Allan Pollock

Ray Allan Pollock, 97, of Norman, Oklahoma, had his homecoming with the Lord on March 16, 2023 at Arbor House Assisted Living Facility.

His last days were spent in hospice care where he anticipated the joy of spending eternity in Heaven with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the One who sacrificed his earthly life to make his heavenly life possible.

Allan was born on May 8, 1925, to David Columbus and Marion Castleberry Pollock in Lilbourn, Missouri. He accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior at eight years of age at the First Baptist Church of Lilbourn, where he was baptized.

After graduating from high school in 1942, he enrolled at Southeast Missouri State Teachers College in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. One year later, he joined the Navy and was sent to Midshipman’s School in New Jersey, where he was commissioned as an Ensign in 1945.

He married the love of his life, Mary Lee Tope, on August 4, 1945, two days before the atomic bomb was dropped on Japan. Three months later, he was sent to Japan aboard a minesweeper. In 1946, he was transferred to the Naval Reserve.

Upon his discharge, he and Mary moved back to Lilbourn, Missouri, where Allan taught school. A year later, he and Mary move to Stamps, Arkansas, where their first child, David Allan Pollock, was born on January 16, 1947. When they were expecting their second child, they moved to Sikeston, Missouri, and on March 31, 1948, their daughter, Luana, was born.

A few months later, Allan felt God calling him to preach the gospel, and he surrendered his life to full-time ministry in 1948. Soon after that, he moved his family to Ft. Worth, Texas, in order to complete his college degree and to attend Southwestern Theological Seminary. He graduated from Texas Wesleyan University in 1951 and Southwestern Theological Seminary in 1953.

Upon his graduation, he became the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Morehouse, Missouri, where he served for three years. His daughter, Lynn, was born on November 10, 1953, and another daughter, Lenora, was born on January 14, 1955. In 1956, he accepted the call to become the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Gideon, Missouri.

In 1961, he moved his family to Joliet, Illinois, to serve as the Associational Missionary for Three Rivers Association, where his responsibilities were to help pastors start new churches. His wife, Mary, served alongside him while also teaching elementary school.

After six years in Joliet, Illinois, he became the pastor of the Lincoln Park Baptist Church in Flint, Michigan, and three years later, in 1970, he was called as the Associational Director of Missions for Genesee Association, Michigan.

In 1973, he became the Director of Missions in Southeastern and South Central Indiana, where he served until 1981, when he became the Director of Missions for Southwestern Baptist Association in Evansville, Indiana. He served in that position until 1990 when he retired. Following his retirement, he continued his preaching ministry as a supply preacher and interim pastor. Later, he served as an associate pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in Evansville, Indiana.

In 2010, he and Mary moved to Norman, Oklahoma, where his daughter, Luana, and her husband, James, were living, and where James was the senior pastor at Bethel Baptist Church.

Allan became an active member of Bethel following Mary’s passing in 2011. There, he sang in the choir, occasionally taught a Bible class, and enjoyed preaching at senior living and assisted living facilities during the week. Allan was an avid reader, reading several mysteries and/or westerns every week, and until his recent illness, he walked almost every day, baked his own bread, and entertained family and friends with his love of singing hymns and quoting Scripture.

His greatest desire was that everyone would place their faith in Jesus Christ by asking forgiveness for their sins and inviting Him to be their Savior and Lord. He seldom met anyone that he didn’t ask them, “What is your relationship to the Lord?”

Allan was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Mary Lee Tope Pollock; his parents, David and Marion Pollock; and sister, Roberta Houston. He is survived by his son, David Pollock, and wife, Jan, of Flushing, Michigan; his daughters, Luana Ehrlich, and husband, James, of Norman, Oklahoma; Lynn Pollock, and husband, Ilan, of San Diego, California; Lenora Rand, and husband, Gary, of Black Mountain, North Carolina, plus grandchildren, Karis Ehrlich Barnett, Chris Pollock, Chad Pollock, Zoe Rand, and Hannah Rand. He also leaves behind five great-grandchildren, Justin and Jake Barnett, Sidney and Emmy Pollock, and Sammy Pollock along with a number of wonderful nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Allan’s celebration of life will be held at Bethel Baptist Church, Norman, Oklahoma, on Monday, March 20, 2023 at ten o’clock with James Ehrlich, presiding. Interment follows in Sunset Memorial Park under the direction of Tribute Memorial Care. Visitation will be held at Tribute Memorial Care Event Center on Sunday, March 19, 2023 from 2:00-4:00 p.m.

Memorials may be made to Bethel Baptist Church, 1717 W. Lindsey Street, Norman, OK 73069.