By Cecil Pulley
BIG SANDY, Texas--Stan Bass, 70, regional director in the Caribbean from 1968 to 1990 and Ambassador faculty member from 1990 to 1994, died at home of cancer Aug. 2.
Charles Fleming, Caribbean regional director, reported: "Mr. Bass went home to be with his Lord at 11:15 this morning.
"Thanks to the wonderful grace of God, he had a full assurance of his salvation. Two days ago he was visited by two of our ministers, and his final words to them were, `See you in the kingdom!'
"A true man of God, Stan Bass will be remembered by all of us in the Caribbean for his love of God, for his integrity, gentleness and for always being there for us.
"We in the Caribbean ministry are--directly or indirectly--his legacy, his heritage. Our prayer is that by the grace of God we may prove as faithful in our ministries as he proved in his."
Audrey Huntley, Mr. Fleming's administrative assistant, had traveled from Florida to Big Sandy to help Millicent Bass take care of her husband.
Mrs. Huntley said she could feel God's presence in the house over the last few days, and knew that many people were praying for the Basses.
Mr. Bass was born in Ennis, Texas, Dec. 6, 1928. He was baptized in 1954. He received a bachelor of arts degree from Paul Quinn College in Waco, Texas, and a master of arts from Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas.
Mr. Bass began serving in the ministry in 1961 as a ministerial assistant in Chicago, Illinois, working with the late Harold Jackson and Dean Blackwell. He attended Ambassador College from 1963 to 1964, after which he participated in a baptizing tour through several Southern states.
In October 1967, he married Millicent Kerr, and a few months later they were sent to Barbados to pastor the church there and to lay the foundation for the church's work in the Caribbean.
Over the next 22 years, they were instrumental in establishing congregations and Bible studies in numerous countries throughout the region, from the island of Bermuda in the north, to Guyana in the south. They also visited countries in Central and South America.
In 1974, Mr. Bass set up the Caribbean Regional Office in Puerto Rico from which he could adequately serve all the islands. While there, he learned to speak fluent Spanish in order to serve the Spanish-speaking members of the church.
In 1990, he was transferred to Ambassador University to teach in the English Department and subsequently retired in 1994.
The funeral was conducted Friday, Aug. 6, at Croley Funeral Home in Gladewater, Texas.
Many tributes were expressed by family, friends and fellow ministers. He was described as a man of compassion, humility, kindness, gentleness and patience, with a good sense of humor and a love for music.
Mr. Bass was a mentor and father figure to many ministers and members alike, an outstanding example of true Christianity.
Pastor David Orban, in his eulogy, described Mr. Bass as a man who exemplified many of the attributes of holy living found in Colossians 3:12-17.
Mr. Bass will be fondly remembered by the thousands, whose lives he touched. He is survived by his wife, Millicent. The couple had no children.
"We will all greatly miss Stan Bass," said Pastor General Joseph Tkach.
Copyright © Worldwide Church of God, 1999