Minor, retired Arizona pastor, dies

William (Bill) Minor, pastor emeritus of Clarkdale Baptist Church, Clarkdale, died in Cottonwood May 25. He was 92.

Minor attended Hardin Simmons Baptist University and was a graduate of Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary.

He served as pastor of churches in Texas, California and New Mexico before becoming bilingual pastor/church planter of First Spanish Baptist Church, Flagstaff, and of a Hispanic mission church in Miami.

As a member of First Southern Baptist Church, Cottonwood, Minor was one of several members who were instrumental in the beginning of Clarkdale Baptist Mission, which became Clarkdale Baptist Church in 1991. Since then, he served there in many different capacities, including Sunday School teacher, choir director, and outreach leader until 2006, when he became associate pastor for outreach and visitation. He resigned in October 2013 for health reasons.

He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps in Europe during World War II as a crew member on various bomber aircraft on many bombing missions over Germany.

Minor was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Mildred “Millie” Minor. He is survived by three sons, seven grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.