William Howard Fincher

William Howard Fincher passed away late on the evening of October 24, 2013, at Texoma Medical Center in Denison, Texas. He was eighty-two.

He will be remembered for his love of Jesus, preaching, singing old hymns, his wit, his laughter, and his sweet and generous spirit.

Born August 21, 1931, in Atlanta, Georgia, he was the first of five children born to Jesse and Cleo Fincher of Adamsville, Georgia.

After graduating from West Fulton High School, he joined the United States Army and served his country in the Korean War.

During his time in the service, he married his childhood sweetheart, Evelyn Jenkins. They celebrated sixty-one wonderful years together this past summer.

After his time in the service, they relocated to Hollywood, Florida, where he worked for Eastern Airlines. They joined New Testament Baptist Church in Miami, Florida, where he served as the youth minister.

Later, Bill answered the call of the Lord to enter the full-time ministry. He resigned from Eastern Airlines and became the youth director and bus minister at First Baptist Church of West Hollywood, the church where he was later ordained as a minister.

Several years later, he again answered the Lord’s call: he attended Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Missouri, graduating in 1973 with a degree in pastoral studies. While there, he served as the bus minister for High Street Baptist Church.

After completing his degree, he pastored Temple Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama and Northside Baptist Church in Marietta, Georgia, before becoming the pastor of Central Baptist Church in Gainesville, Texas. He served as pastor there for thirty-three years. He retired in December, 2012.

He was a kind and jovial man who always went out of his way to care for members of his church and the community and show them the love of Jesus Christ. He will be greatly missed.

Bill is survived by his loving wife, Evelyn Fincher of Whitesboro; his brother, Robert Fincher and his sister, Florence Fincher; his three children and their spouses: Jerry and Carol Fincher of Port Orange, Florida; Pam and Steve Workman of Botswana, Africa; and Vonda and Allen McFarlin of Gainesville, Texas; his nine grandchildren: Aimee and Landon Blanks, Amanda Workman, Nathan Fincher, Derek Workman, Devin Workman, Aaron and Anasia McFarlin, and Zach McFarlin; and seven great-grandchildren: lsaiah, Elijah, and Titus Blanks; Rachel and Carson Fincher; and Peyton and Adalynn McFarlin.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jesse and Cleo Fincher; brother, Charles Fincher; sister, Rhonda Tatum; and granddaughter, Rachel Fincher.

Services will be held on Tuesday, October 29, at 11 a.m. at Southside Baptist Church in
Denison, Texas, where he was a faithful member; visitation will begin at 10 a.m., prior to the service.

ln lieu of flowers, the family requests gift of love be made to the Southside Baptist Church Missions Offering, 3500 Park Lane, Denison, Texas 75020.