Dr. Ray P. Rust's Obituary
Dr. Ray P. Rust, 92, passed away on Friday, February 2, 2018 in Richardson, TX. He was born on August 8, 1925 to H.H. and Clara Taylor Rust, and was raised in Summer Grove, Louisiana, the oldest of three boys.Dr. Rust was ordained into the ministry at the age of 18 in November of 1943, and that same year began his service as the Pastor of Pine Grove Baptist Church in Ruby, LA. He was married to Joy Lucille Stagg in August of 1946, with whom he raised a son, Larry, and a daughter, Jory. Dr. Rust earned bachelor’s degrees from Louisiana College in Pineville, LA and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and would later receive doctoral degrees from Louisiana College as well as Furman University in Greenville, SC. After his time at Pine Grove Baptist Church, Dr. Rust served as the Associate Pastor of First Baptist Church, Lake Charles, LA; Pastor of Vancleave Baptist Church, Vancleave, MS; Second Baptist Church, Biloxi, MS; First Baptist Church, Amite, LA; and First Baptist Church, Bastrop, LA. Following his years of pastoral service, Dr. Rust served in various roles at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, including Executive Assistant to the President, Acting President, and Executive Vice President. From New Orleans, he went on to serve as President of Anderson College in Anderson, SC and then on to the General Board of the South Carolina Baptist Convention, where he served as the Executive Secretary – Treasurer until retirement in 1992. After retirement, he served as the Interim Pastor for First Baptist Church, Bastrop, LA and First Baptist Church, Blue Ridge, TX. Along the way, he also served in various leadership positions with the Louisiana Baptist Convention, Louisiana College, the Baptist Message, and the Southern Baptist Convention, and mentored many members of the ministry.He is survived by his daughter, Jory Rust Watson; brother, Dr. John M. Rust; grandson, John Andrew Watson and his wife, Sara Elise Watson; granddaughter, Katherine Jordan Peters and her husband, Casey Michael Peters; granddaughter, Savannah Lareé Lawrence; granddaughter, Brianna Lauren Rust; great-grandson, Blaise Cantú; great-granddaughter, Calla Watson; and great-grandson, Clayton Watson. He is preceded in death by his wife, Joy; parents, H.H. and Clara; brother, Cpl. Charles Vernon Rust, USMC; son, Lawrence Henry Rust; and son-in-law, John Houston Watson.Patient, kind, and playful, Ray spent his life in the service of his family and the Lord, always seeking to honor others above himself, and exemplified the role of a true servant-leader to all who knew and loved him. While his warmth, grace, and smile will be missed, there is rejoicing over the completion of a race well run and the welcoming home of this good and faithful servant.A funeral service for Ray will be held at 3:00 pm on Friday, February 9 in the Wildwood Chapel at Restland Funeral Home in Dallas, TX. Memorial gifts can be made to Anderson University in Anderson, South Carolina.
What’s your fondest memory of Ray?
What’s a lesson you learned from Ray?
Share a story where Ray's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Ray you’ll never forget.
How did Ray make you smile?