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With the Lord

Vernon Kelley Billington (1920–2011)

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

Vern was ordained at age 21 and began preaching at two “quarter-time” churches in Kentucky, which he would visit one Sunday each month. After working for three years in the war industry and saving his money to attend Bible college, he enrolled in Moody Bible Institute in January 1945. Upon graduation, he married his sweetheart, Hazel, on Sept. 5, 1948. He served in pastoral ministries in GARBC churches in Ohio for 46 years: Norton Baptist, Norton; Rocky River Baptist, Rocky River; Memorial Baptist, Columbus; and Fostoria Baptist, Fostoria.

Vern taught classes at Cleveland Baptist Bible Institute; was a trustee of Skyview Ranch, Millersburg, Ohio; and was a member of the Council of Ten of the Ohio Association of Regular Baptist Churches. During the course of his ministry, he also attended Berea College and Akron University.

In 2000 the Billingtons moved to Maranatha Village, Sebring, Fla. Vern served as a deacon and Sunday School teacher at Maranatha Baptist Church in Sebring.

Vern was preceded in death by his daughter Carol in 1994 and a brother in 1986.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Hazel; two daughters, Linda Hyder and Joyce Logan; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

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