Walter Ernest Handford Jr.

Walt Handford spent his long life valiantly sharing the love of Christ with others, and now he is enjoying the reality of Heaven in the presence of the Lord he loves.

Walt was born in Seattle WA May 13, 1924, the only child of Walter and Mildred Frost Handford.

When he was nine years old, he understood that Jesus died to pay for his sins, and he eagerly accepted God’s gift of salvation. After high school graduation, he served in the U.S. Naval Reserve with Pan American Airways and Boeing Aircraft. Then he heard God’s call, “Who will go for me?” and he answered, “Here am I; send me.”

In 1945 he went to Wheaton College to prepare for the ministry. There he met Libby (Elizabeth Rice), and love at first sight deepened immeasurably through 66 years of marriage and ministry.

Their home is incredibly blessed with seven children: John, Debbie, Ruth, Paul, Margaret, Bill, and Judy; 19 precious grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

He is survived by Libby’s family, Don and Jessie Rice Sandberg, Joanna Rice; and Roger and Joy Rice Martin.

At Wheaton Walt earned a BA degree with honors in Bible and a degree from Pierce Memorial School of Theology in 1949. He traveled as an evangelist for ten years while assisting his father-in-law, John R. Rice, in editing The Sword of the Lord. He was ordained to the Gospel ministry in 1953, and received a Doctor of Divinity degree from Denver Baptist Bible College in 1963. He was a member of the Evangelical Theological Society, a moderator of Southwide Baptist Fellowship, served on the founding board of The Wilds Camp ministry, was a founder and president of the American Association of Christian Schools and the Christian Legal Defense and Education Foundation. He was Moody Bible Institute Pastor of the Year in 1995, and received the South Carolina Order of the Palmetto in 1996. He was a friend and mentor to many community and civic leaders. In his fifties he earned his private pilot’s license and twin-engine and instrument ratings. But his heart was always focused on reaching people with the Gospel and nurturing them to become happy and productive Christians. He pastored two churches in Illinois before coming to Greenville SC in 1965 to Southside Baptist Church on Augusta Road. The ministry was blessed with hundreds of people coming to Christ, necessitating extensive building projects and eventual relocation to 40 acres on Woodruff Road. In 1967 he led the establishment of Southside Christian School. Under his care, innumerable people surrendered to full-time Gospel ministry. Many of them still serve in churches and on mission fields today. Walt retired from Southside after 31 years of ministry, and for the next 16 years served as chaplain to employees and patients of Interim HealthCare Greenville. Walt’s life was characterized by his unswerving commitment to the Word of God. He passionately loved the people entrusted to his care, offered grace to all, taught the Scriptures simply and plainly, and lived as he taught. He met major setbacks in ministry with courage and faith, and never once made a decision just for its political correctness. May God help us who have been touched by his godly life stay true to the God he loves so much.

Visitation will be at Fellowship Greenville (formerly Southside Baptist) Sunday, January 18, 2015, 4:00 - 8:00 pm.

Dr. Charles Boyd will conduct the memorial service at Fellowship Greenville, 3161 S. Highway 14, Greenville, SC 29615, Monday, January 19, 2015 at 10:00 am.

Interment is at Woodlawn Memorial Park.

The family requests that instead of flowers, you consider the Dr. Walter E. Handford Endowment Fund for Outreach, Fellowship Greenville.