Earl Dwight Radmacher

Earl Dwight Radmacher went home to be with Jesus on Monday, December 8, 2014.

Inspired by God at a Portland Billy Graham crusade in 1950, he quit his banking career, went to college, finished seminary (twice), and became one of the leading theologians of our day. Dr. Earl Radmacher became president of Western Seminary in 1965, at age 34 the youngest seminary president in the country, leading a school of 90 students. Six years of effort recruiting faculty and students saw the student body increase to 600 students, and Dr. Radmacher led the institution as its president for a total of 25 years. While many would consider his decades of teaching and authoring numerous works to be a completed career, he was not done running the race set before him. He agreed to serve as the General Editor of Thomas Nelson’s NKJV Study Bible and the NKJV Study Bible Commentary, a task he undertook tirelessly, for a decade. In the years since its publication in 1997, he has striven to disperse the Study Bible to as many people as possible, to help more people carry out the instruction of Timothy 2:15: “Study to show yourself approved unto God, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Dr. Radmacher is survived by his wife, Ruth, who “held down the fort” and raised four children while he traveled so extensively. Married in 1953, they recently celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary. He is also survived by his four children; Rebecca (David), Timothy (Tammy), Jonathan, and Daniel (Brenda); and many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 10 oíclock am on January 10, 2015 at Central Bible Church in Portland Oregon. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Honor of Earl Radmacher, to the Center for Leadership Development at Western Seminary, the Bob Tebow Evangelistic Association, Rocky Mountain Seminary, or Biblical Education by Extension.