synod tagline 

For all the saints, who from their labors rest...

 


 

The Rev. Dr. Austin Focht Shell

Professor Emeritus, Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary

 

 

   The Reverend Dr. Austin Focht Shell, 90, husband of Dr. Elizabeth Bartlett Shell, died Wednesday, January 16, 2013. Visitation will be held Saturday, January 19, 2013 at 10 a.m., at Redeemer Lutheran Church, followed immediately by an 11 o'clock service. Interment will take place at Bush River Memorial Gardens. Caughman-Harman St. Andrews Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
 

Born June 23, 1922, in Montgomery County, Ohio, Austin was a son of the late Arthur Ray and Mary Edith (Focht) Shell. As an adult, Austin loved auctions, antiques, music, and whistling. He took delight in babies and little children as well as in feeding exotic baby birds.

 

Austin earned an A.B. from Wittenburg University, a B.D. from Hamma School of Theology, a M.A. in Human Relations from Ohio University and a Ph.D. in Pastoral Care from Boston University. He was ordained by the Ohio Synod of the Lutheran Church of America in 1945 and served five parishes: assistant pastor of Lutheran Rural Parish in Crawford County, Ohio (1945-49); pastor of St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Mansfield, Ohio (1950-55); mission founder and pastor of Christ Lutheran Church in Athens, Ohio (1955-60); and interim pastor of the Lutheran Church of the Epiphany in St. Matthews, S.C. (1969-2006).

 

In 1965 Austin became the first Professor of Pastoral Care at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, S.C., teaching for 24 years as Professor of Pastoral Care and Director of Contextual Education. He retired as Professor Emeritus of Pastoral Care on July 31, 1989. Dr. Shell later served for several years as Humanities Adjunct Instructor at Midlands Technical College in Columbia, S.C.

 

During his career, Austin shepherded many seminary students through their pastoral education assignments and chaplaincies. He co-authored Word and Witness: Telling the Good News, in which he shared leadership training in the program throughout the United States. In 2011 Austin wrote, "My years of working in Christian ministry have been a true blessing especially in Columbia and the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary."

Surviving are his sons, Michael A. Shell (Jim Gleaton) of Jacksonville, Martin C. Shell (Lynn) of Springfield, Mass.; daughter, Margaret E. Jay (Joseph) of Lake Toxaway, NC; stepson, Michael Blanck (Marianne) of Columbia, SC; stepdaughters, Linda Propst (John) of Columbia, SC, Cynthia Eldridge (Paul) of Bartlett, TN; 12 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his first wife, Dr. Lois R. Fries and by an infant daughter, Kathleen Lucille Shell.

 

The family would like to express their appreciation for the loving care that Austin received at National HealthCare Parklane.


 
Almighty God, source of all mercy and giver of comfort: Deal graciously, we pray, with those who mourn, that, casting all their sorrow on you, they may know the consolation of your love; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

- Prayer from the Lutheran Book of Worship

 

 


803-765-0590