Retired Covenant pastor Joe Scruggs passed away on July 26, 2025, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was 78.
Joe B. Scruggs was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, on April 4, 1947. After graduating from Hall High School, he attended the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and then went to work for Young Life, beginning a ministry career that would last the rest of his life. He earned a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Arkansas in 1969, followed by a master’s degree in psychology from the University of Tulsa in 1986.
During his time with Young Life, Joe worked with high school students in Little Rock, Memphis, Kansas City, and Tulsa. While in Little Rock, he met and married Margie in 1972. They moved to Tulsa with Young Life in 1979 and lived in the same house in Jenks, Oklahoma, for 45 years. After leaving Young Life, Joe earned a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Tulsa in 1992.
Joe and Margie began attending Redeemer Covenant Church in 1995, and Joe took a full-time ministry position there in 2006. He served as senior pastor at Redeemer from 2010 to 2014 and was ordained by the Evangelical Covenant Church in 2012. He fully retired from ministry at Redeemer in 2023.
Joe spent his life serving the Lord, whether in formal ministry, in counseling, or through everyday acts of kindness and encouragement. He had a servant’s heart, and his devotion to others was evident—he always had time for everyone and touched many lives. He consistently sought the Lord’s guidance in all his actions, right up until the end of his life. He had a wonderful sense of humor, loved being around others,
and remained engaged with those around him, even as his illness progressed. One of his final Bible studies, held in his home, focused on C.S. Lewis and The Chronicles of Narnia, which he loved.
Joe was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Marjorie Elizabeth Scruggs; his son, Wade Wright Scruggs; his parents, Joe and Jesse Faye Scruggs; and his sister, Judi Sumner. He is survived by his son, Todd Scruggs, and his wife, Beth; his grandchildren, Maggie and Andrew Scruggs; his brother Jan Scruggs, and his wife, Sandy; his brother Jim Roy, and his wife, Mary; his brother-in-law, Glenn Sumner; his nephews Scott, Jody, Kyle, and Stewart; and his nieces Jennifer, Beth, and Claire.
A celebration of life was held at Redeemer Covenant Church on August 2, 2025. Memorial gifts may be made to the Young Life Wade Scruggs Memorial Fund (Stillwater Young Life, PO Box 1121, Stillwater, OK 74076) or to the Redeemer Church Missions Fund (redeemertulsa.org).
Peace be to his memory.
