With the Lord

Katherine Cortner, a pastor’s wife, died Sept. 7. She was 69.

Edson “Ted” Lawrence, a pastor, died Aug. 21. He was 62.

Mary Mothershead, a pastor’s wife, died Aug. 19.

Ezell Wiggins, founding pastor of True Bible Baptist Church in Des Moines, died July 17. He was 91.

Dallas Shaw, who ministered to children and their families for 40 years, died July 14. He was 64.

Lloyd Adelbert Lowe, a pastor, died June 11. He was 92.

Donald Matheny, a pastor, died Sept. 3, 2018. He was 88.

David Boehning, who had a passion for missions, died June 25. He was 76.

Daniel L. Mead, pastor emeritus of Calvary Baptist Church, Greenville, Michigan, died July 7. He was 69.  

A tribute to Dr. Warren Wiersbe (1929–2019).

Don Radecki, a Regular Baptist leader in California, died April 3.

Hazel Currier, a pastor’s wife, died April 1.

Renald E. Showers, an influential writer, speaker, and professor known for making complex Bible concepts simple to understand, died April 4. He was 83.

Rhea Joan Reeves, a church-planting missionary, died Dec. 31, 2018. She was 85.

Constance Woolford, 80, died on March 10, 2019. Connee and her husband ran a business together before eventually working for Regular Baptist Press.

Ida Marion Wells, a pastor’s wife, died March 8. She was 90.

Rose Ertle, a pastor’s wife, died Jan. 27. She was 84.

Dorothy Ritchie, a church-planting missionary, died Feb. 14. She was 93.

William “Bill” Hayes Jr., a member of the team that developed Baptist Fellowship Press, the Sunday School curriculum ministry of the Fundamental Baptist Fellowship Association, died Feb. 3.

Thomas F. Dolph, a pastor in Michigan, died Feb. 14.

GREENVILLE, S.C.—Beneth Peters Jones, former “first lady” of Bob Jones University, died Feb. 2, 2019. She was 81. In addition to being a wife and …

Nathan Lobb, pastor of Lakeland Baptist Church, Gilbert, Minnesota, died Jan. 17 at age 61.

Kenai, Alaska—Missionary Virgil Redmond, 90, died Nov. 17, 2018. He spent nearly 40 years planting churches in Alaska. Virgil was born Sept. 22, 1928, in …

OMAHA, Neb.—Dawn McClure Rittmiller, 44, died Jan. 4, 2019. She was the faithful and loving companion of Pastor Shawn Rittmiller, the mother of four, and …

WOOD RIVER, Ill.—Joyce Ariel Moody, longtime missionary nurse in India, died Oct. 28. She was 92. Joyce graduated from Alton (Illinois) High School in 1945 …

VACAVILLE, Calif.—Gerald Lee Harder, 67, longtime pastor of Elmira Baptist Church, died on Dec. 15, 2018. He was known in his congregation for his uncompromising …

Byron Center, Mich.—James M. Huckaby, 81, died Dec. 18, 2018, after a long illness. “Coach Huck” was a winning basketball coach, athletic director, and administrator …

Rebecca Riggle, a pastor’s wife, died Nov. 5. She was 55.

Solomons, Md.—Lenore “Peggy” Ellison, who served Regular Baptist chaplains and their families with her husband, Chaplain Ervin D. “Doc” Ellison III, died Sept. 30. She …

John Jay Ruhlman IV, a pastor and teacher for 55 years, died Aug. 9. He was 77.

Richard “Dick” Riffle, a pastor, died Aug. 8. He was 100.

Carl A. Hills, a pastor for six decades, died Sept. 18. He was 97.

Don LeMaster, a forerunner in the GARBC for building a multicultural church, died Sept. 16.

Lynda Jolls, a pastor’s wife, died Sept. 15. She was 54.

Douglas E. Bartlett, a longtime pastor, died Sept. 5. He was 84.

Glen Mark Trimble, a missionary, died Aug. 5. He was 73.

Robert P. Lightner, a professor and an author who was influential in Regular Baptist thought, died Aug. 3. He was 87.

Robert J. Noller, a pastor, died April 26. He was 80.

Lucile Janet Thompson, a pastor’s wife, died July 7. She was 85.

Robert Houchin, a pastor for over 40 years, died July 4. He was 91.

Frank Odor, a pastor for 50 years, died June 20. He was 92.

Dr. Clifford W. Johnson, former vice president of Cedarville University, died May 19. He was 93.

Daniel William Zimmerman, a retired missionary, died April 19. He was 95.

Darrell Allen Wilson, a pastor, died March 31. He was 68.

Robert Clark Nelson, a church-planting pastor, died April 19. He was 97.

Hope V. Talen, a pastor’s wife who helped plant Baptist churches throughout the Northwest and later served as a missionary, died March 14. She was 98.

David William Green, a pastor, died April 25, one day before his 80th birthday.

Judy Richard, a pastor’s wife, died Aug. 13, 2017. She was 75.

Melissa Arlene Spurlock, retired missionary nurse and translator, died March 5.

Daniel Robert Warren, a pastor, died Feb. 20. He was 60.

Kitty Sue Vine, a pastor’s wife, died Feb. 2. She was 95.

Russ W. Farrell, an evangelist and pastor, died Feb. 8. He was 89.

Charles Burdette Hawkins, a pastor and minister of the gospel for over 50 years, died Feb. 9.

