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Dr. Kelley H. Varner
Dr. Kelley Howard Varner Jr., 60, of Richlands, N.C., passed Saturday, June 13, 2009, at his home. Celebration services were held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, June 18, at the River of Life Church on Gum Branch Road in Jacksonville, with Pastor Wendall Ward officiating. Burial followed at the Rand Family Cemetery in Richlands.
He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Joann Armentrout Varner and their four children, April Orel and her husband, Cory; Jonathan Varner and his wife, Angela; Joy Beth Varner and David Varner, all of Richlands; his mother, Lucy Summers Saville of Keyser; and two grandchildren, Destiny Rose Orel and Jasmine Christine Varner, both of Richlands.
Dr. Varner graduated as the class valedictorian from Keyser High School, in Keyser; studied music rducation and voice at Potomac State College in Keyser, studied pastoral ministry at Free Gospel Bible Institute in Export, Pa.; graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of science in guidance and counseling and a minor in music from Frostburg State College; received a Th.B. in theology from American Bible College, Pineland, Fla.; received the M.Div. and Ph.D. degrees from Tabernacle Bible College and Seminary in Tampa, Fla., and received an additional honorary Doctorate from the same institution. In addition, he served on the faculty and board of Zion School of Christian Education in Grantsville, Md., from 1970-1977, teaching most of the books of the Bible as well as Bible-related subjects including theology and Greek.
In 1978 he founded Praise Tabernacle of Richlands and since that time has been the visionary and Apostolic leader of that work. During the time of his ministry, over 35,000 CDs, thousands of books and DVDs were sent out to all 50 states and 40 nations on a yearly basis. In 2006 Dr. Varner founded Kelley Varner Ministries through which he began an exclusively itinerant apostolic ministry to the nations.
During his lifetime, he wrote and distributed over 50 books and booklets internationally, including the series “Principles of Present Truth,” a contemporary commentary on the books of the Bible (with 15 volumes from Genesis-Ezekiel). He has been the ghostwriter for several notable national and international ministries. His latest release, completed just prior to his passing, is titled, “I Am Not Afraid of My Future.”
In addition to being an international bible teacher and conference leader, Dr. Varner was also an accomplished musician and vocalist. He produced and performed both vocally and instrumentally, on cassette and CD, “Treasures New and Old,” featuring many of the old hymns.
Dr. Varner’s primary ministry was to travel throughout the United States and the nations where he was received by many as an apostle, prophet and teacher of present truth concerning the Kingdom of God. He was a pastor to pastors and was a mentor to leading ministries in America and other nations.
The Jones Funeral Home, 303 Chaney Ave., Jacksonville, was in charge of arrangements.
The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to: Kelley Varner Ministries, P.O. Box 785, Richlands, NC 28574.
Private electronic condolences may be left for the family at www.jonesfh.org.
Dr. Kelley H. Varner
Dr. Kelley Howard Varner Jr., 60, of Richlands, N.C., passed Saturday, June 13, 2009, at his home. Celebration services were held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, June 18, at the River of Life Church on Gum Branch Road in Jacksonville, with Pastor Wendall Ward officiating. Burial followed at the Rand Family Cemetery in Richlands.
He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Joann Armentrout Varner and their four children, April Orel and her husband, Cory; Jonathan Varner and his wife, Angela; Joy Beth Varner and David Varner, all of Richlands; his mother, Lucy Summers Saville of Keyser; and two grandchildren, Destiny Rose Orel and Jasmine Christine Varner, both of Richlands.
Dr. Varner graduated as the class valedictorian from Keyser High School, in Keyser; studied music rducation and voice at Potomac State College in Keyser, studied pastoral ministry at Free Gospel Bible Institute in Export, Pa.; graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of science in guidance and counseling and a minor in music from Frostburg State College; received a Th.B. in theology from American Bible College, Pineland, Fla.; received the M.Div. and Ph.D. degrees from Tabernacle Bible College and Seminary in Tampa, Fla., and received an additional honorary Doctorate from the same institution. In addition, he served on the faculty and board of Zion School of Christian Education in Grantsville, Md., from 1970-1977, teaching most of the books of the Bible as well as Bible-related subjects including theology and Greek.
In 1978 he founded Praise Tabernacle of Richlands and since that time has been the visionary and Apostolic leader of that work. During the time of his ministry, over 35,000 CDs, thousands of books and DVDs were sent out to all 50 states and 40 nations on a yearly basis. In 2006 Dr. Varner founded Kelley Varner Ministries through which he began an exclusively itinerant apostolic ministry to the nations.
During his lifetime, he wrote and distributed over 50 books and booklets internationally, including the series “Principles of Present Truth,” a contemporary commentary on the books of the Bible (with 15 volumes from Genesis-Ezekiel). He has been the ghostwriter for several notable national and international ministries. His latest release, completed just prior to his passing, is titled, “I Am Not Afraid of My Future.”
In addition to being an international bible teacher and conference leader, Dr. Varner was also an accomplished musician and vocalist. He produced and performed both vocally and instrumentally, on cassette and CD, “Treasures New and Old,” featuring many of the old hymns.
Dr. Varner’s primary ministry was to travel throughout the United States and the nations where he was received by many as an apostle, prophet and teacher of present truth concerning the Kingdom of God. He was a pastor to pastors and was a mentor to leading ministries in America and other nations.
The Jones Funeral Home, 303 Chaney Ave., Jacksonville, was in charge of arrangements.
The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to: Kelley Varner Ministries, P.O. Box 785, Richlands, NC 28574.
Private electronic condolences may be left for the family at www.jonesfh.org.
