Emeritus Trustee Jack Dinsbeer remembered as mentor to Liberty’s founder and faithful university pioneer

Liberty University is mourning the loss of longtime Board of Trustees member Dr. Jack Dinsbeer, who died on Feb. 12 at age 95.

Dinsbeer was a close friend and supporter of Liberty University and its related ministries since the beginning. He joined the Board of Trustees in 1982 and contributed as a member of many of its committees over the decades, most recently serving on the Academic and Student Affairs Committee. At the time of his passing, Dinsbeer was serving a lifetime term as an emeritus trustee.

“On behalf of the Liberty family, we extend our deepest condolences to the Dinsbeer family for their loss, and we ask everyone to keep them in your prayers,” said President Dondi E. Costin. “We admire Jack’s steadfast dedication to Liberty University and remain forever grateful for his contributions to Liberty as a true Champion for Christ.”

Dinsbeer grew up in Milwaukee and served three years in the United States Army (1946-49). He was leading music for revivals in Florida when he met Dr. Paul F. Donnelson, a pastor of Park Avenue Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Va. Donnelson asked Dinsbeer to become the church’s music and youth director, and he and his wife, Madolyn, and their first son moved to Lynchburg in 1951.

As a youth director at Park Avenue, Dinsbeer mentored a young Jerry Falwell, Sr. (Liberty’s founder) as he came to the Lord at the church in 1952 and received the call to ministry. Dinsbeer remained a mentor to Falwell and close friend of the Falwell family. He became one of Liberty’s foundational pioneers as the university was established and was a witness to its growth through the years.

Dinsbeer served as the pastor of University Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Fla., for 47 years, and he and his wife founded the church’s private school, University Christian School, in 1965.

“Jack Dinsbeer served Liberty for many years as a faithful supporter of the mission and vision since the beginning,” said Chancellor Jonathan Falwell. “While we mourn this loss, we are grateful for the spiritual leadership he provided on our board and will always count him among our pioneers who made everything we have today possible.”

“Liberty is what it is today because of faithful men like Jack Dinsbeer, who gave of his time, energy, and Godly wisdom to ensure that we will never stray from our original mission of Training Champions for Christ,” said Board Chairman Tim Lee. “His love for the Lord shone through in all of his life’s work, and we are honored to have served with him.”