Dr. Edward M. Panosian

Born August 19, 1930, to godly Armenian immigrants, the late Nazar and Sara Panosian, in Elmira, New York, he attended schools in that city before enrolling at Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina, in 1948. Earning B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees in Bible and in Church History, he joined the University faculties of History and Church History, teaching generations of students for 52 years until his retirement from the classroom in 2004.

Post-graduate studies took him to the University of Chicago; Garrett, Fuller, and Union Theological Seminaries; and Tulane University. The author of numerous articles and monographs, he presented, on multiple continents, a series of oral biographical impersonations of significant individuals, called “Church History in First Person.” Dr. Panosian often had major roles in the University Classic Players’ Shakespearean productions, BJU Vespers programs, WMUU radio programs, and Unusual Films productions. He regularly led student tours to Europe, studying the Protestant Reformation. He attended Faith Free Presbyterian Church in Greenville and was a past member of the American Society of Church History and the Conference on Faith and History.

Dr. Panosian is survived by his much-loved wife of 67 years, Betty Snyder Panosian; by their two sons and their wives, Mark Edward and Oonagh (Shultz) of Greenville and Matthew Ian and Amy (Price) of Greer; by their daughter, Lisa Noel of Taylors; and by granddaughter, Ghevont, and grandsons, Nazar, Ethan, Benjamin, and Micah. He was preceded in death by his sister, Ruth, and brothers, Manuel, James, and Stanley, of New York State.

A viewing (without family) will be held on Saturday, August 14, from 9:00 A.M. until noon, followed by a memorial service at 1:30 P.M., both in Stratton Hall, Dr. Panosian’s classroom of some four decades, on the campus of Bob Jones University. The service will be livestreamed at https://livestream.com/bju.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to Bob Jones University or Gospel Fellowship Association.