Gerald W. Denny

Gerald W. Denny, age 87, of Sellersville, PA, went to be with the Lord on October 31, 2026, and leaves behind a legacy of love, humility, and servanthood to the Lord and others. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Ruth; son Shawn (Susan); daughter Sharolyn Cordner (Wes); four grandchildren Sarah Cordner, Lydia Cordner, Ben Cordner, and Kaitlyn Cordner; as well as three siblings Jana Dickinson (Fishers, IN) Steve Denny (Miran) (Oak Park, IL), and Kay Meyers (Lexington, KY).

Born in Lexington, KY, he was a son of the late Gayle M. and Mary K. Denny. He graduated from Lafayette High School in 1957 and was on the starting five of their boys’ basketball state championship team. He graduated from Lincoln Christian University and Seminary (Ilinois) and the University of Illinois.

Gerald served as youth minister at Central Christian Church, Mt. Vernon, IL (1959-62). In 1963 he served as area representative for Lincoln Christian University and as Director of Christian Education at the Webber Street Church of Christ, Urbana, IL. He married Ruth Iden in 1963 and began serving in 1964 as the Minister of Education at the First Christian Church, Clinton, Il. In 1972, he began serving as Minister of Education at the Mt. Carmel Christian Church, Decatur, GA, and in 1976 he became a member of the original board of directors for Pioneer Bible Translators (PBT), a voluntary position he held for 17 years, the last 11 of which were as board chairman. Gerald began as associate minister in 1980 with the Maryland Community Church, Terre Haute, IN. In 1986 he became the preaching minister for the newly formed Champaign-Urbana Christian Church in Illinois.

In 1993, he and his wife moved back to Lexington to care for his parents and they became full-time missionaries with PBT, opening its first regional office in Lexington. In providing pastoral care for the missionaries of PBT, he and his wife traveled to many countries. In 2012, they were given the Restoration Award, the highest award given to alumni of Lincoln Christian University. In 2017, the newest building on the main campus of PBT in Dallas, TX was named in honor of Gerald and Ruth. He retired from a ministry of pastoral care and the establishment of a Department of Missionary Care for PBT in 2021. They moved in 2024 from Lexington to Sellersville, PA to live in an excellent independent living facility near their daughter’s family.

A memorial service will be held at The Community at Rockhill, 3250 State Road, Sellersville, PA, on November 14, 2026 at 1:30pm. A celebration of life service will be held at Broadway Christian Church, 187 N. Broadway, Lexington, KY. Currently, the date and time are pending. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that contributions be given in Gerald’s memory to Pioneer Bible Translators, 7255 West Camp Wisdom Road, Dallas, TX 75236 https://tinyurl.com/GeraldDennyMemorium. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.WilliamsBergeyKoffel.com.