Samuel Friend

Luginbuel Funeral Home, Vinita, OK 918-256-5555. Sam was born February 13, 1931 at the family home at 637 N. Foreman, Vinita, OK to W. F. and Elsie Friend. He passed on May 13, 2017 in Bothell, WA. He graduated from Vinita High School class of 1949, Oklahoma Baptist University 1958, B.A., Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary 1965, Masters of Divinity, and California Graduate School of Theology 1975, PhD. At a very young age he started working on his father's ranches in Vinita and Osage County, Oklahoma. The ranches covered thousands of acres and were Sam's training grounds to eventually become manager of the Vinita ranch as a teenager and later a partner in the ranch. In the mid 950's Sam felt a calling to the ministry and began his education at Oklahoma Baptist University. While attending OBU he continued to manage the ranch and became involved in evangelism holding revivals in many area churches. First Baptist Church of Vinita ordained Sam in the mid-1950s and offered him the position of pastor at a small mission church on N. First Street in 1960. He accepted and remained at Calvary Baptist for 5 years leading the church in building a new sanctuary. Missions always had a place in Sam's heart and when given the opportunity to pastor a small church in Bellingham, WA he signed his interest in the ranch back to his father, packed his family and moved to the Pacific Northwest. He remained at Victory Baptist Church for 3 years again leading to the building of a new church sanctuary. His call to First Baptist Church of Bothell in 1968 would be his last pastorate and would continue for 28 years. The church grew and as a result he continued to lead building projects including a new worship building, education building, and Heritage Christian school. His love for missions led him to the Pacific Northwest but it did not end with his move there. In 1979 he began traveling to communist Eastern Europe, primarily Romania. Sam ministered to churches in Romania and many other places in Europe. He continued his mission work after the fall of communism and after he retired from the pastorate at First Baptist of Bothell. Sam served on many boards and committees. Among them were the Southern Baptist Convention International Mission Board of Trustees, Romanian Missionary Society, and the Executive Board of the Northwest Baptist Convention. He was also a Trustee or Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. His parents W.F. and Elsie Friend preceded Sam in death as well as his siblings Elsie, Mike, Joe, Florence, Eloise, Mickey, Billye Ann, and Mary Jo.

Service Details

Saturday, May 13th, 2017 1:00pm, Luginbuel Funeral Home

Interment Details

Fairview Cemetery - Vinita