The Reverend Robert Brown Lineberger, of Columbia, SC, died peacefully with family the evening of July 17, 2024, one day before his 94th birthday. He is survived by his wife of 19 years, May Thompson Lineberger. Rev. Lineberger was predeceased by his wife of 52 years and mother of his children, Catherine Steele Lineberger, in 2004. Rev. Lineberger is survived also by his daughters, Lela Lineberger (Dan) Groene and Sara Lineberger (Sergio) Mendes, and his daughter-in-law Jenette Jones Lineberger; he was predeceased by his son Peter Robert Lineberger in 2019. He was blessed with five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Rev. Lineberger, who married May in August 2005, is also survived by May’s sons Steve (Heather) Abbott and Mark (Alisa, deceased 2019) Abbott, and her two grandsons. Rev. Lineberger was the youngest child of Rev. Frederick Louis and Nettie Mava Corley Lineberger. He had five siblings and their spouses who predeceased him, and many nieces and nephews.
Rev. Lineberger was born in Columbia, SC. He graduated from Charles L. Coon High School, Wilson, NC, in 1948, and from Lenoir-Rhyne College (now University), Hickory, NC, in 1952, where he met his wife Catherine. They were married in August 1952. He graduated from Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, Columbia, SC, with a Master of Divinity in 1955, and was then ordained into the Lutheran ministry by the North Carolina Synod.
Rev. Lineberger served in Lutheran churches for 40 years. Congregations he served were Morning Star Lutheran in Matthews, NC; St. John’s Lutheran (Asst. Pastor) in Salisbury, NC; St Paul’s Lutheran in Hampton, VA, where he was Pastor from 1962-1978; Lutheran Church of Our Saviour (Pastor/Developer), Chesterfield, VA; Immanuel Lutheran in Bluefield, WV; and Christ the King Lutheran in Columbia, SC, from which he retired in 1995. Throughout his service in all the congregations, he was active in the church Synods and many local church pastoral group activities. He also served as contact pastor for several military bases, hospitals, and colleges.
Memorial Service to be held Saturday, August 31, 2024 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 1715 Bull St, Columbia, SC 29201. Visitation at the church at 11:00 a.m., Service at 12 noon.
Donations in Rev. Lineberger’s memory may be made to Lenoir-Rhyne University. Please designate gifts to “Friends of Music” on behalf of Robert B. Lineberger. Donations may be made online at www.lr.edu/give/make-gift, by telephone at 828-328-7108 (M-F 8a-5p), or by check mailed and made payable to: Lenoir-Rhyne University, 625 7th Ave NE, LRU 7467, Hickory, NC 28601.
