Bernard Myrick Spooner

Bernie was born on October 15, 1934 in Pine Hill, Alabama as the second of four children of Earl and Lomie Spooner. For high school and his freshman year of college, he attended the Berry School for Boys at Mt. Berry, Georgia. At Berry, Bernie was valedictorian, ran track and cross country, played in the band, and was class president for all 5 years. After his freshman year, he transferred to Mississippi College in Clinton, Mississippi where he graduated with a degree in business and economics, played in the band, and was active in the Baptist Student Union.

While at Mississippi College, he met his beloved wife of 67 years Patricia Spooner (née Fowler).They married in 1957 and spent the next few years in Quantico, Virginia and Oceanside, California as Bernie served as an Officer in the Marine Corps. During this time, Bernie became active at Service Memorial Baptist Church and through this experience Bernie felt the call to ministry. In 1962, Bernie earned a master degree in Religious Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. After graduation, Bernie was called to serve as Minister of Education and Administration at First Baptist Church in Ruston Louisiana, Immanuel Baptist Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Travis Avenue Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas. During his service at Travis Avenue Baptist Church, he earned his doctorate at and served as an adjunct professor at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Following his doctorate, Bernie served as Associate Professor of Administration at the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. In 1979, joined the Baptist General Convention of Texas (BGCT) as Director of the Sunday School Division. Bernie served there for almost 23 years during which he developed a bible study curriculum which was published by BaptistWay Press and was also available for free in seven languages online. Following his retirement from the BGCT, Bernie served as an adjunct professor at Dallas Baptist University (DBU) and was the founding Dean of the Graduate School of Ministry. Prior to his retirement from DBU, he helped to develop eight masters and one Ph.D degree and published eight textbooks. Bernie was also very active in the Baptist World Alliance, attending many meetings in Europe, Asia, and Africa.

He and his wife Patricia loved to travel and often brought their grandchildren to these meetings as he thought these trips were educational and meaningful trips for them. Bernie will be particularly remembered for his kindness and thoughtfulness, his servant leadership, mentorship of many in and outside of the church, his devotion to the Lord, and his devotion to his beloved wife and family. He is survived by his wife Patricia Spooner, his sister Betty Gambino, his sister Jean Bowling, his daughter Jane Spooner Vanderhoef, his son-in-law David Bush, his grandchildren Ashley Carlisle and husband Will Bickford, Allie Carlisle, Aaron Bush and wife Hyunju Bush, and Alec Bush, as well as many other loving family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents Earl and Lomie Spooner, his older brother Bill Spooner, his daughter Myra Joan Bush, and numerous other close family and friends.

Internment will take place at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery. The memorial service will be held Saturday, August, 17 at 11 a.m. at Plymouth Park Baptist Church in Irving, Texas. Visitation with family will take place from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Memorial donations may be made to The Bernie and Pat Spooner Christian Education Scholarship Fund at Dallas Baptist University. Gifts may be made online or mailed to Dallas Baptist University naming the scholarship fund.