He was the husband of Elsie M. (Keck) Erb, who died August 20, 2008. Born in Philadelphia, Rev. Erb was the son of the late Alfred J. and Dorothy V. (Fox) Erb.

    He was a 1943 graduate of Overbrook High School in Philadelphia.  In 1946, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in foreign languages (Latin, Greek and German) and philosophy from Muhlenberg College, Allentown; and then earned his Bachelor of Divinity degree from the Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia in 1949.

    In March 1949, Rev. Erb became the pastor of the Strausstown Lutheran parish, which consisted of three churches, the Lutheran Congregation of Zion Blue Mt., Salem Bethel, and Trinity Lutheran Church. He remained there for 10 years before coming to the Shoemakersville-Leesport area and accepting the call to preach at St. Luke's Lutheran Church, Shoemakersville; and St. John's (Gernant's) Lutheran Church, Ontelaunee Twp.  Rev. Erb would serve the two congregations from 1959 until his retirement on July 31, 1990.

    Rev. Erb was a member of St. Luke's Church, Shoemakersville.  He was a former secretary of the West Berks District of the Northeastern PA Synod; and served on the board of the Inner Mission Society of Schuylkill and Berks from 1984 to 1988.  Rev. Erb was also a member of the Shoemakersville-Leesport Rotary Club where he was president in 1967 and a Paul Harris Fellow.

    Rev. Erb is survived by his cousins, Newton Treichler Longacre and Julia A. Longacre and family, of Barto.

    Services will be held on Friday at 10:30 a.m. from St. Luke's Church, Fifth and Franklin Streets, Shoemakersville, PA 19555.  A viewing will be held in the church Friday 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.  A reception will follow the service in the church fellowship hall.  Private interment will be in New Goshenhoppen Cemetery, East Greenville in the family plot.

    In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to New Goshenhoppen Church, 1070 Church Road, East Greenville, PA 18041.

    Leibensperger Funeral Homes, Inc., Hamburg is in charge of arrangements.  For online condolences, please visit, www.leibenspergerfuneralhomes.com.