Jack Wayland Vancil, Ph.D., 92, of Hammonton, NJ, passed from this life on July 1, 2026, after a recent cancer diagnosis.

From a humble birth at a log cabin in Arkansas to serving his country as a US Marine during the Korean War to becoming the first academic expert in biblical Shepherd Leadership, Jack walked as a beloved professor of Biblical Studies at Harding School of Theology and Northeastern Christian Junior College, who had things in common with everyone he met. Known for his great sense of humor, his laugh, his interest in young people, his extreme generosity, and his insatiable curiosity, Jack loved archaeology, astronomy, biology, botany, languages, aviation, model planes, music, Persian rugs, and endless study of Scripture, among many others. Jack joined his fellow Marines as Chaplain of the Marine Corps League Detachment #205 for 25 years where he was highly active with Toys for Tots. He also served the community through the Hammonton Kiwanis Club for 51 years, and ministered to the Hammonton Church of Christ for 53 years. Before that, he taught churches in North Carolina, West Virginia, and Indiana. Jack attended Selma Elementary School and Blaine Elementary and was a graduate of Muncie Central in Muncie, Indiana. He earned a B.A. from Harding University in Searcy, AR, and later an M.A. from Harding Graduate School of Religion in Memphis, TN. Jack later earned a Ph.D. from Dropsie College.

Jack is survived by his wife of 70 years, Ella Frances Vancil, sons Mark and Jon, daughter Lane England and their spouses, and six grandchildren.

Jack requested donations to the St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital Cancer unit (St. Jude Children's Research Hospital) or the Dr. Jack Vancil Endowed Scholarship at Freed-Hardeman University (Dr. Jack Vancil Endowed Scholarship), supporting students interested in Old Testament studies.