Charles Raymond Elerick
1904-1947
Charles Raymond Elerick
Preacher, Evangelist, and Teacher of the Gospel, 1904–1947
C. R. Elerick, devoted his life to preaching the gospel and building up churches of Christ throughout Ohio and southern Ontario, Canada. Although he died at forty-three, reports describe a gifted, energetic minister whose influence extended far beyond his home.
Born March 31, 1904 with the name Charles Raymond, at Belmont in Belmont County, Ohio, he was the son of John Luther Elerick (1872-1927) and Martha E. Davis Elerick (1879-1933). He spent part of his youth in Barnesville, where he demonstrated unusual ability as a student. He graduated from Barnesville High School at the age of fifteen and, in that same year, was baptized into Christ. His academic preparation continued at Bliss Commercial College in Columbus, from which he graduated in 1921.
Music was among Charles’s earliest gifts. He was accomplished in both vocal and instrumental music and reportedly made many friends in Ohio's musical circles. This talent became an important part of his later ministry. Singing and public worship were where these talents shined the brightest, where often he would conduct preaching, teaching, and congregational singing.
On July 25, 1933, Charles married Campie Luvada Gruber (1904-1987) of Marietta, Ohio. She was generally known as Luvada. Their marriage accompanied the beginning of the most active period of his evangelistic career. By the time of his death, he had preached for approximately fifteen years.
Elerick’s ministry was characterized by constant travel and a willingness to serve both established congregations and small mission efforts. A 1937 report finds him preaching at Barnesville, and Hendrysburg and preparing to visit congregations near Darlington and Marion. His language in that report reflects the urgency with which he regarded his ministry. He was deeply concerned for Christians who had grown careless in worship and appealed to his brethren to pray both for the church and for those outside it.
By 1940, his schedule had become remarkably full. He made regular monthly visits to congregations at Bremen, New Lexington, and Marion while also arranging meetings at Dalzell and Ashland. In Columbus, he reported capacity audiences at the East Seventh Avenue congregation and at the West Broad Street Mission.
Elerick also recognized the possibilities of radio evangelism. In June 1940 he participated in the newly established program “The Gospel in Words and Music,” broadcast over station WHIZ in Zanesville, Ohio. The weekly program combined gospel preaching with music supplied by quartets from several Ohio congregations. This work was especially suited to a man who possessed gifts in both preaching and song, and it allowed his influence to reach homes throughout the Muskingum Valley.
His labor eventually carried him beyond Ohio, to Indiana and West Virginia. In March 1944, he visited the Raymond and Beecher Streets church of Christ in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. His sermons were so well received that the congregation invited him to become its evangelist. He accepted and began his work there that June. The congregation’s historical records confirm that he was subsequently remembered among the ministers who helped build up the Raymond Street church.
Elerick soon became deeply involved in the work of the churches throughout Ontario’s Niagara Peninsula. He helped establish a series of Christian workers’ training classes that attracted about sixty people to its opening session. While other teachers instructed students in personal work, teacher preparation, and religious music, Elerick taught public speaking—a natural responsibility for an experienced evangelist.
His ministry was practical as well as educational. In August 1944 he conducted a weeklong meeting at Port Colborne, Ontario. Attendance increased until the meetinghouse was filled for the final service, and one young woman was baptized in Lake Erie. Back in St. Catharines, he prepared the Raymond Street congregation for its autumn evangelistic meeting by reviewing the hymns to be used and encouraging greater participation in the work. These reports portray a minister attentive to every part of congregational life: preaching, teaching, music, leadership development, and personal evangelism. The Canadian Churches of Christ Historical Society preserves these reports in its history of the St. Catharines congregations.
By 1945, Elerick was working with the church in Portsmouth, Ohio. Fellow evangelist Russell H. Bankes, who conducted a meeting there that October, wrote that Elerick was “doing a good work.” In late 1946, Elerick reported meetings at Sunshine in Scioto County and at Athens, Ohio, while continuing his responsibilities at Portsmouth. Even a fire that caused serious smoke damage to the Portsmouth meetinghouse did not halt the congregation’s services; they temporarily assembled in a nearby auditorium.
