Pastor Vincent R. Bagley

Pastor Vincent R. Bagley, 80, of Dennison, Ohio, was called to the more immediate presence of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, from his home on Thursday, January 27, 2011, after a battle with cancer. Born August 15, 1930 in Lambertville, Michigan, he was a son of the late Franklin Jacob and Mary Viola (Hammon) Bagley.

Vince was a graduate of Bedford High School in the class of 1947 and began a career in cabinet making and woodworking, before answering the Lord’s call to ministry in 1955. He attended Huntington College in Huntington, Indiana where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history in 1960. He then went on to attain a Bachelor of Divinity degree in 1963 and a Doctorate of Ministry in Theology in 1982. He had also obtained certification by the Scientific Marriage Foundation in 1970 and the Association of Christian Marriage Counselors in 1975. Vince enjoyed returning to Huntington in May of 2010 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his 1960 graduating class.

Always following his calling, Vince served many congregations over his career which spanned fifty-five years. His first pastorate was at Clear Creek Church in Huntington, Ind., serving from 1957 to 1961, followed by First Baptist Church in South Whitley, Ind. from 1961 to 1968, First Baptist Church in Tekonsha, Mich. from 1968 to 1976, First Baptist Church in Morenci, Mich. from 1977 to 1985 (where he celebrated twenty-five years of ministry during his tenure there), and First Baptist Church in Buckhannon, W. Va. from 1985 to 1995. Most recently, Vince had served in various pastoral capacities at Park Christian Church in Dennison for the past fifteen years. He never lost his love for woodworking through this time, and he took great pleasure in leaving each parsonage he lived in improved by his time and his talents.

On May 29, 1948, Vince married the former Marilyn Pratt with whom he enjoyed nearly sixty-three years of joyful marriage. They were blessed with five children, Pat DeCarlo and her husband, Angelo, of Schaumburg, Ill., Michael Bagley and his wife, Pam, of Kaleva, Mich., Phillip Bagley who was called to his heavenly home at the age of ten years, Timothy Bagley who was called home in infancy, and Kerrie Schaffner of New Philadelphia; nine grandchildren, Mindy Joyce and her husband, Michael, Christen Groth and her husband, Steve, Jillian Perlick and her husband, Dave, Michael DeCarlo, Eric, Drew and Nicholas Schaffner, Alyssa Sterzer and her husband, T.J., and Lianne Gillespie and her husband, Brandon; and ten great grandchildren, Hannah, Luke and Ryan Joyce, Jordan DeCarlo, Donovan and Ava Groth, and Christian, Joshua, Isaac and Lilly Sterzer.

One of nine siblings, Vince is survived by six brothers and sisters, Frank, Jake, Jack, Doug, Virginia and Mary, and was preceded in death by two brothers, Bill and Alfred. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, as well as a host of dear friends and congregants whose friendship he treasured over the years.

Vince loved to travel both for pleasure and to spread the Gospel. He was able to visit Israel on three occasions and experienced the thrill of climbing to the top of the pyramid at Chichen Itza in Mexico. He also enjoyed many vacations with his wife and family over the years.

Visitation and services for Vince will be held in his church home at Park Christian Church in Dennison. Family and friends are invited to call at the church on Sunday, January 30, between 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., and a funeral service and celebration of his life will be held in the church sanctuary at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, January 31, officiated by Pastor Scot Caley and Pastor Jim Yatzek. Interment will be in Uhrichsville’s Union Cemetery.

In keeping with Vince’s passion for missions, his family requests that donations be made, in lieu of flowers, to Imagine Missions, c/o Park Christian Church, 236 Miller Ave., Dennison, OH 44621 (www.imaginemissions.com) and to Community Hospice, 201 W. Third St., Dover, OH 44622. His family is deeply appreciative of Community Hospice for the exemplary care that they provided to Vince and for the gracious support and assistance that they extended to his family throughout his final illness.
R.K. Lindsey Funeral Home
(740) 922-1970
www.lindseyfh.com