Christian (“Chris”) Ewing Hauer, Jr., 89, died February 27, 2020 in Rockville, Maryland. He was born on August 22, 1930, in Huntsville, Madison County, Alabama to Christian and Anna Lee Hauer. He graduated from Huntsville High School in 1948, and graduated from Birmingham-Southern College with a Bachelor of Arts in 1952. He also earned Bachelor of Divinity and Doctor of Philosophy degrees from Vanderbilt University. On June 15, 1955, Chris and Lena Elizabeth (“Liz”) Buchanan were united in marriage.
Chris was ordained as a minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA) by North Alabama Presbytery in 1955. In 1959, he joined the faculty of Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, where he served as a Professor of Religious Studies. In 1969, during a sabbatical, Chris completed a fellowship at Princeton University.
Chris was a prolific author. He was published on topics as wide ranging as music, philosophy and theology, theory of liberal education, and modern history, but his scholarly research concentrated on Biblical history, Jewish studies, and archeology. He co-authored An Introduction to the Bible: A Journey into Three Worlds with his colleague, Dr. William Young. One of Chris’ most satisfying avocations was research regarding the architecture of Sir Chistopher Wren, which he and Dr. Young parlayed into a book on the history of a Wren church that was transported from London and reconstructed in Fulton in the late 1960s (A Comprehensive History of the London Church and Parish of St. Mary, the Virgin, Aldermanbury). Chris was elected as a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries (London) and was also a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and the Winston Churchill Memorial.
Chris and Liz returned to Huntsville upon their retirement from Westminster in 1996. Chris loved spending time with family, was an avid gardener, and enjoyed travel, tennis, Alabama football and classical and country music. He was also an active member and parish associate at Hope Presbyterian Church.
Chris will be sadly missed by his daughter, Anna Hauer Zelinsky, and son-in-law, Yuri Zelinsky, of Takoma Park, Maryland; granddaughter, Olena; grandson, Peter; seven nieces and nephews and six grand nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, son, John Christian Hauer, and his brother, Billy J.T. Hauer.
The family plans to hold memorial services celebrating Chris’ life in Huntsville in June and in Fulton in September. Memorial contributions may be sent to:
The Chris and Liz Hauer Mander Organ Fund https://endowments.presbyterianfoundation.org/fund/103120059275/
(Note: The Mander pipe organ was custom crafted for the Christopher Wren church at Westminster College.) or
WLRH Public Radio, Huntsville, AL https://aptv.org/WLRHSUPPORT/
(Note: Please include a note in the comment field at the end of form that your donation is in memory of Chris Hauer.)
