Longtime Abilene Christian University Bible professor Dr. Rodney Olen Ashlock (’91 M.Div.) died Aug. 1, 2026, at age 60.
A memorial service is scheduled for Aug. 6 at 10 a.m. at University Church of Christ (733 E.N. 16th St., Abilene, Texas 79601), with visitation at 9 a.m. in the UCC Family Room. The service also can be accessed via livestream at facebook.com/uccabilene.
Ashlock was born Aug. 12, 1965, in Fayetteville, Arkansas; and earned a B.A. degree from Harding University (1987), a Master of Divinity degree from Abilene Christian and a doctorate in biblical text from Baylor University (2002). He was instructor of Bible at Rochester Christian University (1992-95) before joining ACU’s College of Biblical Studies faculty as an assistant professor in 1998. He was named chair of the Department of Bible, Missions and Ministry in 2019 and became director of faculty development in the Adams Center for Teaching and Learning in 2023.
He was named ACU’s Teacher of the Year in 2018, and especially endeared himself to thousands of students through undergraduate courses he taught for years such as Jesus: His Life and Teachings, and Message of the Old Testament. In 2019 he authored a commentary on the book of Leviticus in the Baylor Annotated Study Bible.
Prior to serving as pulpit minister of Abilene’s Westgate Church of Christ (1999-2020), he worked with the Redford Church of Christ in Detroit, Michigan, and the Eliasville (Texas) Church of Christ and the Troy (Texas) Church of Christ. Ashlock was frequently a guest Bible teacher and preacher in congregations and at lectureships across the nation.
Among survivors are his parents, Lanny Ashlock and Bonnie Ashlock; Laura (Thibodeaux ’91), his wife of 38 years and a legal services specialist in ACU’s Office of General Counsel; his daughter, Bonnie (Ashlock ’16) Finch and husband Alec (’14); his son, Nathaniel Ashlock (’13) and wife Erin Daugherty (’12); grandchildren Asher Finch, Olen Ashlock and Barlow Ashlock; and brothers Rick Ashlock and wife Sherri, and Ron Ashlock and wife Hiromi.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorial gifts be directed to the Volleyball Excellence Fund (ACU Box 29132, Abilene, Texas 79699-9132 or bit.ly/RodneyAshlock).