Into Life Eternal

WILLIAM CRAIG DOOLEY, SR.   October 20, 1953 – February 24, 2004

As part of a military family, Bill knew a life of travel and adventure from an early age. In February of 1973, he was invited to a bonfire with a local church youth group, and it was there he first came into contact with the term “Christian fellowship.” Two weeks later, after attending all the events that the church offered, he received Christ as his Savior on February 25, 1973 . That same year he met Melody, his future bride, and enrolled at Spurgeon Baptist Bible College. During his sophomore year at college, Bill began to consider missionary service.

In July of 1975 Bill and Melody were married, and after graduation in 1977, they went on a 10-week missions trip to Bogota, Colombia. After attending Candidate Seminar in the summer of 1980, they were appointed to the field of Chile, South America. They arrived on the field in March of 1984, served in Santiago for 10 years, and then moved to northern Chile (Antofagasta) for 4 years. In 1997, God brought them back to the USA where Bill served in the Missionary Mobilization department with ABWE.

Once again God redirected, and in 2001 Bill and Melody decided to return to the field of northern Chile. Just a week before their anticipated return to Chile in October of 2002, they received devastating news that Bill had an aggressive and malignant form of brain cancer. As he was able, during his treatment, he continued to challenge college-age young people for missions; he also encouraged the newly-formed team of missionaries who serve in the northern part of Chile. In May of 2003, Bill and Melody were able to return to Chile for the 50th Anniversary of ABWE’s ministry in that country.

A memorial service for Bill was held on March 5th at Heritage Baptist Church in Lakeland, Florida. Many family and friends celebrated Bill’s life of faithful ministry to his Lord. Daughter Joy and husband Brian Morykon live in Lynchburg, Virginia, and son Will, Jr. lives in Bartow, Florida. Melody is seeking direction from the Lord for future ministry involvement.

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