Owen Horton Kersh

Owen Horton Kersh August 7, 1925 - December 27, 2007 Owen Horton Kersh of Waco passed away Thursday, December 27, 2007. Services will be at 11:00 a.m. Monday, December 31, at First Baptist Church of Waco with the Rev. Peter McLeod and Dr. R. Scott Walker officiating. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Sunday, December 30, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Garden Room. Owen was born August 7, 1925 to Warner William Kersh and Dorcas Elizabeth Kersh in Hartford, AR and grew up in Ft. Smith, AR. He graduated from Ft. Smith High School in 1943. Owen served two years in the U.S. Army during WWII; he then graduated from Ouachita Baptist University in 1950 with a degree in Business Administration. He married the former Hazel Mize in Ft. Smith on January 14, 1950 whom he met two years earlier at Immanuel Baptist Church in Ft. Smith during Training Union. Owen received his Masters Degree in Religious Education in 1952 from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He served the following churches as Minister of Education: First Baptist of Denison; First Baptist of Ada, OK; First Southern Baptist of Tucson, AZ; and First Baptist of El Dorado, AR. Then they moved to Waco on January 1, 1963 and he served on the staff of First Baptist Church of Waco until December 31, 1968. Owen was superintendent of the Waco Baptist Association during the calendar year of 1969 and then returned to First Baptist Church of Waco as Associate Pastor in January of 1970. On April 1, 1974 he resigned from the staff of First Baptist Church to join Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home. He graduated, with honors, from Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science in 1975 and became President and General Manager of Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey on February 1, 1976. Owen was a trustee at Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center from 1965-74, 1976-1984 and 1986-1992; a member of State Mission Commission of Baptist General Convention of Texas BGCT from 1971-1976 chairman ’73-’74; member of Baptist Executive Board of BGCT in 1985. He was former member and past president of Waco Rotary Club, former member of Evangelia Settlement Board, Baylor-Waco-Foundation Board, Woodland Springs Nursing Home Board, member of J.H. Gurley Lodge #337 AF & AM and Scottish Rite Bodies. He was a long-time blood donor at American Red Cross. Owen was a member and past chairman of deacons of the First Baptist Church of Waco. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Rev. Bill Kersh. He is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Hazel Kersh of Waco; daughters, Nancy Walzel and Cindy Spurlock and husband, Joey; granddaughters, Melissa Celeste and husband, Gabe; Bethany Hassell; Julia Walzel and Kaylee Spurlock; and one great-granddaughter, Hailey Hassell; sister, Dorcas Peterson and husband, Pete; sister-in-law, Betty Kersh; nephews, Rev. Ted Kersh and wife, Gerri, and David Peterson and wife, Joni; nieces, Melanie Roberts and husband, Jim and Emily Jones and husband, Chuck; numerous cousins and wonderful friends. Pallbearers are staff of Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey. Honorary pallbearers are the Abner McCall Sunday school class. Special thanks to the nurses and aides at Wesley Woods, Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center, Hillcrest Community Hospice and caregivers, Donna Walker and Sherran Thomas. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Waco Benevolence Fund, 500 Webster Ave, Waco, TX 76706. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our “Memorial Guestbook” at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com. Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey