C. Lloyd Hosman

C. Lloyd Hosman, age 93, passed away on April 21, 2026, from natural causes.

Born Chester Lloyd Hosman on June 10, 1932, in Cottage Grove, Oregon — a small logging and sawmill town nestled in the Willamette Valley. He grew up in a modest household during the Great Depression, one of five children born to Chester and Minnie (Ramsey) Hosman.

After graduating from Cottage Grove High School in 1950, Lloyd pursued his calling at San Jose Bible College in California, where he earned both a Bachelor of Theology and a Bachelor of Sacred Music — the first student in the school’s history to earn the B.S.M. He later earned a master’s degree from Pepperdine College in Los Angeles, graduating cum laude.

He began his ministry and teaching career in the mid-1950s after completing his early theological education. One of his first significant roles was at Boise Bible College, where he served as head of the music department. Even in those early years, he demonstrated both a love for teaching and a willingness to engage in the practical challenges of building and shaping educational programs. He later reflected on this period as a formative experience that introduced him to classroom teaching and confirmed his passion for working with students.

Lloyd’s ministry took him across the American West and beyond. He served as preacher and minister of music at churches in California, New Mexico, Texas, Idaho, Indiana, and Oregon. He led choirs for more than four decades, from his first choir at the Christian Church in Los Gatos, California, in 1954, to his beloved choir at Cumberland Christian Church in Indianapolis in the 1990s. His greatest professional joy came during his seven years at Dallas Christian College (1961–1968), where he served as professor of music, director of choirs, teacher of Greek and hermeneutics, and ultimately as Academic Dean. The 1964 college yearbook was dedicated to him with a tribute that read, in part: “Such a person has come into the lives of the students of DCC in the person of C. Lloyd Hosman, a man who serves as counselor, preacher, teacher, and friend to all.” That same year, students named him the Best Liked Professor.

In addition to his academic and ministry work, Lloyd later transitioned into Christian bookstore management, working with Berean and Zondervan-affiliated stores in Southern California. In these roles, he continued to engage with ministry in a broader sense, interacting with pastors, authors, missionaries, and Christian educators. He often viewed this work as an extension of his teaching and ministry, providing resources and encouragement to churches and individuals. During this period, he also became active in genealogical research, eventually developing a second career in that field and later teaching genealogy courses and workshops.

Lloyd’s personal life was deeply intertwined with his ministry journey. In 1957, Lloyd married Elizabeth Annette “Betsy” Buckner at the First Christian Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Betsy was a graduate of Beth El School of Nursing in Colorado Springs and shared Lloyd’s deep commitment to Christian service. Together they moved to Tulelake, California, where Lloyd served as preacher and the two began their family. Betsy worked as a nurse throughout their years in ministry, serving as school nurse at Dallas Christian College during Lloyd’s tenure there. Their three children, Lisa, Christopher, and Timothy, were born during these years of shared ministry. The marriage ended in divorce in 1970.

In 1974, Lloyd married Charlotte Stange, forming a blended family that became central to the remainder of his life. Charlotte brought three children from her previous marriage: Susan, Tom, and Ruth. Lloyd and Charlotte built a shared home and life together, raising six children between them in a household that navigated the complexities of a blended family. Together they attended Eastside Christian Church in Fullerton, which Lloyd credited as essential to uniting their two families.

In 1980, Lloyd and Charlotte made a life-changing move to rural Indiana, settling near Knightstown on five wooded acres alongside Charlotte’s family. With characteristic determination, Lloyd built much of their home himself, completing the excavation, construction, electrical, plumbing, and heating work by hand. He remained active in ministry there for years — preaching at local churches, leading revivals, and continuing to serve the Knightstown 1st Christian Church.

In his own words, written at the close of his autobiography in December 2010: “I am in the last chapter now of my spiritual journey. I have had many wonderful experiences and a few sad ones. But through it all I have tried to press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Jesus Christ my Lord. He has blessed my life in more ways than I can record and far beyond what I deserve.”

Lloyd is survived by his three children Lisa, Christopher, Timothy, step-daughters Susan and Ruth, and by numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his three sisters: Bettie Mae, Jean Ann, Lorene.

Services will be held at 6:00pm Monday, April 27, 2026 at Hinsey-Brown Funeral Service in Knightstown. Visitation will be held from 4:00pm until the time of service on Monday. Burial will take place in Glen Cove Cemetery, at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to Johnson University, 7900 Johnson Drive, Knoxville, TN 37998. Condolences and memories of Lloyd may be shared at www.hinsey-brown.com.