Dennis Dale Thrasher

Dennis Dale Thrasher, 83, graduated to his Heavenly home on September 30, 2025, at the home of his brother and sister-in-law under their loving care. He was born in Gentry, AR, on November 14, 1941. He attended Gentry school and graduated in 1960. Dennis was saved on July 24, 1959, Baptized in water on August 2, 1959, and received the Holy Spirit on August 24, 1959. He first felt the call to preach in August 1960, but he continued to work full-time and preached a few revivals in his early years. He served as a youth pastor at the First Assembly of God in Rogers, AR, under Pastor Don Brankel in 1966. After he was drafted by the military, he went to basic training in Ft Polk, LA, and also Ft Sill, OK, from November 1966 to March 1967. When he returned home from the military [divorced and feeling like damaged goods], he couldn't get the call to preach out of his mind. So instead of returning to his job that was waiting for him in Rogers, he took the big step of faith and prayed, "Lord, if it is you calling me, then open the doors, and if not, close them, and I will get my job back." God, in his mercy, did just that, and he has never been without a place to preach since. He went full-time as an evangelist for the Assemblies of God on April 10, 1967. And has traveled full-time as an Evangelist in the U.S. and overseas for 48 years. He was Licensed on October 3, 1967, and Ordained in 1970. He has made 63 mission trips overseas and preached on 5 of the 7 continents: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. The only two he hasn't preached on are Africa and Antarctica. He has gone on 24 different Arkansas AIM trips. The countries he has preached in, besides America, are the following: El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Venezuela, Peru, Argentina, Thailand, Taiwan, Australia, Germany, Micronesia, The Virgin Islands, England, Scotland, and Ireland. He went to Ireland 24 times, and for over 20 years, he has worked with Missionary Gary Davidson on annual trips to see this island nation go from one Assembly of God Church to having over 33 Churches and its own General Council. His total dedication to God has never wavered, and the ministry and missions have remained his passion throughout his life. He is preceded in death by his parents, Virgil Dennis Thrasher and Leona Bryant Thrasher. He is survived by his only sibling, Arlis D. Thrasher and wife Janis Dane Thrasher of Rogers, AR; niece, Dana Thrasher Smith and husband Rev. Ronnie Smith of St. Joe, AR; nephew, Scott Thrasher of Centerton, AR; great-nieces and nephews, Dane Smith of Rogers, AR, Austin Thrasher and wife Tatum of Centerton, AR, Olivia Robertson and husband Derek of McComb, MS, Jase Smith and fiancé Ciera Scott of Duncan, OK, Grace Smith of St. Joe, AR, Brennen Thrasher of Fayetteville, AR, and Jensen Thrasher of Bentonville, AR; great-great-nieces and nephews, Rayelyn Smith, Cayden Smith, Stryker Smith, Rosaliegh Robertson, Silas Robertson, and Waylon Smith; cousin (who is like a sister), Judy Smith and husband Joe of Siloam Springs, AR; and a host of friends, family, and hundreds of youth around the world who still call him "Uncle Denny." A visitation will be held at The Assembly in Gentry, AR, on Saturday, October 4, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. The funeral service will follow the visitation, beginning at 12 p.m. Burial will be at Springtown Cemetery. If you are unable to attend the service, a livestream video will be available on Wasson Funeral Home's Facebook page. The video will start streaming a few minutes before the service begins.