Samuel Eugene Underwood, pastor of First Baptist Church in Farmers Branch more than 29 years, died April 24 at his home in Carrollton after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 68. Underwood was born in San Angelo to Homer Garth and Jessie Simonton Underwood. After graduating from San Angelo Central High School in 1970, he and a group of friends from First Baptist Church in San Angelo attended the University of Texas in Austin together and developed lifelong friendships. Underwood graduated from UT with an undergraduate degree in psychology, earned a Master of Divinity degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., and a master’s degree in biblical studies from Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, N.J. He also conducted doctoral work at the University of Dallas, focusing on the early church and early church fathers. He and Ellen Evans of Bowie married in 1986. Underwood was ordained to the ministry at Carter Lake Baptist Church in Bowie, where he was pastor from 1986 to 1991. He was pastor of First Baptist Church in Farmers Branch from 1991 until his death. He was preceded in death by his brother, John Felix. He is survived by his wife, Ellen; son Will Underwood and his wife Veronica of Orlando, Fla.; daughter Pamela Underwood of Seattle, Wash.; daughter Molly Mitchell and her husband Elijah of Waxahachie; and granddaughter Esther. He was looking forward to the birth of another grandchild, due in September. He also is survived by his brothers Doug and Jesse and his sister Pam. Underwood donated his remains to the UT Southwestern Medical School. A celebration of life service is scheduled at 10 a.m. on June 13 at First Baptist Church in Farmers Branch.
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