Rev. Millard G. Fisher III, of Palmyra, PA, passed away on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, at Hershey Medical Center at the age of 71.
Millard was born in Berwick, PA, on Dec. 30, 1954, to the late Millard G. Fisher Jr. and Katherine E. (Chapin) Fisher. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Penn State University and his Master of Divinity degree from Drew Theological School. For 40 years, Millard served as a full-time pastor within the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of The United Methodist Church (UMC). Millard was a beloved pastor at Hempfield UMC in Lancaster, Immanuel UMC in Cleona, and Emmanuel UMC in Indiantown Gap.
Early in his time at Penn State, Millard became involved with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship — a community that would transform him immediately and forever. He spent his college years devoted to I-V, also becoming a founding member of InterVarsity’s Hallelujah Singers. The patterns of worship, fellowship, and deep friendship forged during this season became the foundation for Millard’s life in ministry and relationship. The experience taught him not only to love God and love people more deeply, but also how to receive love as well. It was also during these years that Millard met Carolyn (Rudolph). They were married in 1978 and a few years later welcomed two sons — Daniel and David.
In a profession that can become all-consuming, Millard was intentional about spending time with his family. When the boys were small, Millard created clever adaptations of common sports, tailoring them to available space and equipment — ultimately authoring lasting memories while keeping the indoor, winter months bearable for two young boys.
As his sons grew, Millard attended countless music performances and soccer games and helped coach their baseball teams. Millard’s imaginative approach to fatherhood also ensured entertainment and excitement on the long drives to and from annual family beach vacations to Emerald Isle, NC. Integral to this effort were personalized Surprise Tapes (on cassette) that he produced — featuring his own recorded songs and original silly stories. The annual beach trips also involved numerous families and connected old InterVarsity friends with new acquaintances. The common threads that have woven these families together across decades were evident in annual music nights, when Millard and others played guitar and sang, both for the joy of sharing music and for the glory of God. Music was always important to Millard, and his natural tenor voice served equally well in performing solos, blending in choirs, and leading singing in worship.
Millard was also an avid reader. He loved reading C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien for the deep truths they conveyed through fantasy worlds. He enjoyed reading about theology, practical ministry, history, and sports. A lifelong baseball fan, he reserved precious brain space for his extensive knowledge of baseball history and statistics. When not reading, he followed Phillies baseball, Penn State and Eagles football, and PGA Tour golf. His most enjoyable times on the golf course were when he could play with his two sons.
Millard was known to his family, friends, and parishioners as a deeply humble, patient, and selfless man who also happened to be a world-class reader of Scripture from the pulpit. He was slow to speak and eager to listen. He spent much of his time in prayer and reflection and was endlessly kind to the very end.
Millard is survived by Carolyn, his wife of 47 years, as well as their two sons, Daniel J. Fisher and David A. Fisher. Daniel is married to Jessi Kocher, and together they have two sons, Ernie and Bing, who love and miss “Poppy” very much. They reside in North Chesterfield, VA. David is married to Caitlin, and they reside in Bluffton, SC. Millard is also survived by his siblings, Shari Scheibel (Richard), of Port Orange, FL, and Spencer Fisher (Renée), of Eagleville, PA.
A memorial service will be held on Sunday, June 28, 2026, at 2 p.m., in the sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church, 140 E. Orange St., Lancaster, PA. In lieu of flowers, Millard requested that contributions be made to The Caring Cupboard, P.O. Box 71, Palmyra, PA 17078, or The Lebanon Rescue Mission, P.O. Box 5, Lebanon, PA 17042.
