Portrait of John Monroe. IMB Photo

John Monroe, an International Mission Board missionary emeritus who shared the gospel in Zimbabwe, Kenya and South Africa, died July 9, 2025. He was 90.  

John was born Sep. 24, 1934, in Texarkana, Texas, to the late John J. and Bernadine Monroe. He graduated from Texas Senior High School in Texarkana and received the Bachelor of Arts from Baylor University, Waco, Texas, and the Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Texas School of Dentistry in Houston.  

His mother led him to faith in Christ in August of 1946, just before his 12th birthday. While seeking missionary appointment he wrote, “A short time after the age of 12, I became a Boy Scout. Next to the church, this organization influenced me most. During these years in the great outdoors, I began to feel God’s call for special service.”  

After high school, he went to junior college and worked on weekends for the T&P Railway. During this period, he met Mary Anthony, and they were married on Nov. 25, 1955. Mary worked while he attended Baylor. In September 1958, he started dental school and worked summers for Vaughn Lumber Company. He also took an active role at church and recalled, “This is where most of my Christian growth took place. … I felt that through my profession God was calling me to go into foreign mission service.”  

He graduated in June 1962 and entered active duty in the Army a few months later. In 1969, following a year in Vietnam, he left active duty and entered private dental practice. 

In 1971, the International Mission Board appointed John and Mary missionaries to Zimbabwe, where he served as a dentist at the mission hospital. He later served as mission treasurer in Kenya and South Africa.  

He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Mary; his daughter, Susan; his grandson, Aaron Fluharty (Madi), and his great-granddaughter, Luna.  

A graveside service was held July 12 at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Texarkana. 

Donations in his memory may be made to the Lottie Moon Offering, IMB, 3806 Monument Avenue, Richmond, VA 23230, or online at Generosity Resource Center – IMB Generosity. 

Read an obituary here.