Rev. Vaughn E. Sprunger

Rev. Vaughn E. Sprunger, D.D., 89, of Berne passed into the presence of his Lord and Savior on Tuesday, April 24, 2018 at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne. He was born on August 25, 1928 in Bluffton to Otto F. and Lila (Lehman) Sprunger. He was married on November 3, 1950 in Berne to Arlene Habegger.

In 1950, he graduated from Bob Jones University from which he later received an honorary Doctorate of Divinity degree. He began his ministry in 1950 as assistant pastor at Temple Baptist Church in Portsmouth, Ohio. In his many years of ministry, he pastored only two churches: Berean Baptist Church in Portsmouth, Sciotoville, Ohio (1951-1963) and Community Baptist Church in South Bend (1963-1995).

Under his leadership, Community Baptist Church relocated and built a new facility and in the establishment of Community Baptist Christian School with an enrollment of nearly 300 students in kindergarten through grade 12. After 32 years as pastor of the church, he resigned but continued to be active as interim pastor, pulpit supply, and conference speaker. In 2000, he and his wife moved to Swiss Village in Berne, where they now attend Grace Bible Church. For over 25 years, he served on the executive board of Evangelical Baptist Mission. He also served on the advisory board of the Association of Baptists for World Evangelism (A.B.W.E.).

His godly life and faithful ministry along with his wife have had a profound influence not only on his family but also on a countless number of believers who are faithfully serving the Lord in local churches, Christian schools and colleges, Christian camps, and mission fields around the world.

He is survived by his wife of Berne; daughter, Sandra (Rev. Craig) Pendl of Greenville, South Carolina; son, Dr. Douglas (Gina) Sprunger of Greenville, South Carolina; five grandchildren, Jana (Jay) Gephart; Joel (Cindy) Pendl; Evan Pendl; Katie (Chris) Beckett; and Zachary (Kate) Sprunger; seven great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and four brothers, Orison, Frederick, Adrian, and Curtis Sprunger.

Visitation will be from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, April 27 at Yager-Kirchhofer Funeral Home in Berne and one hour prior to the 11:00 a.m. funeral service on Saturday, April 28 at Grace Bible Church in Berne. Officiating will be Pastor Jeff Gaskill, Pastor Craig Pendl, and Dr. Doug Sprunger. Burial will be at MRE Cemetery in Berne.

Memorials may be made to Community Baptist Church in South Bend and Swiss Village Samaritan Fund.

Arrangements provided by Yager-Kirchhofer Funeral Home in Berne. Sign the guestbook online at www.yagerkirchhofer.com.