Willard Dempsey Conchin of Meridianville, Alabama departed this life for better living quarters on December 28, 2019. He was 98 years old. Brother Conchin, as he was affectionately known, was born April 16, 1921 at Little Marrow Bone Creek, near Ashland City, Tennessee. He was one of nine children. His father was an Italian immigrant whose family brought garlic and grapes from the old country to plant in the fertile countryside. School buses had not begun to run then, and he began the first grade by walking three miles to school. Life was not always easy. It was in this rough setting his family scratched out a meager existence. He had a strong, principled mother that took him to church. She gifted him with her love of music. He was influenced by, studied with and baptized by a gospel preacher, Barton Laws, who became a second father to him and urged him to leave the homeplace at an early age to attend Georgia Bible College for his last two high school years. He graduated as valedictorian. He then attended David Lipscomb College where he earned a basketball scholarship and paid his own way through school by waiting tables in the school lunchroom and scrubbing floors and windows. It was there in 1944 that he met his wife of 73 years, Vonda, as they waited tables and did odd jobs to support themselves. Vonda obtained a Master’s Degree in English. Willard was religious editor of the college paper, Vice President of the senior class and the student board and graduated cum laude. He later completed his Bachelor of Science at East Tennessee State College in Johnson City, Tennessee where he completed his Master’s degree in education in 1946. He was also on the basketball team. He was active in speech and sports work there, editor in chief of the school paper, and valedictorian of his class. His love of sports never left him. He coached many boys’ and girls’ teams in his younger years. His girls’ teams were especially successful. They could only play half-court in those days and he lobbied for them to be able to play “just like the boys.” He enjoyed basketball and outshooting his own sons and grandsons in “horse” on his own goal until his early 80’s.
Brother Conchin began preaching at the age of 19, meeting in unfinished buildings and basements in Elizabethton, Sevierville, Jonesboro, Johnson City, Tennessee and preaching at mission points in Georgia and Florida. He preached his first sermon in 1940 at White’s Creek Church of Christ.
Raising five (5) children and working three (3) jobs was not easy. Brother Conchin explained that “we learned how to live with less in some places.” At one of his early preaching jobs he was paid $125.00 per month, and all seven family members survived on that.
Brother Conchin worked tirelessly to preach the gospel and his family moved to various church assignments throughout Tennessee and North Carolina, including an extended stay in Mocksville, North Carolina, before moving to Huntsville where he and his wife became teachers at Madison Academy in 1963. He was chosen by the teaching staff to be the principal several years in the 1960’s. Those were hard times at the school and many credit him with keeping the school from closing. He let the janitorial staff go and he and his family became the janitors, cleaning the floors and taking out trash. Many of the loyal lunchroom workers agreed to work with no pay. After leaving Madison Academy both Willard and Vonda taught at Redstone Arsenal, teaching English and communication skills to government employees for 21 years. During that time, he was still preaching and writing workbooks. He also preached full time at local congregations, and along with faithful members and friends he began the Meridianville Church of Christ in 1964 in the Meridianville Middle School lunchroom. They later built the building in Meridianville. He felt a calling to develop smaller churches and left Meridianville to preach at the State Line Church of Christ and Camargo Church of Christ in Tennessee, where he spent seventeen years.
He is preceded in death by both parents, Joe and Amanda Adcock Conchin and by his wife of 73 years, Vonda Marie Little Conchin; daughter Rita Jean Maples, daughter Anita Kay Anderson of Franklin, Tennessee.
When Brother Conchin was not preaching the gospel or teaching school, he was writing and publishing Christian work books. He wrote his first Bible workbook in 1952. He and Vonda edited and published 67 church study work books which are still in print today and have sold over four million copies. His works were biblical and scholarly. He had an incredible work ethic. He was patient and uncomplaining, sincere and humble. He was sound in teaching and a model in his personal life. He was happy and optimistic, even when in sorrow or in pain.
He was an accomplished musician and song leader. He could play several instruments and took organ and piano lessons well into his 80’s just to improve his playing. He began his musical career by playing the ukelele, fiddle and accordion in a hillbilly band. They were invited to play on several radio shows. He was a great song leader at church, often agreeing to come early, before worship service, to “teach singing” to the congregation.
Brother Conchin lived his life as a sweet, kind man. He had many tragedies in life, having lost his two eldest daughters and then having to live without Vonda. He helped raise a special needs child at home for 50 years. Brother Conchin was never bitter. He truly lived by the dictates of the Bible and considered himself first a Christian. He continued cutting out inspirational articles until Alzheimer’s robbed him of his marvelous memory. One of those clippings that he had posted to his work desk was from Aristotle: “evaluate pleasures as they depart, not as they come.”