Preble Cobb, a missionary pastor, died Jan. 26. He was 90.

Doris Marie Leverett, a missionary, died on Jan. 15. She was 95.

Robert E. Allen, former interim president of Clarks Summit University, died Jan. 27.

Willard Read Benedict, a missionary and pastor, died Jan. 19. He was 87.

Crail E. “Pete” Piger, a retired pastor, died Dec. 12.

Glenn Clark Stewart Jr., who had 42 years of experience leading churches, planting churches, and developing leaders, died Jan. 12.

Gary L. Yackey, a pastor, died Jan. 7. He was 62.

DYSART, Iowa—Judy Merchant, a retired pastor’s wife, died Dec. 21. Judy served with her husband, Dan, a pastor, at Cedar Street Baptist Church, Tipton, Iowa. …

Charles E. Welner, visitation pastor of Maranatha Baptist Church, died Dec. 25. He was 82.

SEBRING, Fla.—Jesse G. Eaton, a pastor and missionary for nearly 60 years, died Nov. 29 after suffering a stroke on Thanksgiving and slipping into a …

George Hanson, a retired pastor, died Nov. 22. He was 94.

Ronald Lee Grosh, a former pastor, died Aug. 25. He was 95.

Stanley Lightfoot Jr., a longtime pastor, died Oct. 31. He was 95.

Clayton Nuttall, who served in churches and schools for five decades, died Sept. 5. He was 82.

Andrew Mead, pastor of Marlette Baptist Church for the past year, died Sept. 10.

Elda Ann Harden, a pastor’s wife, died Sept. 8. She was 81.

Richard Fleming, longtime professor and administrator at Faith Baptist Bible College, died on Sept. 10.

George Cox, a pastor in the Northwest for six decades, died Aug. 22.

Paul and Esther Weimer, church-planting missionaries in Alaska, died within four days of each other: Esther on Aug. 15, and Paul on Aug. 19. They were both 87 years old.

Dora Freyermuth, a missionary with Baptist Church Planters, died Aug. 1. She was 86.

George Dwelley, pastor of Cornerstone Fellowship Baptist Church in Shingleton, Mich., died Aug. 9. He was 69.

Mary Leitch, a pastor’s wife, died July 7 after a stroke.

Juanita Clark, pastor’s wife at Baptist Bible Church, died July 18. She was 65.

Sidney Aldrich, a longtime pastor, died July 9. He was 93.

Garold Quick, former pastor of seniors at Saylorville Baptist Church, died July 15 at age 80.

William “Bill” Paton, a missionary pastor for many years, died July 14. He was 72.

Bradford Neal Kolbo, a pastor, mentor, and counselor, died June 3. He was 69.

Warren Rayford Mattox, president of the Fundamental Baptist Fellowship Association from 2000 to 2004, died June 16.

Bill Arp, scholar and professor of Greek and New Testament studies who spent nearly 50 years teaching at Clarks Summit University, died July 2.

Patricia Lee Bates, a longtime faculty member of Cedarville University, died June 17. She was 72.

Malcom VanAntwerp, founding pastor of Munising (Michigan) Baptist Church in 1942, died June 1 at age 97.

William Wooldridge Jahnke, a retired staff member of Clarks Summit University, died on June 3. He was 91.

John Ralph Wood, a Michigan pastor and leader known for his sense of humor, died June 10. He was 89.

Donna Vermilyea, former pastor’s wife, lovingly known as “Mrs. V,” died June 4. She was 90.

Ruth Ann Engstrom, who served with her husband in music ministry, died May 31 at age 78.

Irwin “Wyn” Olson, a pastor and leader of the Indiana Fellowship of Regular Baptist Churches, died May 26 after a series of strokes. He was 96.

After a career full of deadlines, Norm Olson, retired senior editor of the Baptist Bulletin, was settling into a quiet routine with his family and friends. Norm died on May 20 after suffering a sudden heart ailment. He was 69.

Alice Humrickhouse Messenger, a pastor’s wife, died May 10. She was 86.

PARMA, Ohio—Douglas Reiner, a longtime missionary with Baptist Mid-Missions, died May 2 following a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 53. Doug grew up in Northeast …

Don Leitch, a former pastor, died May 6. He was 81.

Jason Nightingale of Wordsower International died April 19. He was 68.

Wilbur Frank Hartwig, a longtime missionary, died Feb. 25. He was 86.

Kenneth W. Osbeck, a Cornerstone University professor who wrote a best-selling series of hymn stories, died March 27. He was 92.

Karen Elaine Peck, director of Baptist Church Planters’ JOY Club, died April 4. She was 65.

Dr. Milo Thompson, former president of Clarks Summit University, died April 1.

Earle C. Harriman, a pastor and school administrator, died March 20. He was 93.

Joseph Chapman, a retired pastor, died March 10.

Dr. William Fusco, a well-loved preacher and gifted communicator of the Word of God, died Feb. 14. He was 91

William F. “Bill” Russell, a longtime pastor, died Jan. 19. He was 85.

Harold Joseph Miller, a pastor with a vision for planting churches and helping them thrive, died on the morning of January 19. He was 79.

Bud Williams, a pastor, died Jan. 11. He was 83.

Thomas H. Hilterman, a pastor, died Jan. 7. He was 81.

Amy Wilmeth, a missionary and pastor’s wife, died Jan. 7 after battling breast cancer since March 2011.

