D.O. Van Dyne

D.O. Van Dyne

Fresno, CA

D.O. Van Dyne never had a lot, never needed a lot and never wanted a lot. He was, by all accounts, a poor country boy. Born July 24, 1929, to Marion Sylvester and Mary Olive (Arnaman) Van Dyne in Unionville, Missouri, Darwin O’Neil grew to love food, farming and music.

The love of music led Darwin to join a quartet. One summer, they were invited to sing at a revival meeting. That evening, Darwin heard the Gospel and accepted Jesus as his Saviour.

The love of farming led Darwin to become 4-H Club president. That’s where he met Marilyn Grace. He was smitten, and so was she. On October 29, 1950, the couple married at First Baptist in Unionville. That night, they attended Grace Tabernacle Baptist in Centerville, Iowa, where Darwin surrendered to God’s call to preach.

Upon graduating from Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Missouri, in 1955, D.O. visited Fairfield, Iowa, where eight people wanted to organize a church. D.O. became their pastor and served at Calvary Baptist until God called him to Australia as a missionary in 1971.

D.O. returned to Fairfield in 1975, becoming pastor of Suburban Heights Baptist and opening a Christian school. He later pastored for more than two decades at First Baptist in Walkerton, Indiana. He would again go overseas as a missionary to the U.S. military. In his final years, he would teach a Sunday School class at Victory Baptist in Fresno, California.

“God has been so good to me,” he often said.

Indeed, that poor country boy was blessed.

“I like the fellow who says when he dies that he doesn't want to leave his possessions, he wants to go to his possessions,” he preached recently.

D.O. Van Dyne did just that August 25, 2025.

D.O. was preceded in death by his wife, Marilyn. He is survived by their six children, Kevin (Luann) Van Dyne of Colorado, Karen (Gary) Craft of Oklahoma, Kristen (Jerry) Hickey of Florida, Kathy (Phil) Laughlin of California, Kent (Susan) Van Dyne of Colorado, and Kolin (Jill) Van Dyne of Georgia; their 17 grandchildren; their 27 great-grandchildren.