Obituary: Bob Beck

Robert Jack Beck, a Baptist minister for five decades, died July 14. He was 88.

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Robert Jack Beck, a Baptist minister for five decades, died July 14. He was 88. Beck was born Jan. 24, 1930, in Iowa Park to Charles and Alta Beck. He graduated from Iowa Park High School and the University of North Texas, and he completed a master’s degree and a doctorate at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. During his years in ministry, he served three Baptist churches in Fort Worth—College Avenue, Gambrell Street and Southwayside. He also was pastor of churches in Jolly, Quitaque, Paducah and Plainview. He participated in short-term preaching and missions projects in Italy, Portugal and Spain early in his career. Later trips to Brazil and Australia through the Baptist General Convention of Texas Partnership Missions program provided revival preaching opportunities. While pastor at Southwayside Baptist, he took a sabbatical that allowed him to return to Rome and participate in a lecture series at the Waldensian Seminary. In retirement, he traveled to Johannesburg, South Africa, to assist missionaries as they worked with orphaned children. As part of the BGCT intentional interim ministry, he served congregations in Mansfield, Bedford, Pilot Point and Brownwood. One of his greatest joys was mentoring a new generation of ministers, teaching field education at Southwestern Seminary and supervising pastoral interns. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Reva Jean; son David and wife Shelly; son Charles and wife Debbie; four grandchildren; one great-grandchild; a sister, Nell; and two brothers, Don and Max.


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