Paducah—Louis Brinker, former pastor of three Kentucky Baptist churches, passed away on Thursday, May 26, in Paducah. He was 78 years old.

Brinker served as pastor to Bellview Baptist Church in Paducah, Friendship Baptist Church in Smithland and Twelve Oaks Baptist in Paducah, as well as three churches in Illinois and one in Missouri. He also returned to one of his Illinois pastorates and served as minister to senior adults.

“He passed away well-loved and well-respected,” said Brandt Lyon, senior pastor at Twelve Oaks Baptist. “It seems like everywhere you went in Paducah, someone was baptized, married or ministered to by him.”

During his time at Twelve Oaks, Brinker formed the Double Nickels senior adult group and helped that group grow and develop.

“He was one of the most beloved, loved people,” added Lyon. “A real sorry loss for our church.”

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Carol, and three children, as well as six grandchildren, three siblings, and a host of nieces and nephews.

“He wanted to see the church grow and go,” said Mike Nolen, pastor at Bellview Baptist. “He left a big footprint at Bellview.”

Jan Bagby served as a secretary at Bellview Baptist for over three decades. It was Brinker who approached her with the idea of becoming a church secretary. “I laughed at first,” said Bagby. “But he was very instrumental in my hiring.”

During his time at Bellview, Brinker was instrumental in the establishment and development of the bus ministry, the senior adult ministry, and the Bellview Vision, the church newsletter.

“He was the first pastor I worked with. He helped me in my spiritual walk. He had his thumb in every pie, he wanted to be involved with every ministry in our church as much as he could,” added Bagby. “His time at Bellview was a boom time, the highest attendance we’ve had.”

Brinker will be remembered for his heart for senior adults, the church, and the lost. “He was a people person,” said Lyon. “He wanted to be around everybody.”

“He loved the Lord, he wanted to see as many people saved as possible, and he was willing to do whatever it took to make that happen,” said Bagby.