January 19, 1932 – June 28, 2025
Reverend Marcella J. (Childers) Pancoast, of Grand Blanc, Michigan, 93, went to be with her Lord
Saturday, June 28, 2025, from her daughter’s residence
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, July 5, 2025, at Hilltop Pentecostal Church, 2414 Avoca-Eureka Rd, Bedford, IN, Reverend Melissa Patillo officiating. Burial following at Hilltop Pentecostal Church cemetery. The family will receive friends at the church from 10 a.m. Saturday until the time of the service.
Those who desire may make contributions to the Pentecostal Church of God World Missions, Bedford, TX.
Marcella was born in Avoca, Indiana, on January 19, 1932, the daughter of the late Pallas and Nancie (Jackson) Childers.
She began preaching at the age of 16, devoting herself to full-time evangelism. At the age of 19, Marcella began serving the Pentecostal Church of God as the Indiana/Ohio PYPA (Youth) President and was ordained in the ministry by Reverend A.W. Thomas in the Pentecostal Church of God in 1952.
She married Reverend Charles L. Pancoast, the son of the late Lee and Isabel (Gilruth) Pancoast, in Avoca, Indiana, on October 29, 1954, and ministered alongside him as they pastored churches in Flatwoods, Kentucky; Los Angeles, California; Houston, Texas; Battle Creek, Michigan; Fort Smith, Arkansas; and Grand Blanc, Michigan.
Always a team in ministry, Marcella worked alongside her husband in the National PYPA President’s office from 1964 to 1969, traveling to many of the 50 states (and Haiti, Jamaica, and Mexico), preaching in youth rallies, youth camps, conferences, and revivals. The national Bible Quiz program was started during this tenure. She believed in Bible Quizzing and invested herself in young people, coaching Bible Quiz teams in the churches they pastored, to see their lives changed, their walk with God strengthened, and ministries established through the study of God’s Word.
While her husband served as President of Messenger College in Joplin, Missouri, from 1984 to 1991, Marcella taught classes and was the Dean of Students. She also earned a Master’s in Counseling Psychology from Pittsburg State University.
Marcella had a special love for her family and enjoyed spending time with them. A known prayer warrior, her daily time with God included praying for her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and numerous others who were blessed to know her.
Marcella is survived by her daughter, Loyce (Doug) Lewis; grandchildren – Scott, Craig, and Rosalie Melton; Dustin (Whitney) Lewis; and Derek (Alyssa) Lewis; great-grandchildren – Levi, Gracelynn, Milo, and Eden Lewis; son-in-law, Les Melton; a great extended family from Indiana; and a host of friends.
She is predeceased by her husband, Reverend Charles L. Pancoast, and daughter, Charlene J. Pancoast Melton.
