He retired more than 30 years ago, but it's not just the old-timers who remember the Rev. Burton Linscott, former minister of Epiphany Episcopal Church in Kaimuki.

Linscott began tutoring schoolchildren in 1945 in his first parish at Kealakekua, on the Big Island, an effort to help the rural youngsters qualify for Episcopal secondary schools on Oahu. He continued as a teacher for more than 60 years, preparing fifth- and sixth-graders for SAT tests as a tutor at Epiphany and Kaimuki Christian Church until illness forced an end to his effort two years ago.

“;Any time we went out to lunch, he'd meet someone he had taught ... children, their parents and even their grandparents,”; said son-in-law Don Hardaway.

Linscott, 96, died last Wednesday at his Kaimuki home.

“;He was a jolly soul who was put on this earth to instill a love for learning in the thousands of children whose lives he touched,”; said the Rev. Gregory Johnson, a retired philosophy professor. “;He was a mentoring friend who lives on in the hopes and dreams of all who nurture the precious treasure of a child's hunger for knowledge and adventure.”;

Linscott kept in touch with 96 hanai grandchildren and great-grandchildren to whom he sent age-appropriate books twice a year. “;It started out when one of his good friends died and he knew the kids would not have a grandfather,”; Hardaway said. It was a personal ministry that spread through the years to the children of family and friends. “;He'd talk to people in church or to doctors about their kids, and before long they would be on his list.”; Only in recent years did he surrender the packaging and mailing chores to an Internet bookstore.

For years the retired pastor kept up an extended postcard-writing outreach to homebound and elderly people, calling them his “;octogenarians”; and “;nonagenarians.”;

Linscott and his late wife came to Hawaii aboard a hospital ship during World War II. He was ordained at St. Andrew's Cathedral before taking an assignment on the Big Island.

He became pastor of Epiphany Church in 1950. He continued as rector there until his retirement in 1978, during which time the church was refurbished, membership grew and a parish hall and school classrooms were built.

In an interview with the Mid-Pacific Newsletter, Linscott told of working as a bank teller for nearly 10 years before entering the seminary. “;It's not a case of deciding. I never wanted to be a minister,”; he said. “;It is decided for you and you are called by God. You do not have to do it, but you can never be satisfied or feel comfortable doing anything else.”;

Linscott was born in Bar Harbor, Maine. He graduated from Colby College and General Theological Seminary in New York City. Years later he earned a master's degree in education at University of Hawaii.

He is survived by son John, daughter Betty Hardaway, four grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and niece-caregiver Pat Saunders.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Epiphany Episcopal Church. The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Father Burton Linscott Memorial Fund, in care of the church, 1041 10th Ave., Honolulu 96816.