On December 28, 2019 the God whom Willard Conchin had loved and worshipped so long must have said, “Willard, your health has failed you, your memory has dimmed, you have truly lived the old, old story through every aspect of a full life. You have been faithful to your family, your church and your community. You have been an inspiration to all who have known you. I’m going to take you home now to sing again with your dear daughters, and to teach and sing in joy, but I will leave in the hearts of those who have known you the memory of a faithful servant.”
Brother Conchin was loved by all who knew him. He was one of the few whom it can be said of that the void created by his passing will never be filled. We are left with the inspiration that was created by his life here on earth.
To the extent mere words and phrases can describe and define his lengthy life, those words would be Christian, teacher, inspirational, integrity, selflessness, dedication and humility. Brother Willard had a joke, quip or story for every occasion. He was fond of stating “I have no time to worry. In the daytime I’m too busy and at night I’m too sleepy.” He can now rest in peace with his heavenly father.
Brother Conchin began preaching at the age of 19, meeting in unfinished buildings and basements in Elizabethton, Sevierville, Jonesboro, Johnson City, Tennessee and preaching at mission points in Georgia and Florida. He preached his first sermon in 1940 at White’s Creek Church of Christ.
Raising five (5) children and working three (3) jobs was not easy. Brother Conchin explained that “we learned how to live with less in some places.” At one of his early preaching jobs he was paid $125.00 per month, and all seven family members survived on that.
Brother Conchin worked tirelessly to preach the gospel and his family moved to various church assignments throughout Tennessee and North Carolina, including an extended stay in Mocksville, North Carolina, before moving to Huntsville where he and his wife became teachers at Madison Academy in 1963. He was chosen by the teaching staff to be the principal several years in the 1960’s. Those were hard times at the school and many credit him with keeping the school from closing. He let the janitorial staff go and he and his family became the janitors, cleaning the floors and taking out trash. Many of the loyal lunchroom workers agreed to work with no pay. After leaving Madison Academy both Willard and Vonda taught at Redstone Arsenal, teaching English and communication skills to government employees for 21 years. During that time, he was still preaching and writing workbooks. He also preached full time at local congregations, and along with faithful members and friends he began the Meridianville Church of Christ in 1964 in the Meridianville Middle School lunchroom. They later built the building in Meridianville. He felt a calling to develop smaller churches and left Meridianville to preach at the State Line Church of Christ and Camargo Church of Christ in Tennessee, where he spent seventeen years.
He is preceded in death by both parents, Joe and Amanda Adcock Conchin and by his wife of 73 years, Vonda Marie Little Conchin; daughter Rita Jean Maples, daughter Anita Kay Anderson of Franklin, Tennessee.
When Brother Conchin was not preaching the gospel or teaching school, he was writing and publishing Christian work books. He wrote his first Bible workbook in 1952. He and Vonda edited and published 67 church study work books which are still in print today and have sold over four million copies. His works were biblical and scholarly. He had an incredible work ethic. He was patient and uncomplaining, sincere and humble. He was sound in teaching and a model in his personal life. He was happy and optimistic, even when in sorrow or in pain.
He was an accomplished musician and song leader. He could play several instruments and took organ and piano lessons well into his 80’s just to improve his playing. He began his musical career by playing the ukelele, fiddle and accordion in a hillbilly band. They were invited to play on several radio shows. He was a great song leader at church, often agreeing to come early, before worship service, to “teach singing” to the congregation.
Brother Conchin lived his life as a sweet, kind man. He had many tragedies in life, having lost his two eldest daughters and then having to live without Vonda. He helped raise a special needs child at home for 50 years. Brother Conchin was never bitter. He truly lived by the dictates of the Bible and considered himself first a Christian. He continued cutting out inspirational articles until Alzheimer’s robbed him of his marvelous memory. One of those clippings that he had posted to his work desk was from Aristotle: “evaluate pleasures as they depart, not as they come.”
On December 28, 2019 the God whom Willard Conchin had loved and worshipped so long must have said, “Willard, your health has failed you, your memory has dimmed, you have truly lived the old, old story through every aspect of a full life. You have been faithful to your family, your church and your community. You have been an inspiration to all who have known you. I’m going to take you home now to sing again with your dear daughters, and to teach and sing in joy, but I will leave in the hearts of those who have known you the memory of a faithful servant.”
Brother Conchin was loved by all who knew him. He was one of the few whom it can be said of that the void created by his passing will never be filled. We are left with the inspiration that was created by his life here on earth.
To the extent mere words and phrases can describe and define his lengthy life, those words would be Christian, teacher, inspirational, integrity, selflessness, dedication and humility. Brother Willard had a joke, quip or story for every occasion. He was fond of stating “I have no time to worry. In the daytime I’m too busy and at night I’m too sleepy.” He can now rest in peace with his heavenly father.