Gregory Richard Barny, a pastor, died Oct. 13. He was 66.

Joseph Raymon Wood, a retired pastor, died Dec. 6. He was 85.

Dr. Robert Leslie Sumner, a longtime pastor who had preached in all 50 states, as well as Canada, the Philippines, Mexico, and Brazil, died Dec. 5. He was 94.

Dennis Pycraft, a former pastor in the Midwest, died Nov. 30.

Evie Lebow, a pastor’s wife in the Northwest, died Nov. 24.

Morgan Colburn, a longtime pastor in the Northwest, died Nov. 20. He was 70.

Charlotte Miller Neeld, a former pastor’s wife, died Nov. 3. She was 70.

Louis Hudson Miller, a pastor, camp director, and missionary, died Nov. 10. He was 99.

Eric Holmgren, a pastor, died Oct. 30. He was 63.

Adelaide “Addie” Zemmer, a missionary, died Oct. 17. She was 98.

Robert “Bob” J. Williams, a professor and pastor, died Oct. 10. He was 90.

Dr. Ted Welch, a pastor and missionary, died Oct. 11.He was 68.

Damon R. Reese, a former pastor, died Sept. 15. He was 83.

Dr. Keith Howard Stone, a professor and pastor, died Sept. 11 after a long battle with Lewy body dementia. He was 71.

Dolores (Stalker) West, a pastor’s wife and missionary, died Sept. 8. She was 90.

Nyladine Redmond, a church planter, died Sept. 5. She was 87.

Genella Versluis, a veteran missionary, died Aug. 21. She was 92.

Karen Boersma, a pastor’s wife and missionary, died Aug. 29. She was 76.

Walter Spieth, a missionary and pastor for seven decades, died Aug. 5. He was 93.

Patricia Rose Schroder, a pastor’s wife and church planter, died Aug. 4. She was 83.

Milton W. Tyrrell, longtime employee of Regular Baptist Ministries, died July 18. He was 79.

Lillian Orton, a Baptist Mid-Missions missionary to the Central African Republic, died July 6. She was 84.

Sharon Day, a devoted pastor’s wife and nurse, died July 30. She was 71.

SEQUIM, Wash.—Dawn Mattison, a kind and caring pastor’s wife with a heart for teaching God’s Word, was welcomed into the presence of her Lord May …

Virgil Owen Vater, a pastor and camp director, died May 6. He was 89.

David L. Johnson, a pastor for 50 years, died April 25 following a brief illness. He was 70.

Catherine Buck, a pastor’s wife and missionary, died in the early morning hours of April 27.

Wayne Squires, a pastor, died April 26. He was 76.

Lewis Glenn Seaver, a pastor for 45 years, died March 26. He arrived in Heaven just in time to celebrate Resurrection Sunday with his Heavenly Father.

David Moore, pastor emeritus of Walnut Ridge Baptist Church, died Sunday morning, March 27.

Edwin A. DuBois, a pastor in Michigan from 1936 to 1998, died March 10. He was 97.

Karen Mae Hayman, a pastor’s wife, died Feb. 24. She was 72.

TACOMA, Wash.—Dr. William Bellshaw went to be with the Lord. He led fruitful ministries in Washington, Oregon, and California. Bill pastored several churches, including Bethany …

Todd DeKryger, a beloved medical missionary in Togo, died Feb. 26 after a brief illness. He was 46.

Francis (“Frank”) M. Kisner, a former pastor, died Feb. 23. He was 95.

Wilbur Ernest Henke, a pastor, died Feb. 15. He was 95.

Kenneth E. Poole, a pastor, died Feb. 11. He was 82.

Gerald T. Montgomery, a pastor with an effective multicultural ministry, died Jan. 25. He was 87.

Roger Lee Williams Sr., a pastor, died Feb. 2. He was 84.

James A. Patterson, a pastor, died Jan. 31. He was 86.

Betty L. Eloe, a pastor’s wife for 39 years, died Jan. 25. She was 85.

Norma M. Fowler Shipp, a pastor’s wife and longtime church and college secretary, died Jan. 4. She was 83.

Donald Brong, a minister for over 50 years, died Dec. 24. He was 96.

James E. Draper, producer of the GARBC’s Living Reality radio program from 1970 to 1980, died Dec. 13. He was 92.

Marilyn N. Saunders, a pastor’s wife, died Nov. 18 at her home following an eight-year battle with cancer. She was 79.

Raymond Charles Stagno, a pastor and businessman who was dedicated to his community, congregation and family, died Nov. 12. He was 67.

Donald W. Rickard, vice president of student ministries at Cedarville University for 30 years, died Nov. 12. He was 79.

Donald Adair Parvin, a pastor, died Nov. 16 at age 89.

Shirley Reese, a pastor’s wife, died Oct. 26 at age 84. She served along with her husband, Damon, as he was pastor of several churches in Iowa, including First Regular Baptist in Knoxville and Calvary Baptist in Webster City.

Duane B. Johnson, a pastor for more than 50 years, died Sept. 24 after a three-year battle with cancer. He was 75.

Ralph G. Colas, a pastor, died Oct. 22 at age 85. Sensing God’s call to the ministry as a young man, he followed his father’s example, who was a pastor in Elimsport, Pennsylvania, for many years.

Ralph E. Boersma, a pastor and missionary, died Oct. 27. He was 75.

