Chester C. O’Brien of Amarillo, retired pastor and denominational executive, died Oct. 20. He was 94. O’Brien was born on Nov. 25, 1924, to Chester and Katie O’Brien in Fort Worth. He graduated from high school in Big Spring, and he went on to earn degrees from Hardin-Simmons University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. O’Brien married Bonnie Louise Ball on June 25, 1946 in Big Spring. He was pastor of Baptist churches in Big Spring, Denton, Gruver and Wellington, as well as in Wolf Creek, Ky., and Tucumcari, N.M. He was the founding pastor of Paramount Baptist Church in Amarillo, served Amarillo Baptist Association as the director of missions and the Baptist Convention of New Mexico as executive director. He retired from full-time ministry after serving as associate pastor of First Baptist Church in Amarillo. O’Brien was preceded in death by his wife, Bonnie. Survivors include son David of Austin; daughter Marianna Chopin of Charleston, S.C.; son John and his wife Marilyn of Amarillo; brother William R. O’Brien and wife Charmaine; and three grandchildren.
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