Dan Clayton Routledge passed away at his home on Sunday, June 14, 2015, after a long illness. His wife and five children were by his side as he left this earth for his heavenly home.
The son of Clayton and Bette Routledge, Dan was born Feb. 13, 1941, in Joplin, Mo. He graduated from Joplin High School in 1959. He attended Southwest Baptist College until 1961, where he earned an Associate in Arts degree. He graduated from Baylor University, Waco, Texas, in 1963 with Bachelor of Arts degrees in English and History. After graduating from Baylor, he earned his teaching certificate from Pittsburg State University and taught English in Alba, Missouri, in 1964. Dan knew from childhood that he wanted to be a minister. During college he suffered a severe head injury that required extensive rehabilitation and delayed his plans to attend seminary. The Routledges are legendary for their stubbornness, a trait that helped Dan awake from a coma, learn to walk and talk again, and go on to complete his college degrees. After one year of teaching in Alba, he felt ready to attend seminary. He moved to California and earned his Master of Divinity from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in 1968.
After seminary, Dan spent five years as a home missionary for the North American Mission Board in Yosemite, Calif. Dan made a trip home for Christmas in 1969 and met the love of his life Beth Thompson. A bachelor for 29 years, three days after meeting Beth he proposed and, in her youthful wisdom, she accepted. He returned to California while she planned a wedding, and on Feb. 14, 1970, they married in Joplin, Mo. They made their home in Yosemite, where Dan pastored a church. In 1974, they became Baptist missionaries for the International Mission Board. They spent a year in Tours, France, learning the French language and then moved to Ivory Coast, West Africa. In addition to building a ministry in the Ivory Coast, Dan built two homes, a dental clinic, and church while he was there – no small feat for someone with no construction experience. Once again, he relied on his faith and Routledge determination to fulfill his mission.
Dan and Beth returned to the United States in 1983. Dan served as a pastor at Fairview Baptist Church in Joplin and New Providence Baptist Church in Oronogo. In 2000, he became a chaplain at Freeman Health System, where he worked until his retirement in 2011. As a pastor and chaplain, he will be remembered for his servant heart and his patience and calm during some of life’s most difficult moments. He will also be remembered for the many hours he spent singing hymns at the bedsides of his elderly patients.
Dan’s parents Clayton and Bette Routledge of Joplin preceded him in death. Dan’s wife Beth, with whom he spent 45 years living a loving, adventurous and full life, survives. Survivors also include his sister Janet Carter of Joplin; his sister Judy Brown and her husband Tom, of Tulsa, Okla.; and his five children, Kelli Price and her husband Joseph of Joplin; Kassi Raboin of Overland Park, Kan.; Dr. Clay Routledge and his wife Jenny of Fargo, N.D.; Kerri Sturgis and her husband Matt of Joplin; and Chris Routledge of Columbia, Mo. He is also survived by ten grandchildren, Beth Scott,Taylor and Tate Raboin, Nataly and Konner Routledge, Miles Pratt, Anna Belle Price, Emmah Henson, and Cole Sturgis, and two great grandchildren, Alston and Eli Scott. Dan’s quiet and fierce love for his family (and the St. Louis Cardinals) was surpassed only by his love for his savior.
Services are planned for 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 17, at Forest Park Baptist Church. The family will receive family and friends following the service. Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to the Gideons International organization or Water Gardens Gospel Rescue Mission in Joplin.
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