CHELAN, Wash.—Austin D. Plew, a pastor and leader of several agencies, died Aug. 2 following a brief illness. He was 95.
Plew attended Baptist Bible Seminary, Johnson City, New York (now Summit University, Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania). Following graduation, he pastored Maine (New York) Baptist Church; Burton Avenue Baptist Church, Waterloo, Iowa; and Calvary Baptist Church, Rochester, Minnesota; and was pastor to seniors at First Baptist Church, Elyria, Ohio. In 1983 he received an honorary MDiv from Denver Baptist College, and in 1989 Baptist Bible College and Seminary named him alumnus of the year.
In addition to being a pastor, Plew was president of the Fellowship of Baptists for Home Missions; director of Minnesota Regular Baptist Camp; director of development and a trustee at Faith Baptist Bible College; and a council member for the New York, Iowa, and Minnesota state GARBC fellowships.
He retired in Arlington, Texas, but still served at Regency Baptist Church in Arlington.
He celebrated his 95th birthday with five generations of the Plew family on June 17. John Greening, GARBC national representative, said at that time, “He is one of those men who I think I would like to live and conduct myself like him!”
Plew was preceded in death by his wife of 72 years, Carlita, in 2011, and a granddaughter.
He is survived by three sons, Denman, Donn, and Deane; 13 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
