CUMBERLAND, July 24 – Reverend Dargan Bolton Lucas, 92, of Cumberland, departed this life on Saturday, July 21, 2012. Born April 13, 1920, in Fincastle, he was the son of the late Walter Cebastian and Bessie Pearl Bolton Lucas and the ninth of 10 children.

He graduated from Bridgewater College in 1944 and received his Masters of Divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY, in 1948. While serving as associational missionary in the Shenandoah Association, he met his future wife, Beverly Hammond Lucas, who was his partner and helpmate in his ministry for 58 years before her death in 2004.

Rev. Lucas began his pastorate at Boyce Baptist Church in Boyce. From there, he accepted a call to Shenandoah Heights Baptist Church in Waynesboro. He was a great believer in mission work and, with the support and assistance of the Shenandoah Heights congregation, began the Wayne Hills Mission which later became Wayne Hills Baptist Church. He accepted a call to be full-time pastor at Wayne Hills and began what later became Westwood Baptist Church. He considered it an honor to be able to preach the 50th anniversary service at both Wayne Hills and Westwood. After he had fulfilled God's plan for him in Waynesboro, he accepted a call to First Baptist Church in Monroe, which became the mother church for West View Baptist Church in Madison Heights. He later became minister at New Prospect Baptist Church in Hurt, and in 1967 accepted the call to pastor a three church field in Cumberland – Fitzgerald, Tarwallet and Oak Grove Baptist churches. He remained in active ministry there until his “retirement.” After his retirement he held interim appointments throughout the Southside Region. He led Mt. Tabor Baptist Church in Arvonia through a renovation program and was honored with the title of Pastor Emeritus. He held a full-time pastorate until he was 90, with his last pastorate being Cumberland Community Church.

Rev. Lucas, often referred to as the “Cumberland community chaplain,” loved people, loved his community and loved to “give back.” He was a life member of the Cumberland County Ruritan Club as well as the Cumberland Rescue Squad, where he served as Chaplain. He was very honored to be named Squadman of the Year in 2006. A fifty year Mason, he was a Master Mason, Cumberland Masonic Lodge #283, a 32nd Degree Mason, and member of the Southside Shrine Club. Throughout the years, Rev. Lucas was active in the Baptist General Association of Virginia serving on many boards and committees. He was especially proud of his affiliation with the Virginia Baptist Children's Home which continued until his death.

He is survived by his three children, Beverly Lucas Hill (Jerry) of Powhatan, Charles D. Lucas (Linda) of Clemmons, NC, and Richard D. Lucas (Mary) of Roanoke; nine grandchildren, Troy (Maryanne), Lindsey (Luke), Ben, Beth, Jeremy, Lauren, John, Scott, and Joshua; great-grandson, Matthew; numerous nieces and nephews; sister, Dorothy Revere of Midlothian; sister-in-law, Anne LaRue of Ranson, WV; and four devoted friends and caretakers, Sabina Huotari, Hillary Gilbert, Beverly Wright, and Laurie Ann Higgins. In addition to his parents and wife, Rev. Lucas was preceded in death by four brothers, Walter, Clinton, Leslie, and Dennis Lucas; and four sisters, Edith Caldwell, Gladys Caldwell, Nellie Mullins, and Hazel Winstead.

Viewing will be held on Friday, July 27 from 6-8 p.m. at Dunkum Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be held at the funeral home on Saturday, July 28, at 11 a.m. Interment will be at 3:30 p.m. at Trinity Cemetery in Daleville.

Memorial gifts may be made to the Cumberland County Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 171, Cumberland, VA 23040.

Arrangements are by Dunkum Funeral Home, Dillwyn.