Barbara Ann Dickinson
(1937 – 2023)
Barbara Ann Dickinson (nee Murdock) suddenly passed away at the age of 86 on Monday, December 18, 2023, at the Alamance Regional Medical Center in Burlington, North Carolina. Barbara was born on November 26, 1937, in Wichita, Kansas to Bertha Murdock Starr (nee Adams) and Curtis Murdock. She married James Lyle Dickinson in Lamont, California on February 14, 1953, and the two went on to enjoy 68 years of marriage before James passed away on February 19, 2021.
Barbara was a dedicated Christian and worked as a missionary with the International Pentecostal Holiness Church (IPHC) in the 70s and 80s. Her most notable field work was in Costa Rica where she lived with her husband and their two daughters. She went on to work at the IPHC headquarters in Bethany, Oklahoma for a short time and later became a registered nurse.
Barbara avidly enjoyed genealogical research and she leaves behind her many binders documenting her extended family records. She was also known for her recipe collection that she curated into a cookbook that included her favorite stories of her grandchildren.
In addition to her husband, Barbara was preceded in death by her daughter, Terri DeAnn West, and her brother, Ronald Starr. She is survived by her daughter, Karen LeAnn Hall (spouse, Ross Emerson Hall), her brother, Donald Starr, and her 11 grandchildren: Jonathan West (spouse, Nicole), Jesse West (spouse, Amber), David West (spouse, Wilma), John Michael Hall (spouse, Nick), Stephen Hall, James Hall, Candace Duan (spouse, Weikang), Camille Frink (spouse, Kevin), Matthew Hall, Walter Andrew Hall, and Caitlin Pope (spouse, Derek). In addition, Barbara was blessed with six great-grandchildren: Addie and Judah West, Meredith and Barrett Frink, Maverick Pope, and Frederick Duan. Her surviving family members take comfort in the knowledge that she is now in heaven with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
The family will have a private celebration honoring Barbara after the new year.
– Obituary provided by the family of Barbara Ann Dickinson.
A Note from World Missions Ministries
On behalf of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church World Missions Ministries family, we honor and remember the life and ministry legacy of Mrs. Barbara Dickinson, and we give thanks to God for her service as a cherished missionary.
Throughout their time on the mission field, the Dickinsons were given the opportunity to help establish several churches and lead many souls to Christ in Costa Rica.
Below is an excerpt about James and Barbara’s time on the field from Dr. Frank Tunstall’s book, The Simultaneous Principal.
“James and Barbara Dickinson arrived in Costa Rica in 1970 and started a boat ministry along the waterways in northern Costa Rica. Dickinson conducted services up and down both sides of the river and established a church on the south side, near Barra del Colorado. He built a thatched roof facility there in 1973. Dickinson had a unique gift to organize evangelistic campaigns involving the young Costa Rican evangelists. He worked with a team in 1972 in tent evangelism. As a result, churches were established in San Ramon and Palo Seco.
The evangelistic effort in Costa Rica extended to the Pacific Ocean by 1970, and a church was planted in Las Vegas de Palo Seco. At the same time, ministry began on the northeast corner of the country on the Caribbean Sea at La Barra de Colorado.”
The Dickinsons served as IPHC Missionaries from 1970 through 1974 and later served an additional term from 1982 through 1983.
The IPHC celebrates having two conferences in Costa Rica today. The historic ‘original’ Conference reports having 60 churches and 7,000 members and the new, ‘second’ Conference reports having 35 churches and 2,500 members. We continue to build on the legacy of pioneer missionaries like Barbara and James who labored faithfully in Costa Rica. To God be the glory!
The IPHC missionary family extends its deepest sympathies to Mrs. Karen Hall and all of Barbara’s extended family. Scripture pronounces a blessing on those who mourn. May that special anointing be extended to you as you mourn the earthly departure of your dear mother.
On behalf of IPHC’s World Missions family,
Bishop J. Talmadge Gardner
Executive Director, IPHC World Missions Ministries