Christopher Michael Leavell, a pastor for 12 years, died Oct. 15 at age 37 after a brief battle with cancer.

Harold V. Dark, a veteran missionary, died Oct. 4 at age 91. He ministered in the Central African Republic for 35 years, and his road to ministry was paved with God’s love and grace.

Leigh Adams, leader with Baptist Mid-Missions for 50 years, died Oct. 4 at age 87 following several years of declining health.

Richard Roy Merkel, a minister for over 50 years, died Sept. 27 at age 85.

Austin D. Plew, a pastor and leader of several agencies, died Aug. 2 following a brief illness. He was 95.

Laverne Howard Rowling, a pastor, died Aug. 27 at age 74.

Glenn Arthur Armstrong, a longtime pastor, died Sept. 3. He was 81.

Edith McNeil, 84, died Aug. 31. She was a pastor’s wife, serving with her husband, Duane, as he was pastor of Grandville (Mich.) Baptist Church.

Clarence David Kennedy, a longtime pastor, died March 6. He was 92.

Gary Sammons, a missionary, Bible college teacher, and National Guard chaplain, died Aug. 20 at age 76

Ralph Eldon Brock, recognized for his unique ability to see an area of ministry need and find a way to meet it, died Aug. 25. He was 89.

Stephen Owen Worth, a retired pastor, died Aug. 20. He was 60 years old.

Edgar Dalton Guess, a retired pastor, died on Aug. 16. He was 89.

Lawrence “Larry” George Fetzer, a retired pastor, died Aug. 6. He was 80 years old.

Marjorie “Peggy” Johnson, a pastor’s wife, died July 5. She was 87.

Robert David Adolph, a medical technologist who used his skills on the mission field in Bangladesh, died July 6, 2015. He was 79.

Marleah Kenoyer, a medical missionary, died July 20, 2015, at age 93.

Dr. Walter Wilbert Welch, who influenced several generations of church leaders as he was president of Cornerstone University, died July 16. He was 97.

Carl “Les” Wells, a church planter, died June 26 after suffering a massive stroke. He was 86.

Martha Cobb, a church planter and pastor’s wife, died Sunday, June 21.

David J. Einer, a retired pastor, died May 23. He was 75.

Joyce Farlow, a vivacious wife, mother, friend, and mentor, died May 15.

Clarence Trego “Doc” Beale Jr., a retired pastor, died May 7. He was 74.

Nancy Safford, a pastor’s wife, died April 19. She was 76.

Paul Lobb, former pastor, GARBC state representative, and camp director, died on the morning of April 16.

James Newman, a retired pastor, died March 15.

Bernard Lee “Bernie” Payne, a pastor, died March 11. He was 80 years old.

Marjory Louise Baker, a pastor’s wife, died March 11.

William E. Abernathy Sr., a longtime pastor, died on Feb. 26, just four days after his wife, Shirley, died. He was 89.

Shirley Abernathy, a pastor’s wife, died on Feb. 22. She was 87.

Bob Gage began and ended his ministry career by living out the words of 2 Timothy 4:2 and 5: “Preach the Word! . . . Do the work of an evangelist.” The recently retired pastor of First Baptist Church, Dunkirk, New York, died Feb. 9 at age 73.

Ken Pugh, a retired pastor and police chaplain, died Jan. 26.

Esther Balbach, a former pastor’s wife, died Jan. 18 at age 95.

Freeman Whetstone, a veteran pastor, died Jan. 11 at age 91.

Bernhard E. “Ben” Strohbehn, a pastor, died Jan. 8 following several years with Parkinson’s disease. He was 89.

Shirley Hull, a former pastor’s wife who was devoted to Christian education, died Jan. 7.

Dr. Joseph Bower, veteran pastor, mentor, evangelist, and ministry leader, entered into the presence of the Lord, Whom he loved and served, on Jan. 5.

Marilyn “Judy” Nichols, a retired pastor’s wife, died Dec. 22, one year after her husband, Jack, who died Dec. 29, 2013. Judy was 77.

Quentin D. Kenoyer, MD, a retired medical missionary, died on Dec. 3 at age 90.

Patricia Miller, a pastor’s wife who ministered to college students, died Dec. 9. She was 82.

David Henriksen, a retired pastor, church planter, and interim pastor, died Dec. 14 at age 81.

Memorial Baptist Church is mourning the loss of Joey Riley, an Army sniper who was killed by a suicide bomber in Afghanistan.

David Lee Gardner, an international church planter, died on Nov. 6 at age 84.

Shirley Ann Grant, a former pastor’s wife, died Oct. 28. She was 77.

Ronald Vernon McLucas, a pastor, youth pastor, and music minister in various churches, died Oct. 25. But even before he accepted those positions, he served the Lord as a young boy.

Joy Schildroth, church secretary died Oct. 25. She loved her Savior, Jesus Christ, and worshiped Him faithfully with a lifetime of sacrificial, committed, and fervent service.

Joel Sanborn Kettenring died Oct. 29 after a prolonged battle with dementia and a recent struggle with heart disease. Joel, 86, had faithfully served the Lord for 67 years.

WEST CLARKSVILLE, N.Y.—Leslie E. Chambers, pastor of West Clarksville Baptist Church, died July 30 after a brief battle with cancer. He was 62. Les attended …

Clarence Roberts, a former pastor, died Oct. 6. He was 80 years old.

