Bishop Leroy Charles Hodapp, 82, a retired bishop of The United Methodist Church who served as Bishop of the Indiana Area from 1984 to 1992, died at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis early Friday morning, May 26, 2006. He also served eight years as Bishop of the Illinois Area beginning in 1976 after being elected to the episcopacy by the North Central Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church.

During his tenure as an active bishop, Hodapp served as president of the General Board of Church and Society based in Washington, D.C., and also as president of the General Board of Global Ministries based in New York City.

Hodapp was the son of Linden Charles and Mary Marguerite Miller Hodapp, and was born in Seymour, Ind., on Nov. 11, 1923. He attended the United Methodist-related University of Evansville, receiving his bachelor's degree (B.A.) in 1944. He then attended Drew Theological Seminary and received a bachelor's degree in divinity (B.D.) in 1947. That summer he was ordained an Elder by Bishop Titus Lowe -- as he had been Deacon in 1945 -- joined the Indiana Conference of the Methodist Church, and was appointed to Orleans Church.

He married Polly Anne Martin in June 1947. They have two daughters: Anne Lynn Gates and Nancy Ellen Wichman.

He served pastoral appointments at Heath Memorial and Meridian Street Churches in Indianapolis and First Church in Bloomington. Between 1965 and 1970, Hodapp served as Bloomington District(1965), Indianapolis West(1967) and Indianapolis Northeast District Superintendent(1968) in the South Indiana Conference and then became Conference Council Director.

Hodapp was a delegate to the General Conferences of 1968, 1972 and 1976 and was a delegate to the 1964 North Central Jurisdictional Conference. He held responsible positions in conference agencies, including chairperson of the Conference Board of Ordained Ministry. He was on the Commission to Study the Superintendency during the 1972-76 quadrennium. He has received a number of honorary doctorates.

When he heard of Hodapp's death, current Indiana Area Bishop Michael J. Coyner said, "When I think of Leroy Hodapp, the word which comes to my mind is 'faithful.' He served 50 years under appointment, starting as a student pastor, all the way through service as a pastor, campus minister, council director, district superintendent and bishop. A half-century of faithful ministerial service -- that is an amazing record.

"I was appointed onto the North Cabinet in 1990 by Bishop Hodapp, so I had the opportunity to serve with him during his final two years before his retirement, and I can testify that he was faithful, attentive, informed and courageous in his leadership. During his 16 years as an active bishop, both in Illinois and here in Indiana, Leroy and Polly became beloved to thousands of United Methodists. His casual, caring style along with his obvious love for the church endeared him to everyone inside and outside the church.

"In the United Methodist Council of Bishops, Leroy Hodapp has been acknowledged for his wisdom, experience and level-headedness. When others might panic over the latest issues and concerns, Leroy has always been a steady, consistent, and faithful (there is that word again) leader for this denomination.

"Here in Indiana, we will miss seeing Leroy behind the bench at IU basketball games. We will miss seeing Leroy walking with his beloved Polly. We will miss hearing his stories about camp and churches and pastors and life in general. We will miss him dearly. Please join me in keeping the Hodapp family in our prayers."

A memorial will be held at Meridian Street United Methodist Church, 5500 North Meridian Street, Indianapolis, next week. Bishop Coyner will preside. Other arrangements are pending. A private family burial service will be held later in Evansville, where the Hodapps had lived until their recent move to the Franklin United Methodist Community Home in Franklin, Ind.

More information will be posted as it is received.

May 26, 2006 -- Memorial service for Bishop Hodapp set for Wednesday