Obituary of Charles L. Pancoast

PANCOAST, Reverend Charles L. - of Grand Blanc, Michigan, age 82, went to be with his Lord Friday, October 16, 2015, from his residence. Funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, October 23, 2015, at Hilltop Pentecostal Church, 2414 Avoca-Eureka Rd, Bedford, Reverend Lloyd Naten officiating. Burial following at Hilltop Pentecostal Church cemetery. Those desiring may make contributions to Pentecostal Church of God World Missions. Visitation 5-8 p.m. Thursday at the Day & Carter Mortuary, 1133 Lincoln Avenue, Bedford. The family will receive friends at the church from noon Friday until the time of the service. Charles was born in Los Angeles, California, on December 22, 1932, the son of the late Lee and Isabel (Gilruth) Pancoast. He married Marcella Childers, the daughter of the late Pallas and Nancie (Jackson) Childers, in Avoca, Indiana, on October 29, 1954. He began preaching at the young age of 15 and was ordained in the ministry in the Pentecostal Church of God by Rev. A.W. Thomas and Rev. R. Dennis Heard in 1954. Reverend Pancoast pastored churches in Flatwoods, Kentucky; Los Angeles, California; Houston, Texas; Battle Creek, Michigan; Fort Smith, Arkansas; and has pastored Harvest Time Tabernacle in Grand Blanc, Michigan, for the past 18 years. He served the Pentecostal Church of God as the Indiana/Ohio District PYPA President and Kentucky District Secretary/Treasurer. He served as the National PYPA President from 1964-1969 during which time he started the Bible Quiz Program. He was well known for singing "How Big is God" and playing his saxophone. Reverend Pancoast served as President of Messenger College in Joplin, Missouri, from 1984-1991. He especially had a love for his family and enjoyed spending time with them. He had a great sense of humor and had a heart for people, supporting them and their dreams. Charles is survived by his wife of 61 years, Marcella; daughters, Charlene (Les) Melton, and Loyce (Doug) Lewis; grandchildren - Scott, Craig, and Rosalie Melton; Dustin (Whitney) Lewis; and Derek (Alyssa) Lewis; sister, Leila Pancoast; and a great extended family from Indiana.