Eugene Matlock, who spent a lifetime serving churches and individuals, died Oct. 7, 2014, after a brief battle with cancer. He was 61.

Maurice Wilcox served the Lord for 65 years as a chaplain, church planter, and pastor. He died Sept. 17, 24 days before his 103rd birthday.

Larry Rowland, who died Sept. 11, was an incredible man of God, a devoted husband, and celebrated father. He dedicated his life to the proclamation of the gospel and ministry of others.

Donald Ray McMillen, pastor and pulpit-supply speaker, died on Sept. 15. He was 85.

Mary Davisson, a pastor’s wife, died on Sept. 7 at home with her husband, Dorsey, at her side.

Harley Okko Peters, a retired pastor, died Aug. 20. He was 97.

Carol Elaine Gaston, a missionary to Navajo Indians and later to truckers, died Aug. 22. She was 91.

A memorial service will be held for the late John White at Calvary Baptist Church, Grand Rapids, Mich., on Saturday, Aug. 16. The service will …

POSTVILLE, Iowa—John White Jr., an influential leader in the GARBC, died Monday, July 7, 2014. He was 81.

BROOKSVILLE, Fla.—Ralph M. Weer, missionary pastor, died July 4, 2014. He was 85.

CORNING, Iowa—Sonja Walter, a faithful volunteer at Iowa Regular Baptist Camp, died June 18. She was 75. Sonja was born on her family’s farm north …

HILLSBORO, Ore.—Dr. Buel L. Liming, evangelist, pastor, and author, died May 26, 2014. He was 80 years old. Buel attended Los Angeles Baptist College and …

WATERLOO, Iowa—Lawrence D. Garland, a former pastor, died June 2. He was 77.

SANTA CLARITA, Calif.—After being united in marriage for 64 years, William and Patricia Thornton were not long separated in death. William died on April 27 at the age of 90. Sixteen days later, Patricia died at 84 years old.

HAVANA, Ill.—Darrell Auten, pastor of Grace Baptist Church, died June 5. He was 64. Darrell graduated from Baptist Bible College, Springfield, Mo.; this was the …

Rod Decker was strong enough to finish two books and send them to the printer last winter—strong enough to write the introductions, strong enough to …

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J.—Daniel Martin Cassell, pastor of Chelsea Baptist Church in Atlantic City from 1973 to 2009, died on April 30.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.—Melbourne “Mel” Stadt, a pastor, died May 1. He was 94.

ZEELAND, Mich.—Evangeline Miriam Anderson, a pastor’s wife, died April 25. She was 86.

KANSAS CITY, Mo.—Beverly Frowner, a pastor’s wife at First Regular Baptist Church in Kansas City, died April 6.

ALBION, Ind.—Ruth Hopewell, longtime missionary, died on April 4. She was 90.

STANWOOD, Wash.—Ralph “Rus” Edwin Waud, a retired pastor, died Nov. 22, 2013. He was 92.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.—Joseph Balbach, who pastored several churches in Michigan, died on March 24 at age 92.

FULLERTON, Neb.—Roy Cupples, a church planter with Baptist Church Planters, died on March 7.

CLARKS SUMMIT, Pa.—Richard Engle, retired professor of Old Testament, Languages, and Literature at Baptist Bible Seminary, died March 9.

PALATINE, Ill.—Iva Greening spent her life in service to her Lord and her family. She was a loving and supportive pastor’s wife, mother, friend, and prayer warrior.

WATERLOO, Iowa—Richard Wayne Johnson, a faithful pastor, died Jan. 24.

LaGRANGE, Ohio—Debra Quick, a former pastor’s wife, died on Jan. 11. She was 64.

LaGRANGE, Ohio—Debra Quick, a former pastor’s wife, died on Jan. 11. She was 64.

CARY, N.C.—John E. Millheim, a Baptist pastor and seminary professor who encouraged 1960s fundamentalists to discard their flamboyant and inflammatory past, died on Dec. 29.

BAILEY, Mich.—Roberta Frances Borman, a missionary in Equador, died Dec. 30. She was 83.

SPOKANE, Wash.—Herbert Allen Farrar Jr., a longtime pastor and former president of Western Baptist Bible College, died on Nov. 28. He was 104.

LUTHER, Mich.—Jack Carlyle Nichols, a church planter, died Dec. 29. He was 85.

SANTA MARIA, Calif.—Byron Francis Buck, a missionary, died Dec. 22. He was 84.

JOHNSTON, Iowa—Evelyn Rose Crown, a former pastor’s wife, died on Dec. 28 at Mercy Hospice. She was 92.

ALTON, Ill.—Philomena Nicholas, a former pastor’s wife, died Dec. 11 at age 87.

The Christmas carolers from Calvary Baptist Church stopped by Ron Clark’s house in Lansdale, Pa., just long enough to sing a few songs and drop off some brochures. “They left all this material for us to look at,” Ron recalls later.

PERRY, Ga.—Marie Christina Russell Henzler, a sheriff’s office chaplain, died Nov. 13 at age 83.

TEMPE, Ariz.— “Mom was never a ‘career missionary,'” says Mildred Lang’s daughter, Fran Elnicky, “but her ministries of helps were a blessing to many.” Mildred died Oct. 22.

LINCOLN CITY, Ore.—Dr. Reno Hoff, former president of Corban University, joined his Lord and Savior on Nov. 15.

