Don W. Gillis

Don W. Gillis, 77, retired Southern Baptist minister, passed away Thursday, January 19, after a short illness. Dr. Gillis pastored several churches in Kentucky and Ohio during his 59 year ministry, including 14-1/2 years at the First Baptist Church of Lancaster, Ohio, and 23 years as Director of Missions for Southwestern and Miami Valley Baptist Associations in the Butler and Warren County, Ohio, area. After his retirement in 2000, Dr. Gillis served as interim pastor of five churches, remained active in his church and denominational work, and enjoyed being with his friends and family, and was an award winning amature photographer.

Dr. Gillis was a graduate of LaFayette High School (Lexington, Kentucky), Georgetown College, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Trinity Lutheran Seminary.

Dr. Gillis was loved and respected by many for his calm presence, strong leadership, and effective ministry. In addition to pastoring, starting new churches, and being a resource for Southern Baptist churches in the area, Dr. Gillis enjoyed teaching at Southern Seminary's Boyce Bible School for the better part of 30 years, and mentored dozens of young men entering the ministry.

Dr. Gillis is survived by his wife of 58 years, Jeanette (Galloway) Gillis; two children, Tim Gillis (Carol Harden) and Lois Gillis Brown; three grandchildren, Carissa Gillis, Brian Gillis, and Rachel Brown, and one brother, Bob Gillis (Betty Myers), of Marietta, Georgia and a half sister, Lucille Wolfe of Florida. He is preceded in death by his parents, John R. and Thelma T. Gillis, of Lexington, Kentucky.

Visitation will be at Rolling Hills Baptist Church 5742 Pleasant Avenue, Fairfield, Ohio 45014 from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 24, and from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 25, also at Rolling Hills.

The funeral is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 25, at Rolling Hills Baptist, with Dr. John Beckett officiating.

Internment will be Thursday, January 26, at 11:00 a.m., at the Blue Grass Memorial Gardens, 4915 Harrodsburg Road, Nicholasville (Lexington), Kentucky 40356 (859-223-1223, www.bluegrassmemorialgardens.com).

Arrangements are being made through Avance Funeral Home (www.avancefuneralhome.com).

Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Gillis Fund to Benefit Southwestern Baptist Association at the Ohio Baptist Foundation, 9000 Antares Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43240.

Visitation

Tuesday January 24, 2012 at Rolling Hills Baptist Church from 5-8 p.m.

Service

Wednesday January 25, 2012 at 11 a.m. at the Church