- Date Of Birth: December 7, 1917
- Date Of Death: September 26, 2015
- State: Texas
Rev. H. Franklin (Frank) Dearing, age 97 of Belton, was received into the loving arms of his Savior and Lord on September 26, 2015. He was a resident of the Arbor House in Temple, TX at the time of his passing.
Rev. Dearing was born on December 7th, 1917, on the family farm east of Grapevine, TX, to Oliver Franklin and Mamie Cordell Pruitt Dearing. His boyhood was spent in and around Dallas, TX, California, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. He was employed by Winter-Dobson Golf Club Mfg. Co. of Dallas for 5 ½ years, becoming a custom-made club maker. At age 21, he entered the ministry of the gospel and pursued a Christian college education, graduating from Quachita Baptist University, Arkadelphia, AR, in 1943.
After graduation, Rev. Dearing was commissioned as Chaplain in the Army Air Corps and served three years, reaching the rank of Captain. During World War II, Rev. Dearing met Marilyn Ruth Martin of Shreveport, LA, while stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base. They married on September 21, 1946, and then enrolled in Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary of Ft. Worth, TX, to prepare for pastoral ministry, graduating in 1950. Rev. Dearing served and pastored in 8 Texas Baptist churches, including Birch Hill Baptist, Ft Worth; First Baptist, Decatur; First Baptist, Crane; First Baptist, Kerrville; Hyde Park Baptist, Austin; University Hills Baptist, Austin; Coronado Baptist, El Paso; and Keys Valley Baptist, Belton.
He was involved in nearly every phase of Baptist ministry. Even after retirement in 1982, he remained active in interim pastorates, pulpit supply, and revivals. He, with assistance from his wife, Marilyn, presented dramatic monologues on the Biblical biographies of Moses and Peter in many churches, and made a mission trip to Romania in 1995. He substituted for school teachers in the Belton and Temple districts into his mid-eighties, loving the classroom experience and instructing young people. Even into his mid-nineties, he spoke to civic clubs, and schools about his WWII experiences as well as that of a professional golf club maker. He was licensed as a private pilot, and loved flying during his younger years.
His many interests and hobbies included enjoying his wife and family, archaeology, astronomy, wood working, oil and chalk painting, metal detecting, fishing, using his computer, and playing golf as recently as summer of 2014. In his late eighties and early nineties he served as an Odyssey Hospice volunteer Chaplain. “Brother Frank,” as he was often called, loved life and sharing the gospel of Christ with people everywhere. He had a positive, godly impact and influence on all he met—he enjoyed people and cared about their lives. Helping people was a high priority for him. He modeled a positive, friendly, outgoing and uncomplaining spirit, even up to his last moments.
Rev. Dearing was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Frances Savage of Dallas; a brother, Oliver Franklin Dearing, Jr. of California; another sister, Cynthia Metzger of California; and a host of relatives and friends. Survivors are his wife of 69 years, Marilyn Ruth Dearing of Salado; a daughter, Sharon Baxley and husband Gary of Temple; two sons, Stewart Dearing and wife Carla of Temple, and Paul Dearing and wife Roopa (Ruth) of Salado. He left behind one sister, Dee Kelly and husband of California.
Also surviving are five grandchildren, Bonnie Singleton, Kyle Dearing, Jared Dearing, Kirk Baxley, and Kayla Clayton; ten great grandchildren, and three great, great grandchildren. Bro. Frank’s wife and family would like to express grateful appreciation for the love and care extended to him by the staff and caregivers of Park Place Manor Nursing facility of Belton; the Arbor House of Temple; and Gentiva Hospice of Temple.
