In the obituary of the Schwetzinger Zeitung (a German local newspaper) we read: “It was because of pastor Dings
open-mindedness and his drive that during his ministry many improvements were introduced, which contributed
considerably to a positive gain towards the overall appearance of the townscape. Many institutions exist thanks to
his initiative. As for example the trombone choir, the school choir, the married couple’s club, the old people’s
group and the visitor’s service with missionary intent. With his “Heimatklänge” (”Home Tunes”) Pastor Ding regularly
tried to appeal to the whole congregation.
Pastor Ding considered the youth ministry to be a crucial task of his ministry. It is impossible to tell how many
youth evenings he arranged and how many excursions at home and abroad he organized during his ministry. He
never went on private vacations – the family- and youth- excursions which he organized were his vacations.
Likewise the table tennis club Eichenkreuz was founded by Pastor Ding.
The new building of the Christuskirche (church) with church hall and rooms for youth activities, the new parsonage
and the kindergarten at the Hardtwaldsiedlung, as well as the redesign and complete renovation of the Luther-
Haus form a clear testimony to his entrepreneurial skills.
Considering his church district he was especially committed to the building of the nursing home in Schwetzingen
as he felt particularly bound by the Social Ministry’s mandate towards the old and needy.”
“Dind - Ding - Familienchronik”
written by Richard Ding
So far as for the merits during his active period of service. Yet with the same vigor
and creative power Richard Ding dedicated himself to studying the family history
during his retirement.
The “Dind-Ding Familienchronik” from 1995 is a lasting document of his merits. At
the beginning of this chronicle he writes “The best way to prepare for the future is
the inquiry into the past”. He has answered for us many question concerning the
past and indicated to us ways and ideas as guidance for the future.
In Memoriam Richard Ding
