DBU Mourns the Loss of Beloved Professor Marsha Pool

Dallas, TX - DBU mourns the loss of beloved professor, Marsha Pool. Professor Pool served at DBU as the school's first Master Teacher and Professor of Mathematics. She passed away on November 3 from complications following a head injury that occurred on Sunday. She was 74 years old.

She began her tenure at DBU in the fall of 1966 and served for 49 years as a member of the full-time faculty. She is preceded in death by her husband of 45 years, Wayne, who passed away in February of 2013 after a battle with cancer. She is survived by her son Gary, and his wife, Mandy, and their children, Katy, Clara, and Adam, as well as her son Lee, and his wife, Stephanie, and their children, Adison and Marshall.

A native of Cooke County, Texas, Marsha grew up in a rural environment, where she learned the value of hard work, a positive attitude, compassion towards others, and, above all, devotion to God. She began her undergraduate work at the University of Texas at Arlington and completed her bachelor's degree in mathematics at the University of North Texas.

Marsha came to DBU as an instructor of mathematics in September of 1966. She had been teaching high school math in Nocona, Texas, when she saw an advertisement in the Baptist Standard in 1965 that was asking for applicants for openings on the faculty at the newly established Dallas Baptist College. Wanting to experience life outside of a small town, Marsha decided to submit her name, and the rest is history.

For 49 faithful years, Marsha was a vital member of the faculty. She was a past president of the Faculty Council and served in a variety of roles on committees and student organizations, including serving as a sponsor of the DBU Math Club and the DBU chapter of Alpha Chi, a national honor society. From 1994-2003, she was associate dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, and she twice was recognized as the DBU Professor of the Year. In 1994, she was named an Honorary Alumna of DBU, and ten years later, Pool was named DBU's first Master Teacher, a title given to those professors who embody the ideals of Christ-centered teaching and who strive to train, nurture, and mentor the leaders of tomorrow. In recognition of her many years of service at DBU, the University established an endowed scholarship in her honor, as well as naming the apartment swimming pool after her, aptly named "Marsha's Pool."

For Professor Pool, math was more than a job; it was a calling. Her infectious smile and love for students helped to make the complex study of mathematics something attainable for all. She took time to discover the learning styles of individual students and worked with each of them to ensure success. She counseled and encouraged students, whether it be with their mathematical problems, career choices, or spiritual dilemmas.

Pool's calling, however, extended beyond the DBU classroom. For many years, she and her family have been active members of First Baptist Church of Duncanville, where Pool tutored high school math students and taught Sunday School. Her late husband, Wayne, worked with Royal Ambassadors and taught preschool. She has also served as a director and tutor of a free tutoring clinic, housed in her church, helping individuals in Southwest Dallas earn their GED certificates, and has worked with neighboring school districts to help train teachers to become better instructors in the classroom.

Over the course of DBU's 100-year history, few embody the mission of the school more than Marsha Pool. Her love for the Lord has compelled her to pour out her life through service in the classroom and, in turn, has shaped the lives of thousands of students as well as the life and mission of DBU. Her keen mind, warm heart, and generous spirit that have helped to shape the life of this University and the lives of so many who have been a part of this University will be forever missed.