles Wesley