Rev. W. Luther Tracy

The Rev. Dr. W. Luther Tracy, 98, was called home to be with his Lord and Savior Thursday, May 17, 2012 at Holzer Assisted Living, Gallipolis, after a brief illness. Born October 3, 1913 in Adams County, Ohio, he was the son of the late Frank and Gertrude Tracy and was preceded in death by one brother and five sisters.

Luther graduated from Portsmouth High School (Ohio), Rio Grande College, Denison University, and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He pastored Baptist churches in Pomeroy, Bellevue, and Centerville, Ohio, before returning to Rio Grande, where he served as pastor of Calvary Baptist Church from 1955 until 1966. Luther was also an assistant professor at University of Rio Grande, where he taught a variety of religion and philosophy classes as well as many English courses. To honor his service at the University of Rio Grande, Luther was made a Professor Emeritus in 1979; he was inducted into the Educator's Hall of Fame in 2002; and in 2005, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Public Service from URG.

A devoted community volunteer, Luther was active in the Gallipolis Kiwanis Club, holding several offices including president. He had volunteered as a Boy Scout troop leader in several communities. He served as volunteer chaplain at Holzer Hospital more than 22 years, and Ohio's former first lady Mrs. Hope Taft awarded him the Presidential Lifetime Service Award in 2006 to honor his more than thirty thousand hours with RSVP. Before his retirement, Luther was active on many committees in the Ohio Baptist Convention on both the state and association levels and directed many OBC summer camps. Luther always enjoyed gardening, traveling, and serving his many friends who will greatly miss him. Those who knew Luther will remember his loyal support of URG athletics, his stories, math puzzles, and how he would pull out the pencil tucked behind his ear to illustrate a point.

Luther had been married to Margaret Davis Tracy for 28 years until her death in 1969; he was then married to Arlene Saunders Roush Tracy for 39 years until her death in 2010. He was preceded in death by his son, Mark Luther Tracy and his step-son, David D. Roush, husband of Karen L. Roush. Luther is survived by his daughter, Margaret Tracy Williams, her husband Randy, and their children Meg Williams, wife of Kevin Hackenberg, and their two children Asher and Jake; Beth Buckwalter, wife of Steve Buckwalter; Drew Williams and his wife Hannah and their son Luke. His daughter-in-law Barbara Tracy and step-daughter Barbara Frownfelter also survive along with step-granddaughters Kim Lively, wife of Ronnie Lively; Marcie Phillips and daughter Stacy; Terri Calder, wife of Mark Calder and their daughter Jamie; step-grandsons Scott Roush husband of Megan Roush, and their children Natalie, Summer, and Chase; David W. Roush, husband of Cathy Roush and their daughters Jessica and Alison.

The family would like to thank the people who have given Luther loving care the past five years. These include Christine Davis, good friend, a special grandson David W. Roush and the kind staff at Holzer Assisted Living for their wonderful care for Luther, especially during the past few weeks.

Funeral services will be conducted 11:00 AM Monday May 21, 2012 in the Calvary Baptist Church, Rio Grande, Ohio with Pastor Vinton Rankin officiating. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery. Friends may call at the McCoy-Moore Funeral Home, Wetherholt Chapel, Gallipolis, Sunday, 4:00-7:00 PM

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations made to:
The American Cancer Society
Central Region Office-GALL
5555 Frantz Road
Dublin, Ohio 43017

Condolences may be sent to www.mccoymoore.com