Terry Poe

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for,
the conviction of things not seen.”
Hebrews 11:1
Terry Poe was born in Jacksonville, Texas and grew up near Overton in the small
community of New London by the Humble Oil Company where his dad was employed. In
those days, the company provided a home for their employees, called the camp or campsite.
While he was an only child, his mom was one of five sisters, so he had many fond memories
of playing with cousins and taking drives to his grandparents home in the country. He had a
happy childhood, loving parents, preferred spending time playing outside to tedious
schoolwork, and even took piano lessons from the mother of acclaimed pianist Van Cliburn
along the way.
He graduated from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. Shortly
thereafter, Terry’s parents attempted to entice him to return to Overton by offering him a lake
house they had built, but as he told it, “I knew a small town was not in my future.” They sold
the house, Terry spent part of his summers for six years with the Reserve Air National Guard
and rose up in the ranks as a buyer for Titche’s Department store, While working there, he
met a lovely intern named Monika Hartstein who at that time called him Mr. Poe, as he was
her boss.
On March 20, 1965, they married and it was off to a new job with Dow Jones and
Co. in Chicago. A year later, another job transfer took the Poes to a pink house in Cupertino,
CA. This was one of the most significant moves in his life because this is where both he and
Monika came to know Jesus as their Savior. Terry’s boss, Ted Fletcher, spoke boldly about
Jesus and what He did for mankind. Terry started attending Ray Stedman’s church with
visiting speakers Dr. James Dobson and Louie Palau, participated in the Billy Graham
Crusade, all helping him deepen a personal relationship with Christ.
Eventually, the Poes made a move to Southern California and yet another one just
outside of Washington, D.C.. By this time they had two elementary-aged girls, Rebecca and
Rachel, and Terry was ready to make a career change. A year prior, he looked into working
for a Christian book publishing company, Gospel Light, but there were no openings. While in
D.C., he decided to answer a blind ad only to discover that it was for a position with Gospel
Light! The Lord moved the Poes back to Southern California, and Terry was able to use his
love for Christ, books, and a gift for gab in sunny California...an answered prayer. Terry
worked for Gospel Light faithfully for 21 years, was highly respected by his company and
clients, and retired at 60 to start a new job.
Upon retirement, his new profession as an unofficial travel agent began. Terry had a
love for architecture, photography, was an avid reader leading to a wealth of knowledge of
historical sites with a desire to see them firsthand. He and Monika set off on a trip to England
and consistently traveled ever since. They formed friendships and shared the Lord with these
new friends along the way.
Throughout these years, Terry and Monika raised their girls to love the Lord and
were active members at Grace Church for 44 years, involved with Sunday School, Friday
Night Bible Studies, and service. In Terry’s later years he joined Clark Stepper’s men’s Bible
Study, a favorite for the historical emphasis and camaraderie found there. Of course, he also
looked forward to his weekly Bridge games and spending some time each day with his close
friend Rush Limbaugh.
On Tuesday, October 26th, Terry Poe laid down to take a needed nap and woke up
in Heaven with Jesus. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, two daughters and their
husbands, five grandkids, and two great grandchildren - all who love and serve the Lord that Terry had asked into his life decades earlier.”
2 Corinthians 4: 16 - 18
16 “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our
outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being
renewed day by day. 17For our light affliction, which is
but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding
and eternal weight of glory, 18while we do not look at
the things which are seen, but at the things which are not
seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the
things which are not seen are eternal.”
Contributions may be made to the missionary group, PIONEERS
PIONEERS….
Attn. Peggy Fletcher Account # 100915
10123 William Carey Drive
Orlando, FL 32832-32832