of Conway, AR
October 5, 1921 - November 3, 2005
Ezekiel Benjamin Lancaster, age 84, of Conway, passed away Thursday, November 3, 2005. He was born October 5, 1921 in Bazette, Texas to Clide Lancaster and Pearl Poe Lancaster. He was preceded in death by his father, Clide Lancaster, and his mother Pearl Poe Lancaster.
He was an Army WWII veteran from 1942-1945. He was captured by the Germans in the Belgium Bulge and held as POW until April of 1945 when he escaped and was picked up by American soldiers.
He was a retired Baptist minister, beginning his pastoral career in 1951. He was also an elementary school teacher and administrator, retiring from the Bigelow School District in 1985. After moving to Conway in 1968, he pastored Brumley Baptsit Church in Conway from 1968 until 1977. He became pastor at First Baptist Church, Bigelow in 1978 and remained there until his retirement in 1989. He has served several churches in the Conway area in an interim capacity. Reverend Lancaster was a mentor and nurturer to many young persons in the faith, and will be greatly missed in our presence.
Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Evelyn Hendrick Lancaster; daughters Rebecca Lancaster Slate of Booneville, Martha Lancaster Reeder of Little Rock, Mary Lancaster Hedges of Nashville, Tennessee, and Elizabeth Lancaster White of Conway; a son, Kenneth Lancaster of Arkadelphia; a brother, James Lancaster of Wylie, Texas; grandchildren, Robin Slate, Cheri Roudebush, Zeke Lancaster, April Reeder, Samantha Reeder, Caleb Hedges, Rachel Hedges, Andrew Hedges, and Emily Lansdell; and two great-grandchildren, Elijah Roudebush and Josiah Roudebush.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m., Saturday, November 5, 2005, at Harlan Park Baptist Church with Dr. Jimmy Millikin and Rev. Jerry Hogan officiating. Burial will be in Crestlawn Memorial Park in Conway.
Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Friday, November 4, 2005 at Roller-McNutt Funeral Home in Conway.
Pallbearers are Andrew Hedges, Caleb Hedges, Scott Hedges, Joe Howerton, Zeke Lancaster, Joe Phillips, Larry Reeder, and Robin Slate. Honorary pallbearers are Paul Anthes, Monty McMahan, Dale Wynkoop, Joe Summerhill, and John Tipton.