Willard Dempsey Conchin of Meridianville, Alabama departed this life for better living quarters on December 28, 2019. He was 98 years old. Brother Conchin, as he was affectionately known, was born April 16, 1921 at Little Marrow Bone Creek, near Ashland City, Tennessee. He was one of nine children. His father was an Italian immigrant whose family brought garlic and grapes from the old country to plant in the fertile countryside. School buses had not begun to run then, and he began the first grade by walking three miles to school. Life was not always easy. It was in this rough setting his family scratched out a meager existence. He had a strong, principled mother that took him to church. She gifted him with her love of music. He was influenced by, studied with and baptized by a gospel preacher, Barton Laws, who became a second father to him and urged him to leave the homeplace at an early age to attend Georgia Bible College for his last two high school years. He graduated as valedictorian. He then attended David Lipscomb College where he earned a basketball scholarship and paid his own way through school by waiting tables in the school lunchroom and scrubbing floors and windows. It was there in 1944 that he met his wife of 73 years, Vonda, as they waited tables and did odd jobs to support themselves. Vonda obtained a Master’s Degree in English. Willard was religious editor of the college paper, Vice President of the senior class and the student board and graduated cum laude. He later completed his Bachelor of Science at East Tennessee State College in Johnson City, Tennessee where he completed his Master’s degree in education in 1946. He was also on the basketball team. He was active in speech and sports work there, editor in chief of the school paper, and valedictorian of his class. His love of sports never left him. He coached many boys’ and girls’ teams in his younger years. His girls’ teams were especially successful. They could only play half-court in those days and he lobbied for them to be able to play “just like the boys.” He enjoyed basketball and outshooting his own sons and grandsons in “horse” on his own goal until his early 80’s.
Brother Conchin began preaching at the age of 19, meeting in unfinished buildings and basements in Elizabethton, Sevierville, Jonesboro, Johnson City, Tennessee and preaching at mission points in Georgia and Florida. He preached his first sermon in 1940 at White’s Creek Church of Christ.
Raising five (5) children and working three (3) jobs was not easy. Brother Conchin explained that “we learned how to live with less in some places.” At one of his early preaching jobs he was paid $125.00 per month, and all seven family members survived on that.
Brother Conchin worked tirelessly to preach the gospel and his family moved to various church assignments throughout Tennessee and North Carolina, including an extended stay in Mocksville, North Carolina, before moving to Huntsville where he and his wife became teachers at Madison Academy in 1963. He was chosen by the teaching staff to be the principal several years in the 1960’s. Those were hard times at the school and many credit him with keeping the school from closing. He let the janitorial staff go and he and his family became the janitors, cleaning the floors and taking out trash. Many of the loyal lunchroom workers agreed to work with no pay. After leaving Madison Academy both Willard and Vonda taught at Redstone Arsenal, teaching English and communication skills to government employees for 21 years. During that time, he was still preaching and writing workbooks. He also preached full time at local congregations, and along with faithful members and friends he began the Meridianville Church of Christ in 1964 in the Meridianville Middle School lunchroom. They later built the building in Meridianville. He felt a calling to develop smaller churches and left Meridianville to preach at the State Line Church of Christ and Camargo Church of Christ in Tennessee, where he spent seventeen years.
He is preceded in death by both parents, Joe and Amanda Adcock Conchin and by his wife of 73 years, Vonda Marie Little Conchin; daughter Rita Jean Maples, daughter Anita Kay Anderson of Franklin, Tennessee.
When Brother Conchin was not preaching the gospel or teaching school, he was writing and publishing Christian work books. He wrote his first Bible workbook in 1952. He and Vonda edited and published 67 church study work books which are still in print today and have sold over four million copies. His works were biblical and scholarly. He had an incredible work ethic. He was patient and uncomplaining, sincere and humble. He was sound in teaching and a model in his personal life. He was happy and optimistic, even when in sorrow or in pain.
He was an accomplished musician and song leader. He could play several instruments and took organ and piano lessons well into his 80’s just to improve his playing. He began his musical career by playing the ukelele, fiddle and accordion in a hillbilly band. They were invited to play on several radio shows. He was a great song leader at church, often agreeing to come early, before worship service, to “teach singing” to the congregation.
Brother Conchin lived his life as a sweet, kind man. He had many tragedies in life, having lost his two eldest daughters and then having to live without Vonda. He helped raise a special needs child at home for 50 years. Brother Conchin was never bitter. He truly lived by the dictates of the Bible and considered himself first a Christian. He continued cutting out inspirational articles until Alzheimer’s robbed him of his marvelous memory. One of those clippings that he had posted to his work desk was from Aristotle: “evaluate pleasures as they depart, not as they come.”
