The thirty-six months I was privileged to work with Terry Varner and the Harmar Hill church of Christ in Marietta, Ohio were invaluable to my growth as a Christian and preacher. Designed to fit my current academic schedule while studying full-time at Ohio Valley College, my workload was appropriate and profitable. I had the challenge of academic rigor coupled with three rewarding years of on-the-job training with a preacher who (at the time) had 20+ years of experience.
Having served as a Marine in the Korean War as a teenager, Terry had lived a full life by the time our paths crossed back in 1983. His example and influence upon me from then until now remain deep and positive.
Terry was a voracious reader and diligent student. His innate curiosity made him a student of many things. He studied people. He studied nature. He studied Christian apologetics. But, most of all, he studied the Scriptures. His personal library--which ranged from 10,000-20,000 volumes during his lifetime--was a massive reminder of his studious nature. If he had enough coffee available and a compelling interest in something, brother Terry was known to study from sundown to sunup. He burned much midnight oil studying.
Brother Varner was an excellent Bible teacher. His adult Bible classes on various books of the Old and New Testaments were succinct yet solid. For almost thirty years, he taught Bible classes at the West Virginia School of Preaching in Moundsville, WV. The last class he taught there finished in June of this year; he was 88 years old.
Terry loved Restoration history. Because of his interest and frequent visits to Bethany College, he was on a first-name basis with the overseer of the home, study, and grounds of its founder, Alexander Campbell. One cold day, brother Varner gave brother Guy N. Woods a guided tour of Bethany. When the tour was completed, he got a chuckle out of where the then-editor of the Gospel Advocate desired to stop next. It was McDonald's (for a Big Mac and hot chocolate; even a Bible scholar like brother Woods has an occasional Big Mac attack)!
Terry was a trusted confidant and wise advisor. Preachers, elderships, and congregations alike sought his perspective and counsel when facing challenging situations. On several occasions through the years, I dialed Terry's phone number from memory (374-8612, after the area code) and sought his objective analysis and Bible-based feedback. I do not remember ever receiving bad counsel from any of those phone calls.
Terry was a great encouragement to me. Though he had high standards and expectations, he did express appreciation when he thought a job had been well done. One such occasion occurred about a month prior to his passing (which was on August 18th). Terry posted this note on my blog page Readthewordtoday.com:
John: Thank you for so concisely writing your articles on the book of Hebrews. They are well written. I have studied Hebrews my entire life. Even when I had no reason to be studying it so early. It has always been a book of freedom, hope, and redemption. I pray you have had a lot of "Thank You's" for your writing so concisely, biblical, and uplifting. You are a good student of God's word. I appreciate that our paths crossed. I have benefited knowing you. You and Kim are in our prayers. - Fraternally, W. Terry Varner
His kindness and encouragement have always been a blessing to me and many others.
Because of several falls and accidents, Terry spent much of his adult life in severe pain. When I last visited him in May of 2022, he was quite limited as to his movement. He rarely left the chair in which he sat. In conversation later that day with his son Stuart, he informed me that the pain was constant and severe. Based upon the promises of God in His word and Terry's intense desire to be faithful unto death, it is comforting to know that he can rest from his labors, being free from the physical pain which tormented him many days of his life.
Because of Christ, all who feel the loss which came with Terry's passing do not need to sorrow as those who have no hope (1 Thess. 4:13).