William Arnold Tanner

Arnold was born April 1, 1932 in Wheeler Texas to Ted and Esther Tanner. He grew up on farms in Wilbarger County Texas. He graduated from Odell High in 1950 and went on to attend Wayland Baptist University for a semester and then transferred to Texas Technological College in Lubbock where he graduated with a degree in Music Education. Along with his other endeavors he served as Music and Worship Leader in Lubbock area Baptist churches the rest of his life, most of the time serving Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church and Redbud Baptist Church.

He was ordained as a Deacon by the First Baptist Church Lubbock and later Ordained to the gospel Ministry by the Redbud Baptist Church of which he was a charter member.

After graduating from the university, he served with the United States Army in Korea and received an Honorable Discharge in 1957. After returning from military service he started a Home Furnishings Business which was blessed for the next 25 years.

Throughout all the years of business and church service he became involved in Volunteer Missions and at God’s appointed time devoted all his time to enlisting volunteers and serving in mission work with our Baptist Missionaries and the nationals in various countries of every continent of the world except Antartica. This resulted in seeing hundreds of churches started and their buildings built, as well as training hundreds in Church Leadership and also seeing thousands of individuals come to a personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He was a charter member of the Fellowship of Baptist World Ministries (FBWM).

Arnold is survived by his daughters, Julia Kay Tanner, Kelly Lee (Tanner) Adams; son-in-law, David Adams; grandson, Seth Adams (Jennifer); granddaughter, Amber (Adams) Buehler (Brian); great grandchildren: Breelyn Buehler, Bristol Buehler, Crew Adams; and many friends and associates.

Celebration of Life will be held at Redbud Baptist Church at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, May 8, 2021. Family will receive guests one hour prior to service at the church.

Interment will follow at Resthaven Memorial Park. Online condolences may be offered on the website at www.resthavenfuneralhome.com.