Raymond Estes

Obituary of Raymond L. Estes

Rev. Raymond L. Estes, pastor emeritus of Ocklawaha Bridge Baptist Church, Silver Springs, FL died Monday, May 28 at Brandley Hospice House in Summerfield. A native of LaFayette, Alabama, he was 92.

 

He was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years Clara Smith Estes as well as his parents John T. Estes and Naomi Estes; sisters Jane Estes, Vera Estes, and Mildred Estes; brothers John T. Estes and Charles V. Estes.

 

He is survived by his sister Mary Estes of Centre, AL; brother, William M. Estes of Birmingham, AL; sons Donald L Estes (Gail) of Ocala and Thomas S. Estes (Millie) of Austin, TX; daughter Karen Estes Lowry of Silver Springs; grandchildren Sara Fisher (Murray) of Greer, SC, John Estes of Ocala, and Jennifer Lowry of Silver Springs; two great-granddaughters, and nieces and nephews and cousins.

 

He was a corporal in the U.S. Army Air Corps with tours of duty in Germany, France, Colorado, and California. He was a ball turret gunner on B-24 and B-17 bombers and was an aerial photographer on the “Casey Jones Project.” After the war, he transferred to a guard company and guarded recovered art treasures.

 

For 15 years he was a brick mason and subcontractor in Alabama and Florida. In his thirties he went to Baptist Bible Institute in Graceville, Florida, to study for the ministry. During the three years he was a full-time student he continued working in construction and was a bi-vocational pastor of Limestone Baptist Church, Walton County, Florida. After his graduation he was bi-vocational pastor of Shady Grove Baptist Church, Grand Ridge, Florida.

 

In 1964 he moved to Marion County to become full-time pastor of Ocklawaha Bridge Baptist Church. He has also been pastor of Antioch Baptist Church, Gainesville; and First Baptist Church, McIntosh. As a pastor he continued to use his construction expertise on various church building projects and mission projects.

 

In 1980 and 1981, Stetson University selected Rev. Estes as Florida’s Rural Pastor of the Year.

 

He participated in a Florida-South Korea missions partnership, preaching in Pusan and Taegu. He was active in missions and ministries of Marion Baptist Association and Santa Fe River Baptist Association and served on Florida Baptist Convention’s state Board of Missions. He served in various leadership positions including Stewardship Chairman, Moderator, Church Training Director, Missions Committee Chairman, and Youth Advisor.

 

After his retirement he moved back to the Ocala area and served as associate pastor and later pastor emeritus at Ocklawaha Bridge Baptist Church. He continued to be an active minister and Bible teacher. In retirement he launched a weekly Bible study for senior adults that has continued for more than 20 years.

 

A memorial service will be held Sunday, June 10, 3:00 p.m. at Ocklawaha Bridge Baptist Church. Burial will be at Center Baptist Church near LaFayette, Alabama, Saturday, June 9.

Sunday
10
June

Memorial Service

3:00 pm
Sunday, June 10, 2018
Ocklawaha Bridge Baptist Church
14100 FL-40
Silver Springs, Florida, United States

Interment

Center Baptist Church La Fayette, AL
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