EDGEFIELD — Father Robert W. Ninedorf, pastor of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church, died July 6. He was 81.
The Mass of Christian burial was held July 11 at St. Mary.
Father Ninedorf was born Oct. 2, 1927, in Buffalo, N.Y., to William Henry and Gladys Marie Hull Ninedorf. He was a graduate of Lamar High School in Houston, Texas, Baylor University in Waco, Texas, and Virginia Theological Seminary. He was ordained an Episcopal priest for the Diocese of Texas on July 2, 1954, and served in many parishes around the state.
The priest also was a veteran of the U.S. Army and served as a chaplain. In 1958, he was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C. He was later assigned to the 503rd Military Police Battalion, Special Troops, and the post stockade as confinement chaplain.
In 1961, Father Ninedorf joined the 24th Infantry Division in Augsburg, Germany, and in 1962 was assigned to the 3rd Battle Group, 6th United States Infantry in Berlin.
From 1963 to 1967, he taught German and public speaking in a Houston high school, and served as a supply priest in the Episcopal Diocese of Texas.
Father Ninedorf was received into the Catholic Church on April 6, 1985. He was ordained a Catholic priest on March 18, 1989, by Bishop Ernest L. Unterkoefler.
His assignments in the Diocese of Charleston included: parochial vicar of St. Joseph in Columbia from 1989 to 1990; parochial vicar of St. Paul the Apostle in Spartanburg from 1990 to 1991; pastor of St. William in Ward, and canonical moderator and pastor of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception from 1991 to 2009.
Father Ninedorf is survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Marilyn Howard-Bertke and Frank Bertke of Tucson, Ariz.
Condolences may be sent to:
St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church
302 Jeter Street
Edgefield, SC 29824