Thomas (Tom) H. Olbricht, 90, of Exeter, NH, passed away Friday August 21, 2020, in RiverWoods at Exeter surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Thayer, MO on November 3, 1929, a son of the late Benjamin and Agnes (Taylor) Olbricht. Tom received numerous degrees including a Master’s Degree in 1953 and Ph.D in 1959 from the University of Iowa and a Theology Degree from Harvard Divinity School in 1962. Tom retired as a distinguished Professor Emeritus of Religion at Pepperdine University in Malibu, CA where he later received an honorary Doctorate in 2011. His teaching career spanned over 50 years and led him across the country where he taught at Harding University, University of Dubuque, Penn State University, Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas and Pepperdine University. Tom was involved with a mentoring program in Russia. He was the founder of the Christian Scholars Conference held annually at Lipscomb University which was later renamed in his honor as the Thomas H. Olbricht Christian Scholars Conference. He also wrote, edited or contributed to numerous scholarly articles and books. Tom was a frequent contributor to the Christian Chronicle and was the editor of the Restoration Quarterly.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 69 years, Dorothy (Kiel) Olbricht, one son, Joel C. Olbricht and his wife Marilyn (Smith) Olbricht, four daughters, Suzanne M. Olbricht and her husband Kevin M. Fickenscher, Eloise Olbricht Brown and her husband Anthony E. Brown, Adele Olbricht Foster and her husband Charlie Foster, and Erika M. Olbricht; twelve grandchildren, five great grandchildren and one brother, Owen D. Olbricht. He was predeceased by his sister Nedra Olbricht McGill and brother Glenn Olbricht.
There are no calling hours. Graveside services were held on Friday, August 28, 2020 at 11:30am in the Forest Hill Cemetery, E. Derry Road, East Derry, NH for family. Memorial contributions, in lieu of flowers, may be made to The Thomas H. Olbricht Christian Scholars Conference or the Christian Scholarship Foundation for Russian ministry students. The Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 15 Birch Street, Derry assisted the family with arrangements.