Richard Leon Conrad

He was born November 10, 1935 on his mother’s birthday to Ruth Edinger Conrad and H. Phillip Conrad.

He began his education at Pilot School thru grade 7. He was a mascot for the Pilot High Class of 1940. He later graduated from Thomasville High School (THS) where he was selected to the All-State Band and Chorus at UNC Chapel Hill for 2 years. He was Co-Chair of the music committee for the Student Council at THS. He took 3 years trumpet under Chester Litwin and 2 years French Horn under Dr. Ralph Gabriel. He was a member of the Rich Fork Baptist Youth Quartet, which regularly sang on WTNC. He performed a French Horn solo “Sleeper’s Wake,” by J.S. Bach at Davidson College. He continued his education at UNC where he was a member of the marching band and majored in instrumental music. He studied French Horn and Band with Earl Slocum and Voice and Men’s Glee Club with John Carter. He served for two years as a Chaplain’s Assistant and Organist at Ft. Benning and Ft. Stewart, Ga. At Ft. Benning, he played for general Protestant Services and Christian Science Meetings. He was called to Ft. Stewart to be Chaplain Captain Wilbur Greene’s assistant, where he played for 4 services each Sunday. He also played the field organ for troops who came to Ft. Stewart on maneuvers. He was the conductor of the Ft. Stewart Choral Society, where he conducted 2 major works, “Messiah” and “Seven Last Words of Christ”. He was also minister of music at Riceboro and Flemington Presbyterian Churches (south Georgia). He entered Salem College studying Voice, Choral Literature, and Conducting with Paul W. Peterson for 4 years. He was a charter member of the Winston-Salem Symphony Chorale. He played in the Moravian Easter Band and sang in the Moravian Music Festivals under the direction of Dr. Thor Johnson. For 20 years, he was the minister of music at the Knollwood Baptist Church in Winston-Salem where the Chancel Choir’s Christmas and Easter music were broadcast on WFDD. He also served as minister of music to Rich Fork Baptist, Wallburg Baptist, Tabernacle Baptist (New Bern), and other churches in the Triad area on an interim basis. He was a member of the American Guild of Organist (AGO) and American Choral Directors of America, Hymn Society of America, and Presbyterian Association of Musicians. He was an active participant at Ridgecrest Baptist Assembly and later Montreat Music Conferences for many years. He was a Son of the American Revolution (SAR) through Lt. Johann Adam Hedrick and his father, Col. Johann Peter Hedrick. He was a patron of the Bach Choir in Bethlehem, Pa along with good friend Bill Hutchins. He sang in many renditions of Handel’s “Messiah” performed and financed by The Mozart Club of Winston-Salem. He authored 10 books on genealogy/family history (Edingers, Conrads, Clinards, Shulers) and 2 biographies on the lives of influential pastors in his life.

Siblings who predeceased him are Ralph H. Conrad, E. Mack Conrad, and Joyce C. Black.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 41 years, the former Carolyn Childress Conrad, a son Phillip Conrad and wife Melissa, and 2 granddaughters Taylor Conrad (b. Nov. 10, 2001) and Lindsey Conrad (b. July 4, 2003) of Salisbury. Surviving siblings are Douglas K. Conrad of Thomasville, J. Michael Conrad of Greensboro and wife Mary Ann, and sister-in-law Dorothy H. Conrad.

A celebration of his life will be held at the First United Methodist Church in High Point on Sunday, June 3, 2012 at 3 pm with interment at Rich Fork Baptist Church Cemetery in Thomasville to follow at 4:30 pm.

Visitation will be at the Thomasville Funeral Home from 4 to 6 pm on Saturday June 2, 2012.

In lieu of flowers, donations should be sent to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation 312 N. Eugene St. Suite D Greensboro NC 27401 and/or First United Methodist Church 512 N. Main St High Point, NC 27260.