Founding board member Ted Tedder dies

SAN ANTONIO—Therion (Ted) Dexter Tedder, 82, a founding SBTC Executive Board member, died July 3 in San Antonio.

A Perry, Fla., native and Florida State University alumnus, he earned an MBA from the Air Force Institute of Technology during a 21-year Air Force career, retiring in 1969 as a lieutenant colonel. Tedder pioneered the building of the first mobile computer field operation used by the Air Force and employed in the Vietnam War.

An entrepreneur after retiring as vice president of computer services for USAA in 1979, he owned and operated numerous businesses.

Tedder was a member of Eisenhauer Road Baptist in San Antonio and later was instrumental in launching Thousand Oaks Baptist Church in San Antonio. Most recently he was a member of Castle Hills First Baptist Church.

In 1988, Tedder helped establish the layman’s group Baptists With a Mission, aiming to guide the Baptist General Convention of Texas back into harmony with the Southern Baptist Convention’s more conservative direction. Later, Tedder was involved with the Southern Baptists of Texas fellowship group that eventually led to a new convention.

Tedder was preceded in death by his parents, Edgar James Tedder and Sella Grubbs Tedder; sister Eleanor Tedder Bowman and husband David, and brother Oliver Thomas Tedder, who died only hours before Ted.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Billie; daughters, Terrie Butrum and her husband, Phil; Debbie Freeman and her husband, Ken; Marti Underwood and her husband, Ron, all of San Antonio. In addition, he is survived by six grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren, as well as several nieces and nephews. A funeral and burial with full military honors was held July 11 at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.

Donations may be made to New Life Baptist Seminary, 2141 Block Road, Gunter 75058. Please mark for the purpose of missions and church planting.