Dickson Hughes Rial of Garland, longtime Texas Baptist pastor, died Jan. 11. He was 89. He was born Nov. 30, 1934, in McGehee, Ark., to Hubert Hughes and Ruby Helen Rial. His 73 years in the ministry began at age 16 when he was called to preach. He began serving as pastor of Eastside Baptist Church in Dewitt, Ark., at age 18, and the church led the local association in baptisms for three years. After he graduated from Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Ark., he served three years as pastor of First Baptist Church in Antelope. He met Shirley Terry from Houston while they both were students at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. They married in September 1961 and served together at Stadium Drive Baptist Church in Fort Worth, until he was called as pastor of Orchard Hills Baptist Church in Garland in 1963, where he served eight years. He later served at First Baptist Church in Ada, Okla.; River Oaks Baptist Church in Houston; First Baptist Church in Benton, Ark.; and Hillcrest Baptist Church in Dallas. After nine years as a vocational evangelist, he returned to Orchard Hills Baptist Church as pastor in 2001. His denominational service included time on the executive boards of the Arkansas and Oklahoma Baptist conventions and the board of trustees for Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene. He was the author of five books, led tour groups to the Holy Land, and ministered in revivals in Korea, Israel, Europe, Greece and Canada. He was preceded in death by his brother Jarrell Rial. Survivors include his wife Shirley; son Randy Rial and his wife Renee; his daughter Renee Rial-Reynolds and husband Ray; 10 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Jan. 19 in Morgan Chapel at the Ethiopian Evangelical Believers Church (formerly Orchard Hills Baptist Church) in Garland. The memorial service is scheduled at 1 p.m. on Jan. 20, also in Morgan Chapel.
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