Rev. David Worthy Mulford

Rev. David Worthy Mulford, former Baton Rouge resident, 85, went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on June 22, 2021, at his home in Beverly Hills, CA, surrounded by his loving family, following a lengthy battle with Parkinson Disease. His faith and courage, in the face of such a debilitating disease, were truly admirable and a great inspiration to all.

David was born December 19, 1935, in Indianapolis, Indiana, the third of four children, to Lottie Esther Mulford and Rev. William A. Mulford, Sr.

He proudly served in the United States Navy on the U.S.S. Rainier AE- 5 from 1955 to 1958. In his retirement years, he served as chaplain for the ship’s Reunion Association.

He attended Calvary Christian Church in Indianapolis, and met his future wife, Betty Leonard, at a youth group ice-skating outing. For David, it was love-at-first sight, as he told his little brother, Joe, “I’m going to marry that girl”! Dave and Betty dated for one week, went steady for one week, were engaged for one week, and then married the week after that on January 30, 1959. Betty’s mother knew in her heart “that Betty would be marrying David before the coming month of June.”

Shortly thereafter, he graduated from barber college in Toledo, Ohio and worked in his uncle’s barber shop in Springfield, Ohio, where his two children were born: Jonathan in 1961 and Nancy in 1964.

Answering “the call” to go into the ministry, he attended International Bible College in San Antonio, TX, graduating as class valedictorian with a Bachelor of Theology degree in 1971. While attending IBC, he pastored Eastwood Baptist Church. Later, while still pastoring the church, he taught at his alma mater.

Throughout the course of his ministry, he made missionary trips to Guatemala, Mexico, Korea, and Japan. During his pastorate in San Antonio, at the height of the Cold War, he participated in a dangerous mission providing the Word of God to Christians in the Soviet Union, where Bibles were forbidden.

The next chapter of his life found him pastoring The People’s Church in Baton Rouge, LA, and in 1978, built The Christian Center. He had a radio broadcast, The Bible Predicts, that specialized in Bible Prophecy and the End Times that reached and touched many lives. Rev. Mulford also served as the president of the Baton Rouge Area Ministerial Association, and had the honor of serving as chaplain for the Louisiana State Legislature.

In 1996, he and Betty moved to California, where he became the English-Ministry Pastor at Calvary Korean Church in Pasadena, CA, and at the Korean Presbyterian Church in Glendale, CA. In 2001, he served as professor at Angyang Bible College in South Korea, training future pastors for the ministry.

In his spare time, he enjoyed hunting and fishing; snow, jet and water-skiing; and watching sports of all kinds. Having been born in Indianapolis, he was an Indy 500 enthusiast, and later in life was a “true blue” L. A. Dodgers fan. While in Baton Rouge, he thoroughly enjoyed playing racquetball, and at one time was the city league champion.

Not only was Pastor Mulford a dedicated minister of the Gospel, but he could repair and build just about anything! He was the family’s handyman and would-be general contractor. There was nothing he couldn’t fix with duct tape, bailing wire and a hammer. He built everything from his grandkids’ toy sailboats to a fully furnished treehouse with electricity and running water (unique enough to grace the cover of any architectural digest!). They lovingly called him “Papa-Do” because he was always “Do”-ing this and “Do”-ing that, for the grandchildren, whom he loved so much.

Rev. Mulford was preceded in death by his parents, Lottie and Rev. William Mulford; sister, Mary Stevens; and brothers, Bill and Rev. Joe Mulford.

He will be dearly missed by his faithful and loving wife of 62 years, Betty; his son and daughter-in-law, Rev. Jonathan and Rev. Anna Mulford; daughter and son-in-law, Nancy and Jim Demetriades; 7 grandchildren: Amber Rae (Allen) Huerta, Crystal Grace (Richie) Kerr; Alexandra Grace, Anastasia Rose, Katarina Joy, Theodore Worthy, and Calista Sierra Demetriades; sister-in-law, Beth Mulford and numerous nieces and nephews. He will also be dearly missed by his faithful rescue dog, loyal companion and guardian, Honey.

“Brother Dave” as he was oftentimes called, will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him. Only eternity will tell the impact that his ministry has had on the lives of so many people. His love for the Lord, and for His people, will always be an inspiration. In the words of his favorite movie, he truly had lived “A Wonderful Life”.

Visitation will be held at Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park & Mortuary, Westwood Village, CA, July 22, 2021, Thursday, from 4 to 8 p.m., with services being held on July 23, Friday at 3 p.m., also at the mortuary.

Private interment will be held at Riverside National Cemetery, Riverside, CA.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Rev. Mulford’s memory to the following:

The Gideons Bibles International, www.gideons.org;

The American Parkinson Disease Association, www.apdaparkinson.org;

Care One Hospice, www.careonehospice.com