Retired Covenant pastor Richard M. Sprague died May 19, 2023, in Tavares, Florida. He was 90.

Richard Morrison Sprague was born on April 11, 1933, in Flint, Michigan.

He obtained undergraduate degrees in both biology and history from Asbury College in 1955 and went on to complete his MDiv at Asbury Theological Seminary in 1958. While at Asbury, he me Betty Jean Teece, and the two were married on September 5, 1954.

Richard was ordained in the United Methodist Church in 1959. He spent 20 years serving multiple Methodist congregations throughout Florida. He transferred his ordination to the Evangelical Covenant Church in 1979 when he founded Asbury Covenant Church in Tavares, Florida, which he pastored for the remainder of his career.

Richard was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Jean Sprague; son Jonathan; and grandson Jordan. He is survived by two children, Kent (Kim) and Mark; two grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

A funeral service was held May 25, at Harden-Pauli Funeral Home in Eustis, Florida. Interment was held at Grand Island Cemetery in Grand Island, Florida.

Peace be to his memory.

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