BYRON CENTER, Mich.—Kenneth Eisentrager, a retired pastor, died Oct. 21 at age 92. Ken was born in a farmhouse in Red Rock Township, Minn. After …

WEST UNITY, Ohio—Donald Love, a former medical missionary, died on Oct. 11, 2013, at age 81.

EMDEN, Mo.—Barbara Ann Bodwell, a pastor’s wife, died on Oct. 3. She was 75.

DES MOINES, Iowa—Gladys Jo Gray, former dean of women at Baptist Bible College and Seminary, died Sept. 28. She was 93.

BINGHAMTON, N.Y.—Donald Norman MacKenzie, a former pastor, went to be with his Lord Aug. 23. He was 75. Donald was a graduate of Southside High …

GREER, S.C.—Dr. Arthur B. Walton, former professor at Faith Baptist Bible College and prolific author for Regular Baptist Press, died on Friday, Aug. 16, at his home in Greer, S.C. He was 81.

CARLISLE, Iowa—A generation of teenagers first met Russell Doughten Jr. while sitting on the floor of their church basement, watching his film A Thief in the Night.. Doughten, 86, died Aug. 19.

SEBRING, Fla.—Harry Eugene Cole, 92, died Aug. 12. The retired pastor was saved during WWII while serving in the Coast Guard in Alaska. Harry met …

FINDLAY, Ohio—Richard “Dick” N. Pettitt, a pastor, went home to be with his Lord on Aug. 15. He was 90. Dick was saved at the …

GRANT, Mich.—A global search for his identity led Joe Murray to Jesus and to a life of ministry. At 66, he entered the presence of His Lord on Aug. 4.

Donald Hustad died on June 22 at the age of 94, his death marked by dozens of tributes and articles that called him one of the most influential church musicians of the 20th century.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.—Meryl E. Welch, a musician who served with her husband for many years in pastoral and college ministries, died July 3. She was …

PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz.—Firefighter Dustin DeFord, a member of Open Door Baptist Church, died while fighting what has become known as one of the worst wildfires in history.

GENEVA, Ohio—Ross DeFelice, a church-planting missionary with Continental Baptist Missions for 28 years, died June 23 at age 74. He was the first pastor of …

MANNING, Iowa—Bernice Pauline Miller, a retired missionary, died June 10. She was 89. Bernice and her husband, Louis, were missionary builders with Continental Baptist Missions. She also served alongside Louis when he ministered as a pastor in Iowa and a camp director. She is survived by her husband, Louis; two daughters; eight grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; […]

ELIDA, Ohio—Ronald E. Urban, pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Elida from 1978 to 1998, died June 5. He was 76. Prior to accepting the pastorate of Faith Baptist, he was an associate pastor at Massillon Baptist Temple, Massillon, Ohio. Ron retired from the pastorate of Faith Baptist in 1998 following a stroke. He and […]

BANCROFT, Iowa—Donald Oscar Mueller, who pastored five churches in the Midwest, died on Easter Sunday, March 31. He was 77. Donald was ordained to the …

TOPEKA, Kan.—Gene R. Swim, 88, died on March 14. For over 30 years he was pastor of Faith Baptist Church, where he loved preaching the Word. He was preceded in death by his wife, Shirley, on Sept. 4, 2012. They would have celebrated their 67th anniversary on Sept. 9. Also preceding him in death are […]

TORRANCE, Calif.—Bob Currier, pastor of First Baptist Church of Walteria, went to be with the Lord March 13. He had been pastor of the church for 30 years. Bob is survived by his wife, Hazel, and daughters, Beth Ann and Debbie. A praise/memorial service will be held on March 30.

DALLAS, Texas—Dr. Roy B. Zuck’s greatest joy was seeing God’s Word change lives. He went to be with the Lord March 16. He was 81.

CLOVERVILLE, Mich.—Rachel Lynn Lones, the 45-year-old daughter of retired pastor Clifford and Janet Lones, experienced new joy and freedom when she entered the presence of …

DALLAS, Texas—For every teacher who walked into the classroom unprepared, Howard Hendricks was a scary man. The beloved professor of Bible and Christian Education died Feb. 20.

SAN JOSE, Calif.—Celerina Lubaton, missionary and interim pastor’s wife, died Jan. 25 after suffering a stroke a few weeks earlier. She was 78. Rafael and Celerina Lubaton joined Independent Gospel Missions in 2007 as missionary field coordinators for the Philippines after previously serving with Baptist Church Planters. Rafael is the interim pastor at Grace Community […]

Willard Stull Jr., 93, died on July 4, 2012, in Novo Hamburgo, Brazil, where he was a longtime missionary. At age 16, Willard dedicated his life to Christ, having accepted Christ as his Savior at age 12. After that commitment at age 16, he says, God changed his life’s direction from planning to attend a […]

Victor W. Decker went Home to be with his Savior on Jan. 28, just two weeks short of his 87th birthday. Victor, a retired GARBC pastor, died peacefully at home after a lengthy illness. Victor began ministry in the mid-1940s after graduating from Mehoopany (Pa.) High School, and after an accident and illness nearly took his […]

James M. Grier Jr., a former GARBC pastor and theology professor who greatly influenced conservative evangelical thought during a period of global change, has died in Grand Rapids, Mich. He was 80.

