Dr. Thomas H. Cragoe

Dr. Thomas H. Cragoe, devoted pastor, respected theologian, and accomplished author, passed away peacefully on June 7, 2025, in Indianapolis, Indiana, surrounded by his loved ones.

As Jesus proclaims to Martha in John 11:25-26, regarding the future hope and eternal life of all who believe in Jesus, Dr. Cragoe dedicated his entire life to ministering this truth of the gospel with the hope that many would come to know Jesus and be saved.

Born on July 3, 1957, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Tom was the beloved son of the late Edward and Martha Cragoe. From a young age, he was known for his intellect, deep faith, and insatiable curiosity. His childhood pastor invited him to teach Sunday School while he was still in the fifth grade and this sparked in him a passion to teach the Word of God. 

He attended Wheaton College to study Chemistry and after his first year he felt called instead to pursue Biblical Studies. He received a degree in Biblical Studies from Wheaton while also serving in the ROTC and he was recognized as a member of the National Scholastic Honor Society for Hebraic Studies. He went on to earn both his Th.M. and Th.D. from Dallas Theological Seminary, laying the foundation for a lifetime of faithful service and scholarship.

Dr. Cragoe’s ministry spanned decades and touched the lives of countless people across the country. He lived a life of generosity, often giving his time and talents to encourage and equip thousands of disciples of Christ to passionately pursue the Lord and “study His word to show thyself approved” according to 2 Timothy 2:15. He was wholly devoted to his students, whom he referred to genuinely and endearingly as his spiritual children. His beloved wife and faithful ministry partner attended every class time with him and mentored many of the women who studied theology under him. Renowned by his students as one of their all-time favorite professors due to his kind demeanor and incredibly articulate and practical teaching style, he was a mentor to every type of learner, encouraging students to use scripture memory, written thesis, or creative projects to exemplify the depth of their understanding and further engage them with rich spiritual understanding of the Scriptures. He served congregations and theological institutions in New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Texas, California, and Missouri. A prolific writer and thinker, he published over ten works on religious studies, making significant contributions to the fields of biblical scholarship and Christian education.

In 1986, Tom married his beloved wife, Rebecca, who remained his faithful partner in life and ministry for the past 39 years.

In addition to Rebecca, Dr. Cragoe is survived by his sisters, Martha C (Martin) Sammons and Chris (Gary) Fuller, by eight nieces and nephews, and many spiritual children and grandchildren.

Visitation will be on June 17, 2025, from 9:00 am - 10:00 am, with the funeral following at 10 am at Aaron-Ruben-Nelson Funeral Home, 11411 N. Michigan Road, Zionsville, IN, 46077. Burial will follow in Zionsville Cemetery.

Services will be live-streamed.  To View Live, Please Click Here.