Dr. Paul R. Bauman, 97, Vice President Emeritus for Special Ministries at LeTourneau University, Longview Texas, went to be with the Lord Tuesday morning, February 8, 2005, in Amarillo, Texas, at the age of 97. A memorial service for Bauman will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 23, in Speer Chapel on the LeTourneau University campus.
Bauman and his wife, Irene, moved to Amarillo last month. He was interred near Indianapolis, IN, with a graveside service on Saturday, February 12.
Dr. Bauman, the son of Dr. Louis S. Bauman, was born January 7, 1908, in Portis, Kansas to Mary Bauman, the first wife of Louis S. who died a year later in 1909. His father subsequently remarried, and the family moved to Long Beach, CA, in 1912. His grandfather, W. J. H. Bauman, was one of the organizers of the Brethren Church.
From 1926 to 1929 he studied at Ashland College, where he developed an interest in biology, and then he returned to California where he earned both the BA and MA degrees in biology from the U. of Southern California. For a time he served as assistant to his father in the First Brethren Church of Long Beach, California.
He became pastor of the Second Brethren Church of Los Angeles from 1934-1942, and in 1937 began to teach part-time at Biola where, in 1942, he was made professor of theology and apologetics. Soon afterward he became vice president of the school and eventually was honored with the D.D. degree.
In 1942 he took a world tour with Louis T. Talbot, president of Biola, and these two pioneered in the development of audio-visual materials portraying mission work. On the trip more than 20,000 feet of film was used to record the stories of various missionary ministries.
In 1947 he became vice president of Grace Theological Seminary in Winona Lake, IN, where he helped organize Grace College. He also earned the M.Div. degree while associated with Grace Seminary.
Dr. Bauman joined the LeTourneau College (now University) faculty in August of 1962 as Vice President for Special Ministries and Bible professor. He retired in January 1977.
In 1969 he, along with Dr. Raymond Gingrich and Vernard Holsinger and their wives, co-founded the Grace Brethren Church of Longview, Texas.
Dr. Bauman was an expert in biblical prophecy and apologetics and traveled through the Holy Land leading many guided tours. Beginning in 1948, the year Israel became a state, he made more than 50 trips to the Holy Land. He also conducted tours to Europe and to the Mediterranean which followed Paul’s missionary journeys. He spoke at many Bible conference and churches and was known for his illustrated sermons.
Dr. Bauman served as a charter member of the Brethren Home Missions Council (now GBNAM) and was president of the board for more than ten years. He also was a member of the American Schools of Oriental Research and was a fellow of the American Scientific Affiliation. He was one the original board members of Missionary Tech Team (a missionary servicing organization) of Longview and remained on their board until his death.