Minnie Bingaman

Minnie Bingaman, 84, passed quietly on Thursday, January 21, 2021. She was surrounded by family joining in prayer, scripture and song. A memorial service will be planned for family and friends later this year, when it is safer to gather.

Minnie was born at home on January 31, 1936, in Gray, Texas, at the edge of the Caddo Lake. She was one of five children of Florence Pace Pease and Robert Eldridge Pease. She married Charles Gordon Bingaman in 1955 and recently celebrated their 65th Wedding Anniversary on December 26, 2020.

From a young age, Minnie aspired to be an executive secretary using her extensive organizational skills. Each of her employers throughout her secretarial career also became dear friends, which was a testament to her determination to serve. Music was always an important part of Minnie’s life. She was able to combine these passions for service and music by helping her husband, Charles, as he served as Minister of Music in numerous Baptist churches through the years, bringing them to First Baptist Church of Abilene in 1976. In addition to these jobs outside the home, she spent 34 years raising four children in a loving, happy home. She was also known for making countless chocolate freezer pies, chocolate sheet cakes, and lemon cakes for family and friends.

Even in retirement, she and Charles continued to serve others, volunteering at City Light Community Ministries in Abilene and traveling throughout Texas in their work with Texas Baptist Men – Camp Builders. While Charles was helping with construction for the camp, Minnie would help out in the camp office or work with the other wives sewing and crafting items for people in need. She and Charles also enjoyed traveling on their own to 48 states and Canada, packing up their RV and leaving for months at a time. Everyone loved the many descriptive emails Minnie would send while they were away.

Minnie is survived by her husband, Charles Bingaman of Abilene; her brother, John Pease and wife Judy of Cameron; her sister-in-law Judy Lane and husband Jim of Houston; four children: D’Anna Smith and husband Larry of Abilene, Randall Bingaman and wife Julie of Abilene, Gordon Bingaman and wife Marian of Austin, and Andrea Zureick and husband Aaron of San Bernardino, California. She is also survived by 14 grandchildren: Clayton and Laci Smith of Austin; Hallie Bingaman of Fort Worth; Michael Bingaman of Saint George, Utah; Austin and Katherine Smith of Nashville, Tennessee; Mallory and Michael Crocker of Colorado Springs, Colorado; Ashley Barrett of Rowlett; Douglas Bingaman of London, England; Olivia Bingaman of Austin; Sam Zureick of Manchester, England; and Nina Zureick and Charlie Zureick of San Bernardino, California. There are many additional relatives who loved her and many others who considered her a very dear friend.

Memorial gifts can be made to First Baptist Church of Abilene, City Light Community Ministries of Abilene, Texas Baptist Men – Camp Builders, or Abilene Baptist Social Ministries.