Dr. C. Benton Kline, Jr.

Dr. C. Benton Kline, Jr., 86, passed away Monday June 20, 2011 in Hospice care at Emory Hospital after a series of medical problems. Ben was born in Pittsburgh, PA on May 13, 1925. He attended the College of Wooster in Wooster, OH, getting his B.A. in 1944. He went on to earn B.D. and Th.M. degrees at Princeton Theological Seminary and the Ph.D. in Philosophical Theology from Yale University. From 1951 to 1968 he was a professor of Bible and Philosophy at Agnes Scott College, as well as serving as Dean of the Faculty from 1957-1968. After leaving full-time status at Agnes Scott he continued as visiting professor of philosophy until 1971 as well as being the Wallace M. Alston Visiting Professor of Bible and Religion there each fall from 1976 to 1983. In 2000 he was honored by being named Dean of the Faculty Emeritus.
Dr. Kline moved to Columbia Theological Seminary in 1969 where he served as Professor of Theology (1969-1988), as Dean of the Faculty (1969-1971), and as President (1971-1975). He continued as visiting professor of theology at Columbia through the fall of 2004. In addition, he served as the acting director of the seminary library in 1994. Dr. Kline was a Presbyterian minister and was active in the work of the Presbyterian Church in Greater Atlanta Presbytery, in the Synod, and in the General Assembly, the denomination's highest court. From 1984-1986 he served as the Acting Director of the Council on Theology and Culture of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). He was a frequent speaker and teacher at church conferences and lay schools. He also taught and preached in many local churches. Dr. Kline wrote articles in both professional and church periodicals on education, marriage, stewardship, worship, and the relation of theology to life, especially to daily work. He contributed chapters to theological books as well as articles in dictionaries on theological topics. He was the author of A Study Guide for the Directory for Worship of the Presbyterian Church. In addition to his other work, Ben was active in many civic and community service organizations in metropolitan Atlanta and in educational organizations locally and nationally. He served as a member and chair of the Decatur Board of Education for 8 years. Listing these many accomplishments does not fully convey the impact he had on so many lives. The students he taught during his more than 50 years in the classroom often returned in later years to thank him and seek guidance in their further studies and careers. He was and remains an inspiration to his family, his students, his colleagues, and his friends. Ben and his wife Chris marked their 61st wedding anniversary just two weeks before his death. In addition to Chris he is survived by a son, John B. Kline and his wife Mary; a daughter, Mary Martha Riviere and her husband Kenneth; four granddaughters, one grandson, and four great-grandchildren. Family visitation will be at A.S.Turner and Sons Funeral Home in Decatur on Friday, June 24 from 5 - 7PM. The memorial service will be at North Decatur Presbyterian Church at 10AM on Saturday, June 25. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to Columbia Theological Seminary or Agnes Scott College.


Funeral Home:
A. S. Turner & Sons
2773 North Decatur Road
Decatur, GA
30033