BURLINGTON, Wis.—Mary Alice Modrall, 87, longtime church secretary at Emmanuel Baptist, Toledo, Ohio, passed away on Dec. 6. She was born in Erie, Pa., on April 9, 1925, to Rev. Earl V. and Rosa Willetts. Her father was an early leader in the GARBC, having served as pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, Bellefontaine, Ohio, (1934–1947) […]

SALEM, Ohio—Ruth Virginia Robb, pastor’s wife, died Dec. 10. She was 87. Ruth graduated from Practical Bible Training School, Johnson City, N.Y., in 1947. She was …

DES MOINES, Iowa—Virginia Rhodes joined her husband, Everett, in Heaven on Dec. 4. She was 95. Born during WWI in 1917, Virginia lived a long and …

ALBANY, Ore.—David F. Miller, former president of Corban University and GARBC pastor, passed away after struggling with lymphoma on Dec. 7. He was 72. “He has graduated to Heaven after his 7-year battle with cancer,” says his wife, Koyce. “Through it all, God has used this time for His glory and to see new believers […]

Daniel Morrell, a former GARBC pastor and professor at Northland International University and Pillsbury Baptist Bible College, passed away on Dec. 9 after a brief bout with liver cancer. He was 59. He was born on July 16, 1953, in Berea, Ohio, where he was saved under the ministry of Berea Baptist Church. After marrying […]

FREMONT, Mich.—Phyllis Jean Smith, pastor’s wife, died Dec. 1 at age 78. She was reared in Chicago and was a 1955 graduate of Bob Jones …

LONGVIEW, Texas—Donald Lefferts Taber, Sr., missionary with the Association of Baptists for World Evangelism, died peacefully in his sleep on Nov. 4. He was 86. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., Donald grew up in Ridgewood, N.J., and was a longtime member of First Baptist Church, Hackensack, N.J. He served in the Naval Air Force from 1944 […]

ALTO, Mich.—Eldon Warren Stevens, president of COME International Baptist Ministries, died Oct. 6. He was 68. Dr. Stevens was a native of the sand hills of central Nebraska, growing up on a livestock farm. He accepted Christ as His Savior at age 19 at Temple Baptist Church, Omaha, Neb. In 1966, he felt called by […]

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.—Joyce Rohrer, wife of Associate Pastor Tom Rohrer of North Park Baptist Church, died on Aug. 23. She was 71. Joyce faithfully served …

TOPEKA, Kan.—Shirley A. Swim, 85, died on Sept. 4, 2012. Shirley married Pastor Gene R. Swim on Sept. 9, 1945. She was a member of …

Debra Sue Cayot, 50, who, though she had cancer, dispensed “comfort and peace to those she would soon leave behind,” went to be with the Lord on May 6, 2012. Deb’s heartfelt prayer was to build up the Body of Christ for as long as she had breath. Her family, friends, and colleagues rejoice that […]

Pastor Guy G. Godfrey, 91, an ardent witness for Christ who established five California churches, went to be with our Lord Jesus Christ on Dec. 11, 2011. He was born to Clifford and Birdie Godfrey Aug. 21, 1920, in Mixon Valley, Ark. After his high school years in Waldron, Ark., he attended Arkansas Polytechnic College in […]

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.—Paul Beals, longtime missionary and missions professor, went Home to be with his Lord and Savior on May 29, 2012. He was 88. Dr. Beals and his wife, Vivian, met at Wheaton College, where he graduated in 1945. He graduated from Moody Bible Institute in 1948 and Dallas Theological Seminary with a ThM […]

WATERLOO, Iowa—Bertha Moore, pastor emeritus’s wife at Walnut Ridge Baptist Church, died July 26. She was 83. Bertha married her high school sweetheart, David, on …

CHEROKEE VILLAGE, Ark.—Charles “Bud” Johnson, a second-career church-planter, died May 28 at age 85.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.—Gary Leslie Hilliker, missionary and director with Baptist Mid-Missions, died on May 24 at age 70. Gary was a member of First Baptist Church, Wellington, Ohio, until he moved to Grand Rapids and became a member of Northland Baptist Church. In 1966 Gary and his wife were accepted as missionaries to Venezuela with […]

SEBRING, Fla.—Mabel Strong, 101, perhaps the oldest member of any GARBC church, died on May 8, 2012. Mabel came to know Christ in her early …

WATERLOO, Iowa—Hilda Mae Wilhite, former pastor’s wife, died on April 2, 2012, at age 90.

GRANDVIEW, Iowa—Richard Westbrook, former church planter in Argentina, died on May 7 at age 82.

Harold O. Roberts, 81, associate pastor of Puyallup Community Baptist Church, Puyallup, Wash., died April 1 at his home in Buckley, Wash.

WEST ISLIP, N.Y.—Leland “Bud” Hall went to be with the Lord in his sleep on April 14. He was serving as pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, Bay Shore, N.Y.

CRESTON, Iowa—Elmer Ubbink, editor of Shofar Magazine, pastor, and missionary, died April 7 at age 93.

Milford A.Fjare, 89, died April 3, having been a founding a member of a church that he designed and constructed.

CHALFONT, Pa.—Charles Benedict, a retired pastor, died April 7. He was 87.

NEW BERLIN, N.Y.—George P. Whitman, pastor emeritus of Latham Bible Baptist Church, Latham, N.Y., died on April 9. He was 86.

SALEM, Ark.—Alice L. Kosanke, retired Baptist Church Planters missionary, died Feb. 2. She was 83.

