Derald Dugger

Joe Derald Dugger

Rev. J. Derald Dugger, age 90, passed away on April 24th at his home in Cedar Park, TX. Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on April 30th at First Baptist Church, Salado, with visitation beginning at 1:00 p.m.. Interment will be at Salado Cemetery.

Derald was born in Holland, TX on March 13, 1929 to Joseph Samuel and Dora Elizabeth Dugger. He graduated from Belton High School in 1947, and enrolled at Mary Hardin-Baylor College in Belton, a Women’s College, as a Campus Boy, working wherever needed in exchange for room, board, and tuition. He began preaching at age 18 and was ordained to the ministry at age 19 when he was pastoring at Nolan Valley Baptist Church.

On August 12, 1950 he married Eleanor Grisham, a student at MHB. Whereas men could not receive degrees from MHB at that time, they moved to Waco in 1951 where he received his Bachelor of Arts in 1953 from Baylor University. He received his Masters of Divinity in 1957 from Southwest Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth.

He served in pastorates in Bell County, Matagorda County, the Rio Grande Valley, Austin, and Central Texas. He also worked for the Texas State Departments of Health and Insurance while continuing to serve as a pastor, interim pastor, and pulpit supply. He especially enjoyed mission projects and mentoring young men entering the ministry.

A quick wit and laborious stories were his trademark.  Derald was a collector of Lalique crystal, antique lamps, date nails, barbed wire, flower gardening, and loved to share unusual plants with his friends.

After retirement, they moved to Salado in 1995 and joined the First Baptist Church where they were actively involved in church and community activities.

He is preceded in death by his parents, three sisters, Marie Hander, Lura Wilson, and Lucille Truesdale, and two brothers, Milton and Charles.

He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Eleanor (Sweet E), grandson Bryan Dugger of Houston, granddaughter Allyson Jasper, her husband Ryan, and her four children of Olathe, KS, son Alan Kent Dugger and his wife Jann Peacock of Leander, their step-grandchildren Cheston Overman of Bremerton, WA, Jaime Newton of Los Osos, CA, Chance Brennan and Jessie Brennan, both of Austin, and two great grandchildren from their family.

He was a supportive husband, loving father and grandfather.

Derald is also survived by 4 cousins and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials be made considering the following, which were especially important to Derald; Baptist Temple (Women’s Ministry), 1804 Canterbury St, Austin, TX 78702,  First Baptist Church Salado (Missions Fund),210 S Main St, Salado, TX 76571,  Texas Baptist Men, 5351 Catron Dr, Dallas, TX 75227.

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