Rebbie Frank Denton was born June 17, 1926 to Lee Wood Denton and Winnie Davis Green in Lufkin, Texas. He passed away on February 7, 2020. Frank was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, two sisters and his wife of 46 years. He is survived by his sister Jo Anne Smith of Tyler, his children: Lowell and Cindy Denton of St. Hedwig, Laura Denton Hill of McQueeney, and Lloyd and Nurtac Denton of Munich, Germany; 9 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren, numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

Frank grew up in the small community of Clawson and graduated at age 16 from Central High School near Lufkin, Texas. He worked for the Lufkin Foundry prior to enlisting in the U.S. Navy at 17 with his mother's permission. Frank served as the radio operator on the USS Terror, a fleet minelayer, surviving a kamikaze attack which killed 41, left 7 missing and 123 wounded, and subsequently two typhoons in Okinawa. These traumatic events had a significant impact on Frank's spiritual journey and his eventual call to ministry.

After his discharge, Frank attended Baylor University where he met and married Dottie Juanez Austin. He completed his Bachelor of Divinity degree at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and pastored several Texas congregations including churches in Ft. Worth, Rainbow, Nemo, Val Verde and Quitman before moving to FBC Ferguson Missouri. Leaving the pastoral ministry in 1963, Frank accepted a position as Secretary of Endowment and Capital Giving for the Baptist General Convention of Texas, followed by positions of Director of Development and Public Relations for Buckner Baptist Benevolences, Executive Director/Treasurer of the Missouri Baptist Foundation, Associate Director of Development for Southwestern Seminary (Southeast Texas) and eventually as a consultant for the Texas Baptist Missions Foundation.

Following the death of his wife in 1995 and subsequent retirement, Frank embarked on a second career as the Country Poet, poet, singer and songwriter. He was tutored in part by George McCoy and performed numerous times with Hank Thompson and the Brazos Valley Boys, in addition to many solo appearances at meetings, conventions and groups. After a diagnosis of cancer, and during and after chemotherapy, Frank took on the self-appointed role of chaplain at the local oncology center where he ministered to patients, staff and doctors for several years. This followed a life-long passion and commitment for sharing the gospel with everyone he met, be it the restaurant waitress, the dry cleaner, or the president of the bank.

His final years were spent at his son's ranch just outside of San Antonio where he continued to minister to all he met, encouraged connections between prayer partners and shared the gospel with all his army of caregivers. No passage encapsulates Rebbie Frank Denton more than 2 Timothy 4:7-8, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day –and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, February 15, 2020, at Parkway Hills Bapitst Church, 2700 Dallas Parkway, Plano, Texas. A military graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, February 17, 2020, at Waldrop Cemetery, Fair Play, Texas under the direction of Jimerson-Lipsey Funeral Home.

Memorials gifts in lieu of flowers may be made to Texas Baptist Missions Foundation, 7557 Rambler Road, Suite 1200, Dallas, Texas 75231.

A guestbook may be signed online at www.jimerson-lipsey.com.