Polley

Rev. Dr. Stephen Lamont Polley, 85, a resident of the Sherwood Oaks Retirement Community in Cranberry Township, died Wednesday surrounded by his loving family.

Born Dec. 30, 1927, in Transfer, Pa., he was the son of the late Hasson L. and C. Mabel (Slater) Polley.

Stephen was a 1945 graduate of the New Castle High School. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Army. In 1951, he earned his B.S. in commerce from Grove City College. In 1954, he earned his bachelor of divinity from the Pittsburgh Xenia Seminary and his master of theology in 1959. In 1975, he received his doctorate of ministry from the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, where he was awarded the distinguished alumni award for pastoral service in 2002.

He was called to the Mt. Jackson United Presbyterian Church in New Castle from 1954 to 1957. For more than 26 years, he served at the Northmont United Presbyterian Church in the North Hills until 1984. In 1996, he was awarded pastor emeritus at the Northmont United Presbyterian Church. He proudly acted as the Beaver-Butler Executive Presbyter from 1984 to 1996. From 1996 to 2002, Stephen served as the pastor for ministries of care at the Cranberry United Presbyterian Church. He was the pastor for pastoral care at the Calvin Presbyterian Church until 2011.

In 1967, he was the moderator of the Pittsburgh Presbytery. From 1981 to 1984, he also served on the committees of the general assembly the mission council, the synod general mission committee and on the board of directors at the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary from 1989 to 1991. In 2003, he was awarded emeritus status of the board of directors of the seminary.

He was a member of the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary alumni council from 1995 to 2009.

In May 1993, Stephen was recognized by the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary as the distinguished pastor in residence. He was a member of the Ecumenical Development Cooperative Society, EDCS, now known as Oikocredit. From 1997 to 2000, Stephen was a chairman on the board of directors with the World Mission Initiative at the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

He leaves behind to cherish his memory his beloved wife of 64 years, Betty J. (Kwiat) Polley; his three loving children, Denise Gagne and her husband, Jay, Jonathan L. Polley and Miriam Polley; and his three grandchildren, Joshua and Jared Gagne and Riley Ann Polley.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his two sisters, Joan Davies and Beverly Wright.

POLLEY — The family of the Rev. Dr. Stephen Lamont Polley, who died Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2013, will welcome friends on Friday, Feb. 22, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Glenn-Kildoo Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 130 Wisconsin Ave., Cranberry Township. An additional visitation will be held on Saturday, Feb., 23, from 10 a.m. until the time of a memorial service at 11 a.m., followed by military honors at the Northmont United Presbyterian Church, 8169 Perry Highway, Pittsburgh, with the Rev. John J. Lolla and the Rev. William Carl co-officiating.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his honor in support of the Stephen Polley Scholarship Fund, c/o Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, 616 N. Highland Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15206, or the Northmont United Presbyterian Church, 8169 Perry Highway, Pittsburgh, PA 15237.Online condolences and directions may be made at www.glennkildoofuneralhome.com.