In November 1946, Christians at Beamsville, Ontario, announced that they expected Elerick to begin working with them early in the coming year. The surviving records do not establish whether that appointment was ever undertaken. The announcement nevertheless shows that Canadian congregations continued to value and seek his services.
Charles Raymond Elerick died at his home in Columbus on November 14, 1947, at the age of forty-three years, seven months, and fifteen days. His obituary stated only that he died following a “lingering illness.” Funeral services were conducted four days later at the East Seventh Avenue meetinghouse. Fred E. Dennis preached the funeral sermon, and a large company of ministers attended. Preachers served as both pallbearers and honorary pallbearers, while four singers provided the music.
The profusion of flowers and the attendance of nearly twenty fellow gospel preachers offer eloquent testimony to the regard in which Elerick was held. He was survived by his wife, Luvada; his brother, Harold; and his sisters Elizabeth Elerick, Doris Ware, and Audrey Wilson. He was interred in the old Union Cemetery in northern Columbus. The cemetery’s surviving interment record confirms his burial on November 18, 1947.
Luveda remarried several years after Charles' passing, this time, to a widower by the name of Ralph C. Greenfield (1893-1975). She survived him by several years as well, until her passing February 23, 1987. She was laid to rest in Lake Worth Memory Gardens, in Lake Beach, Florida.
Charles Raymond Elerick’s life was short, but it was not small. He preached in large cities and country communities, strengthened established churches, encouraged new congregations, trained Christian workers, taught public speaking, led singing, conducted evangelistic meetings, and carried the gospel over the radio. Whether preaching from a pulpit, teaching a classroom, singing with fellow Christians, or baptizing in the waters of Lake Erie, he brought his varied abilities into the service of his faith. The record that remains is that of a capable and highly respected preacher who spent himself generously in the work he believed God had given him to do.
-Scott Harp, - 08.22.2026
References:
Apostolic Review, August 17, 1937, p. 15.
Gospel Advocate, July 4, 1940, p.643; October 25, 1945, p. 596; December 5, 1946, p. 114; December 11, 1947, p.1030.
St. Catherines Standard, St. Catherins, Ontario, Canada
Friday, June 16, 1944, p.2
T
Welland Port - Colborne Evening Tribune, Ontario, Canada
Friday, September 1, 1944, p.4
St. Catherines Standard, St. Catherins, Ontario, Canada
Thursday, September 7, 1944, p. 3.
St. Catherines Standard, St. Catherins, Ontario, Canada
Saturday, September, 14, 1946, p.10
Norfolk Ledger - Star, Norfolk, Virginia
Monday, July 22, 1946, p.3
Springfield News, Springfield, Ohio
Sunday, November 16, 1947, p.6
Gospel Advocate Obituary
Gospel Advocate, December 11, 1947, p. 1030
Directions To Grave
The Old Union Cemetery is located in north Columbus, Ohio on Olentangy River Rd. Do not confuse this cemetery with the NEW Union Cemetery further up Olentangy River Road on the opposite side of the road. The Elerick family plot is located in a large section 68 on the north side of the section, about mid-way of the Section. See the sign photo below and note the marked spot. The GPS location below is the actual grave location in the cemetery.
GPS Location
40°01'20.9"N 83°01'24.7"W
or D.d. 40.022483,-83.023514
Main Entrance to Old Union Cemetery est. 1806
This is the OLD Union Cemetery where the Elerick family plot is located. See GPS above
Note Location Of Grave In Section 68 at black star
Elerick plot on other side of section. See black arrow above
ELERICK
Charles R. Elerick - 1904 - 1947
Audrey Wilson - 1910 - 1992
(sister of C. R. Elerick)
Photos Taken 04.20.2026
Webpage Produced 08.22.2026
Courtesy Of Scott Harp
www.TheRestorationMovement.com
Special Recognition: It was an extreme pleasure for your webeditor to spend April 16-22, 2026 in the state of Ohio. Hundreds of miles were traversed and a good number of graves of gospel preachers of yesteryear were located. Also, while in the state, I thorough enjoyed preaching a Gospel Meeting at the Alkire Road church of Christ.