Charles David Whittle

The body of Charles David Whittle, a United Methodist minister, expired Wednesday, November 11, 2015. Services will be conducted on Friday evening, November 13, 2015 at Handley United Methodist Church in Fort Worth, TX at 7:00 p.m. with visitation at 6:00 p.m. prior the service, and on Saturday, November 14, 2015 at First United Methodist Church in Abilene, TX at 2:00 p.m. with visitation following. He was born in Greenville, Texas, March 18, 1927 to William Ray and Edna Whittle, grew up in a Christian home and The Methodist Church with an older brother William Wade and sister Rosemary, and served in the U.S. Navy 1945-1946. He married Joan Summers October 24, 1945. They were blessed with one son, Charles Christian (Chris), and one daughter, Keri Louise and one grandson, Paul Christian Dawkins. Graduated from Texas Wesleyan College and Perkins School of Theology. Served as pastor of the Mineral Wells Circuit October 1948 - June 1949, Graford, June 1949 to July 1, 1951, Diamond Hill (Fort Worth) August 1, 1951 to June 1, 1954, Morningside, June 1954 to June 1960, Wichita Avenue, June 1960-1961. General Boards of Evangelism/Discipleship, June 1961 to February 1, 1975. Abilene FUMC, February 1, 1975 to June 1, 1990, Superintendent Big Spring District June 1, 1990 to June 1, 1996, Executive for the National Association of United Methodist Evangelists January, 1996 to January 1, 2010. In addition to pastoral responsibilities, conducted a weekly radio program for two years, Served as District Secretary of Evangelism, Chairman Conference Television and Radio Commission, Conference Secretary of Evangelism, Guest preacher for revivals, retreats, District and Annual Conferences, teacher in various enterprises, Member Board of Directors of the Fort Worth General Ministers’ Association and Area Council of Churches, President of the United Methodist Council of Evangelism, Chairman of the Texas/New Mexico Stateswide Committee on Evangelism, Chairman of the NWT Conference Work Area on Evangelism, Chairman of the Board of Directors of METHODIST HOUR INTERNATIONAL, Advisory Trustee for the Foundation for Evangelism, member General Board of Discipleship (1984-1992) board member United Christian Ashram, numerous evangelistic associations and boards. Received outstanding Rural Pastor of the Year Award in 1949, the ‘Philip Award for Evangelism’ in 1974, Honorary Doctor of Divinity Degrees from Texas Wesleyan College and Asbury Theological Seminary. Written for Tidings, Discipleship Resources, The Upper Room, The Upper Room Disciplines, Forward, Transformation, The Church School, The Christian Home, The Methodist Story, Interpreter, Challenge, books, booklets, tracts and other materials. Directed evangelistic missions in Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Brazil and Korea. Participated in the 1974 International Congress on World Evangelization in Lausanne, Switzerland, and AMSTERDAM2000. Participated in the Israeli Prime Minister’s Conference in 1981, taught doctrinal studies courses in Worship and Preaching for Drew Theological Seminary (1979). Delegate to General Conference (1984, 1988, 1996) and Jurisdictional Conferences (1980, 1984, 1988, 1992 and 1996). He was preceded in death by his son, Charles Christian Whittle in 1983, and daughter Keri Whittle Dawkins in 2010. Survived by his wife, Joan, grandson Paul Dawkins and wife Stephanie, sister and brother-in-law Rosemary and George Mitchell, adoptive daughter and son-in-law, Margaret and Joe Smart-Nalli, granddaughter Yeamie, numerous nephews and nieces. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, 202 Butternut St., Abilene, TX 79602.