George D. Sinclair, MAI, FASA, a long-time friend and supporter of Westminster Theological Seminary, passed away at the age of 81 in 2005. He was honored to serve as a member of the Board of Trustees from 1966 until the time of his death, and he served faithfully as board treasurer for many years. He worked tirelessly for the financial health of Westminster during many challenging seasons of growth, change, and economic uncertainty. He also faithfully served as a ruling elder for decades at Berith Presbyterian Church and Proclamation Presbyterian Church. George and his family were faithful donors to the ministry of Westminster and other ministries for decades. They took seriously their responsibility to give generously to their local church and to Christian institutions of higher learning, including Covenant College and Westminster.
George had a deep and abiding love for his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and for the work of Westminster Seminary.
A man of humble beginnings, with a comparatively modest education among theological giants, George was an honest, hard-working man who learned his profession from “the school of hard knocks.” In his professional life, George was a highly respected appraiser (of both real estate and machinery and equipment) locally and beyond the Philadelphia region. He was the owner and president of Keystone Appraisal Company in Philadelphia. He served as the chairman of the Pennsylvania State Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers; he was a Senior Member/Fellow of the American Society of Appraisers (ASA); he served as the ASA’s international president in 1974/75; and he frequently testified as an expert witness in complex real estate appraisal hearings that required credible, objective testimony. He was a consummate professional who was highly revered in the appraisal industry. The Philadelphia chapter of the American Society of Appraisers established the George D. Sinclair Professionalism award, to recognize an individual whose actions have enhanced the appraisal profession.
George had a deep and abiding love for his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and for the work of Westminster Seminary. He proudly reflected on his memories of friendships with some of the founding faculty of the seminary, and he sought to honor their legacy through his work as a trustee and a steward of the treasure that was entrusted to him at Westminster. He was deeply concerned about the need for theological clarity and faithfulness to Scripture in a postmodern, relativistic culture. George saw it as his responsibility to ensure that the legacy of Dr. J. Gresham Machen, a man who inspired him, would continue for future generations through the ministry of Westminster. George’s legacy continues to this day through the generous provision that he made through a charitable remainder trust that resulted in a substantial gift to the seminary in 2025. He also provided funding for the establishment of George D. Sinclair tuition scholarships for Westminster students. George’s long-time colleague, friend, and brother in Christ, Dwaine Whitley, shared the following reflections at George’s memorial service:
George’s long-time colleague, friend, and brother in Christ, Dwaine Whitley, shared the following reflections at George’s memorial service:
George taught me how to appraise the old-fashioned way. Take him to the property, get him started, and leave him there. That’s the way I learned to appraise, and I wouldn’t change a thing about it. I learned quickly how to describe the property; get the information we needed and get out of town. . . . The thing that struck me most about George was his approachableness and ability to relate to every person, regardless of his or her education, background, or status. He earned numerous plaques, certifications, and awards. Yet none of these went to his head nor did he ever think that he was better than anyone else. George was an extremely intelligent, yet at the same time, a very humble person. . . .
He very much loved his wife, children and grandchildren. At the memorial service his grandchildren expressed their deep love for their grandfather (“papa”).
I think if George had one last word to say to all of us before his departure, it would be, “Keep the Faith, Trust in God, and Love your Family to the max.”
We give gratitude to God for the life and the ministry of our dear friend, George Sinclair. George understood that he was saved by the grace of God through his Son, Jesus Christ. He knew that all blessings that he experienced—spiritual, physical, and material—came from the Lord and were intended for his purposes. He sought to live his life for the glory of God. He also possessed a unique and contagious wit. His words were both convicting and seasoned with humor and grace.
The Westminster community is profoundly grateful for the life of George Sinclair. May his memory be a blessing as we enjoy some of the fruit of his faithful labors for the Lord Jesus Christ. His life is an example of how God uses ordinary people to accomplish his purposes for his Kingdom.
He was deeply concerned about the need for theological clarity and faithfulness to Scripture in a postmodern, relativistic culture.