Raymond Gerald Dunkin, former Texas Baptist pastor and associational director of missions, died May 6 in McKinney. He was 89. He was born to Raymond H. Dunkin and Arlene Osborn Dunkin in Houston on June 19, 1934. He preached his first sermon at age 15 at the Star of Hope Rescue Mission in downtown Houston. After graduating from Milby High School in Houston, he went on to earn his undergraduate degree from Baylor University and a Bachelor of Divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. While in seminary, he served two churches as pastor: Little Cedar Baptist Church near Antlers, Okla., and Mount Vernon Baptist Church in Ratcliff. He went on to become pastor of Parkview Baptist Church in Lufkin, First Baptist Church in Quitman and Bellmead First Baptist Church of Waco. In August 1988, he was asked to become director of missions for Unity Baptist Association in Lufkin, where he served until his retirement. Highlights of his ministry include his leadership in an evangelistic citywide crusade resulting in hundreds of professions of faith; leading in two mission ventures in Winona, Minn., and Chihuahua City, Mexico; developing a senior adult ministry and criminal restorative ministry; serving on the Human Welfare Coordinating Board for the Baptist General Convention of Texas; and, in association with Texas Partnerships, taking a team to Homebush, Australia, to lead in an evangelistic crusade. Upon his retirement, he became a regional consultant with Texas Partnerships. Throughout his retirement, he conducted numerous revivals, conferences and interim pastorates. He was preceded in death by his wife Gerry Jane, a former president of Woman’s Missionary Union of Texas. He is survived by his daughter, Cindy and her husband Dale Long of McKinney; son Carl and his wife Lynn of Chattanooga, Tenn.; son Chris and his wife Amber, of China Spring; eight grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren; his sisters Carol Hedgepath of Burleson and Nelda Rothermel of Fort Worth; and his brother Ron of Cement, Okla. A funeral service will be held at noon on May 24 at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Chapel in Allen. The service will also be livestreamed at TJMfuneral.com by clicking on https://celebrationoflife.tv/. Memorial donations may be made to Lottie Moon Christmas Offering of the International Mission Board at https://www.imb.org/generosity/lottie-moon-christmas-offering/.
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