Bobby Joe Dennis

The Reverend Bobby Joe "Bob" Dennis was born January 4, 1932, to Ronzo and Pauline Dennis of Troy, North Carolina. He was the oldest of three children, Patsy Dennis Craddock and Philip Donald Dennis, who preceded him in death in 2005 and 2004. He died on Saturday, September 3, 2016 at the age of 84. He was a graduate of Troy High School and received the B.A. Degree in English from High Point College in 1953. He earned the B.D. Degree at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, KY, in 1956 and did post graduate study in the area of Evangelism. As a college student, he served on a Youth Caravan Team under the General Board of Education of the Methodist Church in Arkansas during the summer of 1951. When he was a seminary student he served three summers in several states in the program of Seventy Evangelists under the General Board of Evangelism of the Methodist Church. He helped establish a Methodist church in Searcy, Arkansas. Rev. Dennis was a member of the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church. Over a period of 37 years, he served as pastor of the following United Methodist Churches: The Stoneville Charge, the Hiddenite Charge, Bethel in Thomasville, Bethlehem at Climax, Mt. Mitchell in Kannapolis, Spencer Memorial in Charlotte, First Methodist in Landis, Vanderburg in Mooresville, First Methodist in Maiden, North Kannapolis UMC, Rocky Ridge in Concord and Cramer Memorial in Cramerton. He retired in 1994. He preached in fifteen different states and in Jerusalem, Israel. In North Carolina he conducted many revival services, and preached in churches of various denominations. He made several trips to Israel and other countries. Bob Dennis developed a comedy routine around a character known as Josche and it grew into what he called a "Ministry of Mirth". He did between 500 and 600 performances of this character. He loved the game of baseball and played five years on the Troy High School team and four years on the Montgomery County American Legion team. In 1951, he played shortstop on the High Point College team and 1952 and 1953 he played second base. Also, he played on church and city teams until he was nearly sixty years of age. Rev. Dennis loved the out-of-doors and was an ardent fisherman and fished in local tournaments. He was a life member of Bass Anglers Sportsman Society and of North American Fishing Club. He was a member of the National Fishing Lure Collectors Club, Florida Antique Tackle Collectors Club, and life member of Carolina Antique Tackle Collectors Club. Also, he was a member of Spoonpluggers of America. He is survived by his wife, Virginia Sue Dennis; a daughter, Major Elizabeth Birks and husband John and their children, Captain Sarah Birks, Lt. Laura Tidman and husband Matthew, Lt. David Birks and wife Amy and their two daughters Victoria and Amelia; a son, Keith Alan Dennis and his wife, Sheri and their daughter Megan. The family will receive friends on Friday, September 9th, from 6:00-8:00pm at Pugh Funeral Home, Troy, NC. A Memorial Service will be conducted at on Saturday, September 10th, at 2:00 pm at Pugh Funeral Home, Troy, NC. Burial will be private at the Uwharrie Methodist Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Gideons International, PO Box 103, Troy, NC 27371 or Gideons International, 24107 St. Martin Road (PO Box 182), Albemarle, NC 28001.