RICHFIELD, N.C.—Connie (Mills) Jordan, 61, died on Jan. 15 after many years of service in and outside the DelMarVa Baptist Fellowship.

Corabelle Stowell, 94, died on March 26. She was a pastor’s wife, serving with her husband, the late Joseph Stowell II.

BEREA, Ohio—Clarence Jandecka, former pastor, died on Dec. 11, 2011, at age 85.

SEBRING, Fla.—James D. Maxwell II, farmer, college teacher, and pastor, died Feb. 20 at Maranatha Manor after a brief illness. He was 95.

DES MOINES, Iowa—Michael “Paul” Nemmers, 29, son of Pastor Mike and Linda Nemmers of First Baptist Church, Grundy Center, Iowa, went Home to be with the Lord Friday, Feb. 17.

SHORELINE, Wash.—Kathryn Ruhlman Bott, longtime pastor’s wife in Washington State, died on Feb. 13 at age 92.

WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis.—Roy Emmett Knuteson, writer, pastor, and Biblical archaeology adviser, went to be the Lord on Feb. 5 at age 82.

KINGMAN, Ariz.—Robert T. Lenzi, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, died on Jan. 2. He was 63.

BATAVIA, Ill.—Everett Hawbaker, a retired GARBC pastor and former Awana executive, died on Jan. 25 after a long struggle with progressive supranuclear palsy. He was 82.

Joy Brace earned her name early in life, having inherited her mother’s sparkling eyes and easy laugh, and having somehow channeled a good deal of her father’s personality, especially his serenity during the difficult times of life.

ZEBULON, N.C.—George Carapelle, U.S. Navy veteran and former pastor, died on Nov. 12, 2011, at age 90.

CRESTON, Iowa—Lucille Riley, longtime missionary, died on Nov. 11, 2011. She was 83.

MIDDLEVILLE, Mich.—Bruce Stewart, longtime pastor, died on Oct. 24, 2011, at age 75.

OLYMPIA, Wash.—Doris Merle Wiley Cox, a former curriculum writer for Regular Baptist Press, died on Sept. 6. She was 86.

MARYSVILLE, Ohio—James A. Ruck, former church-planting missionary, died on Sept. 21, 2011, at age 76.

LAPEER, Mich.—Donald L. Rettger, 84, died Sept. 21, 2011. Donald was the founder of the Committee on Missionary Evangelism.

MULBERRY, Fla.—Frank R. Chittock, a retired pastor, died on Aug. 22. He was 84.

SEBRING, Fla.—Vernon Kelley Billington, a former pastor, died on Aug. 25, 2011. He was 91.

KENNEWICK, Wash.—David G. Piper, pastor of Grace Baptist Church, Kennewick, Wash., for 28 years, died on Aug. 24, 2011, from complications relating to leukemia.

NORWALK, Iowa—Ruth Ingram Jingst, 88, died on Aug. 23, 2011.

RED BLUFF, Calif.—Deborah Wright, pastor’s wife, died on Aug. 22, 2011. She was 59.

BUENA PARK, Calif.—Clarence A. Nickell Jr., 78, died on July 30, 2011.

Harold Reiner, a missionary who helped plant 13 churches during 60 years of service with Baptist Mid-Missions, has died. He was 83.

MAINE, N.Y.—Richard “Dick” Nelson, 80, died on July 1, 2011, after Alzheimer’s.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.—Henry A. Osborn Jr., a missionary and linguistics professor who helped with Bible translation projects for 78 languages, died May 13. He was 86.

CEDARVILLE, Ohio—Harold Green went Home to be with the Lord May 19. He was 80 years old.

WILLOUGHBY, Ohio—Anna Mae Lewis, wife of former pastor and Baptist Mid-Missions president, died on May 7, 2011, at age 91.

CITRUS HEIGHTS, Calif.—Richard William Peterson died on April 30, 2011, in his home almost a year after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He was 67.

FRIENDSHIP, Wis.—Janice L. Eberly, missionary, died on April 30, 2011, at age 65.

VANCOUVER, Wash.—George Huffman, former pastor, died on April 23, 2011.

ELYRIA, Ohio—Amy Katherine Phillips, associate pastor’s wife, died on March 23, 2011. She was 67.

FAIR OAKS, Calif.—James Houston Morrison, Christian youth camp worker, died on March 16, 2011. He was 97.

NORWALK, Iowa—Alvin P. Jingst, a former pastor, died on March 3, 2011, at age 90.

MESA, Ariz.—Alma Maxine Gray, a former pastor’s wife, died at age 84 on Feb. 22, 2011.

FERNDALE, Wash.—John T. Lunsford, a former pastor, died on Feb. 12, 2011, at age 88.

EVERETT, Wash.—Yvonne June Stone, medical missionary, died on Feb. 10, 2011. She was 76.

MINFORD, Ohio—Brian Beckett, associate pastor of Grace Baptist Church, Minford, Ohio, died on Feb. 5, 2011.

Quentin Myron Gillett, 79, went to be with the Lord on Jan. 15 after serving Him faithfully in Omaha, Neb.

C. Gordon Cleveland, former pastor, died on Dec. 31, 2010. He was 73.

HAYS, Kan.—Lynn L. Sparkman, state representative of the Mid-Continent Association of Regular Baptist Churches, died on Dec. 23, 2010, at age 76.