WHEELING, W.Va. (BP) — Ron McCoy, the second-term president of the West Virginia Convention of Southern Baptists who urged his state’s Baptists last month to be catalysts for revival, died Dec. 8 after a battle with cancer. He was 78.
Associational missionary for the Upper Ohio Valley Baptist Association in Wheeling, W.Va., since 2014, McCoy was elected WVCSB president in 2015 and again last month.
Addressing attendees at the WVCSB annual meeting Nov. 3-4 in Triadelphia, W.Va., McCoy urged “a spirit of cooperation to take this state for the Gospel” and added, “There’s no reason West Virginia cannot be the epicenter of revival in our nation.”
WVCSB executive director Bill Henard told Baptist Press McCoy “became the epitome of grace and unity in bringing our convention together. It is my hope that we will honor his consistent, clarion call to evangelism, unity and the Gospel.”
A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, McCoy retired in 1997 from a 37-year career at Bayer Chemical and earned a degree that same year from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., according to The Intelligencer of Wheeling. In retirement, McCoy helped start Cameron (W.Va.) Baptist Church, where he served as pastor 16 years.
During his tenure, Cameron Baptist built two buildings and helped restart Ryerson South Wheeling Baptist Church in Wind Ridge, Pa., The Intelligencer reported.
A WVCSB news release stated, “Throughout his life and fight with cancer, Ron was determined to preach to the people he loved and led in West Virginia, and to bring glory to God. Our lives will be forever impacted because of how God used Ron to lead, challenge and inspire us.”
McCoy is survived by his wife of 56 years Sandra, two children, five grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
WVCSB first vice president Todd Hill, pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Parkersburg, W.Va., will succeed McCoy as state convention president.
The funeral was held today (Dec. 12) in Moundsville, W.Va.
