Funeral service for William T Farmer Sr. 85 of Pope Ave in South Daytona who died Friday November 18 2006 in Daytona Beach as the result of an automobile accident will be 2pm Wednesday November 22 (TODAY) at First Baptist Church 118 N. Palmetto Ave. Daytona Beach with the Rev. Bobby Welch Pastor Emeritus and The Rev. David Cox Pastor Officiating. Interment will follow at Daytona Memorial Park. Family will receive friends from 12:30pm until 2pm Wed. November 22 2006 in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church. Mr. Farmer was born in Kissimmee FL and grew up in the Tampa FL area. He attended Presbyterian College in South Carolina on a full 4 year tennis scholarship. He began playing tennis when he was 6 years old and played through out his life winning many state and national tennis championship titles. He served in the U. S. Army for several years fighting in the Korean War and WWII receiving many medals of honor including a Purple Heart. He retired from the U.S. Air Force after serving his country for 27 years. After retirement from his military career he taught 6th grade math at South Daytona Elementary for 9 years. He was a tennis coach at Warner Christian Academy for several years and then was a tennis professional and manager at the Ormond Hotel and Racquet Club for 5 years. Bill taught a Bible Study class for more than 25 years at First Baptist Church and also served as a Deacon for many years. The primary passion of Bill's life and ministry was evangelism. Both he and his wife Mary were charter members of the Evangelism Explosion Program at First Baptist Church and served actively in this ministry for 20 years or more. Bill authored the Evangelism Explosion Witnessing Tract that is used worldwide today.
His other passion was to encourage others to read the Bible daily. He introduced the Bible Pathways program to his entire church made copies of it available in the church library and for the church's Prison ministry. Bill was faithful to use his spiritual gifts of teaching encouragement and evangelism. He was totally devoted to his Lord and to his family. He also touched so many lives was dearly loved and will be deeply missed every day. We know that he is enjoying a reunion in heaven. Bill was preceded in death by his father Carson Farmer and his mother Frances Farmer and his brother Jim Farmer. Survivors include his children Lynn Reece South Daytona William T. Farmer Jr. of Santa Fe New Mexico a grandson William R. Reece South Daytona a brother Edgar Beeland Winter Haven FL a nephew Mike Farmer Tampa FL and 2 grandnieces. In lieu of other remembrances donations may be made to "Bible Pathways Ministries" 810 W. Thompson Lane Murfeesboro TN 37129 www.biblepathway.org.