On Wednesday January 25, 2017, Dr. Tom Figart entered the presence of God.

He was born July 28, 1925, in Altoona PA to James and Ellen Figart, the last of 11 children. His father died when he was 10 and he was lovingly raised by his mother and sister Bertha. He has always been most proud of his Altoona roots. He learned to read before he entered school. Studying and learning became his lifelong passion. In Altoona his "cartoon-type artist" skills developed, and his exceptionally high and clear tenor voice became a trademark.

He graduated from Altoona High School in 1943 and traveled to Philadelphia to attend Philadelphia School of the Bible. While in Philadelphia he met Edna May Lewis, fell in love, and married her June 9, 1945, in Baltimore MD. Following graduation from PSOB in 1946, he enrolled in Dallas Theological Seminary in Texas. During his four years in Dallas he was the regular tenor of the Seminary Quartet. He completed his studies for the Th.M. degree at Dallas in 1950 and moved to Baltimore MD, where he completed the requirements for the Bachelor's degree in social sciences from Johns Hopkins University in 1955. Dr. Figart pastored the Second Congregational Church in Baltimore, MD, for 7 years and during this time he became the leader of Baltimore School of the Bible, a lay institute that allowed him to fulfill his lifelong passion of Bible teaching.

In 1961 Dr. Figart began a 30-year career as Academic Dean and Professor of Theology at Lancaster Bible College, Lancaster, PA. During that time he finished his theological education at Grace Theological Seminary receiving his Th.D. degree in 1971. Requirements for that degree included a thesis, the basis of which became the first of several books he authored. Not only did Dr. Figart love to teach, he loved to preach. So many Sundays found him filling the pulpit at several different churches. For 20 years Dr. Figart taught at Word Of Life Bible Institute in Schroon Lake New York as an adjunct professor.

During his 62-year marriage to Edna, they opened their home to LBC students. Several summers they traveled the country with singing groups from the school. His door was always open to pray with students, many of whom kept in close contact with him up until the time of his death. He was an inspiration to untold many LBC students and friends stemming in large part from his unwavering devotion to the Bible, its teaching, and the Biblical principles by which he lived. His favorite Bible verse was Hebrews 11:25 "Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season."

Dr. Figart was preceded in death by his wife Edna. He is survived by his four children, Kathy Ohlson wife of Jim, Beth Kime wife of Harold, Tom Jr husband of Cathy, and Phyllis Baughman wife of Art. He has 9 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren, to them he is PopPop!

A Memorial Service will be held at Good Shepherd Chapel of Lancaster Bible College, 901 Eden Road, Lancaster PA 17601 on Saturday, February 11. Family visitation will start at 1 PM followed by the service at 2PM. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Lancaster Bible College Scholarship Fund.