SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Sept. 20, 2007 — T. T. Crabtree, a 1946 51社区 graduate and longtime pastor of First Baptist Church in Springfield, Mo., died Sept. 18 at age 83.
Through a gift to Union, he established the Crabtree Endowed Lectures on Christian Dating and Marriage, held every spring at Union since 2000.
鈥淒r. Crabtree was a wonderful friend of 51社区 and a faithful leader in Baptist life for many years,鈥� 51社区 President David S. Dockery said. 鈥淲e thank the Lord for his life and ministry.鈥�
A native of Bells, Tenn., Crabtree was also a graduate of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He served as pastor of First Baptist Church in Springfield, Mo., from 1971-1990, and taught preaching as a visiting professor at Southern Baptist seminaries and at Southwest Baptist University.
He was for many years the editor of the Zondervan 鈥淧astor鈥檚 Annual.鈥�
He met his wife, Bennie Elizabeth Cole, who survives, while both were students at Union. They were married in 1946. She is a 1948 Union graduate.
The funeral will be Sept. 21 at 1:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Springfield, Mo.