On December 28, 2019 the God whom Willard Conchin had loved and worshipped so long must have said, “Willard, your health has failed you, your memory has dimmed, you have truly lived the old, old story through every aspect of a full life. You have been faithful to your family, your church and your community. You have been an inspiration to all who have known you. I’m going to take you home now to sing again with your dear daughters, and to teach and sing in joy, but I will leave in the hearts of those who have known you the memory of a faithful servant.”
Brother Conchin was loved by all who knew him. He was one of the few whom it can be said of that the void created by his passing will never be filled. We are left with the inspiration that was created by his life here on earth.
To the extent mere words and phrases can describe and define his lengthy life, those words would be Christian, teacher, inspirational, integrity, selflessness, dedication and humility. Brother Willard had a joke, quip or story for every occasion. He was fond of stating “I have no time to worry. In the daytime I’m too busy and at night I’m too sleepy.” He can now rest in peace with his heavenly father.
Brother Conchin began preaching at the age of 19, meeting in unfinished buildings and basements in Elizabethton, Sevierville, Jonesboro, Johnson City, Tennessee and preaching at mission points in Georgia and Florida. He preached his first sermon in 1940 at White’s Creek Church of Christ.
Raising five (5) children and working three (3) jobs was not easy. Brother Conchin explained that “we learned how to live with less in some places.” At one of his early preaching jobs he was paid $125.00 per month, and all seven family members survived on that.
Brother Conchin worked tirelessly to preach the gospel and his family moved to various church assignments throughout Tennessee and North Carolina, including an extended stay in Mocksville, North Carolina, before moving to Huntsville where he and his wife became teachers at Madison Academy in 1963. He was chosen by the teaching staff to be the principal several years in the 1960’s. Those were hard times at the school and many credit him with keeping the school from closing. He let the janitorial staff go and he and his family became the janitors, cleaning the floors and taking out trash. Many of the loyal lunchroom workers agreed to work with no pay. After leaving Madison Academy both Willard and Vonda taught at Redstone Arsenal, teaching English and communication skills to government employees for 21 years. During that time, he was still preaching and writing workbooks. He also preached full time at local congregations, and along with faithful members and friends he began the Meridianville Church of Christ in 1964 in the Meridianville Middle School lunchroom. They later built the building in Meridianville. He felt a calling to develop smaller churches and left Meridianville to preach at the State Line Church of Christ and Camargo Church of Christ in Tennessee, where he spent seventeen years.
He is preceded in death by both parents, Joe and Amanda Adcock Conchin and by his wife of 73 years, Vonda Marie Little Conchin; daughter Rita Jean Maples, daughter Anita Kay Anderson of Franklin, Tennessee.
When Brother Conchin was not preaching the gospel or teaching school, he was writing and publishing Christian work books. He wrote his first Bible workbook in 1952. He and Vonda edited and published 67 church study work books which are still in print today and have sold over four million copies. His works were biblical and scholarly. He had an incredible work ethic. He was patient and uncomplaining, sincere and humble. He was sound in teaching and a model in his personal life. He was happy and optimistic, even when in sorrow or in pain.
He was an accomplished musician and song leader. He could play several instruments and took organ and piano lessons well into his 80’s just to improve his playing. He began his musical career by playing the ukelele, fiddle and accordion in a hillbilly band. They were invited to play on several radio shows. He was a great song leader at church, often agreeing to come early, before worship service, to “teach singing” to the congregation.
Brother Conchin lived his life as a sweet, kind man. He had many tragedies in life, having lost his two eldest daughters and then having to live without Vonda. He helped raise a special needs child at home for 50 years. Brother Conchin was never bitter. He truly lived by the dictates of the Bible and considered himself first a Christian. He continued cutting out inspirational articles until Alzheimer’s robbed him of his marvelous memory. One of those clippings that he had posted to his work desk was from Aristotle: “evaluate pleasures as they depart, not as they come.”
On December 28, 2019 the God whom Willard Conchin had loved and worshipped so long must have said, “Willard, your health has failed you, your memory has dimmed, you have truly lived the old, old story through every aspect of a full life. You have been faithful to your family, your church and your community. You have been an inspiration to all who have known you. I’m going to take you home now to sing again with your dear daughters, and to teach and sing in joy, but I will leave in the hearts of those who have known you the memory of a faithful servant.”
Brother Conchin was loved by all who knew him. He was one of the few whom it can be said of that the void created by his passing will never be filled. We are left with the inspiration that was created by his life here on earth.
To the extent mere words and phrases can describe and define his lengthy life, those words would be Christian, teacher, inspirational, integrity, selflessness, dedication and humility. Brother Willard had a joke, quip or story for every occasion. He was fond of stating “I have no time to worry. In the daytime I’m too busy and at night I’m too sleepy.” He can now rest in peace with his heavenly father.
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