Wayne Oeffler

Type Obit Here BEDFORD -- Wayne W. Oeffler, 83, went home to be with Jesus on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2009.        Funeral: 4 p.m. Thursday at Woodland Heights Baptist Church, 3712 Central Drive in Bedford. Dr. Timothy Pierce will officiate. Interment: Ocala, Fla. Visitation: The family will receive friends 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at Lucas Funeral Home in Hurst.        Wayne was born Aug. 17, 1926, in Jasonville, Ind. His family moved to Florida while he was serving in the military during World War II. When he returned from serving in the Army, he entered Stetson University and surrendered to the ministry. While at Stetson, he met Eva Maye Cates and they were married in 1952. After graduating from Stetson he attended and graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.        Wayne and Eva Maye served churches in Florida throughout their ministry, most of them in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area. Wayne was a gifted pastor who was always available for families who were experiencing difficulties. He excelled at ministering to those most in need. He continued his ministry even after retiring from full-time pastoring, serving as an interim pastor at several churches into his late 70s. We will miss his presence in our lives, but we know he is rejoicing and praising the Lord in heaven, no longer suffering and free from pain and disease.        Survivors: Wife, Eva Maye; daughter and son-in-law, Wynette and Jim Griffin; granddaughter, Liz Griffin, all of Bedford; sister, Norma Jean McCall and her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Wayne Oeffler please visit our Sympathy Store.