Landrum Leslie Medlock III

Landrum Leslie Medlock, III, age 81, passed away April 17, 2026 in Amarillo, Texas.

Memorial services will be held at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at Faith Southwest Church with Rev. Dr. Mark Welshimer officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers, 2800 Paramount Blvd Amarillo, Texas.

Landrum Leslie Medlock, III was born Christmas Day 1944 in Sweetwater, Texas to Landrum Leslie Medlock, Jr. and Sally Immo Medlock one day before his dad had to return to the war in France. He loved to say, “Mom said it was the worse day in her life.” He wasn’t sure if it was because his dad had to leave or because he was born on Christmas. Because he had the same name as his father, people sometimes called him “Little Landrum”, which he never liked, so he went by Landy.

He grew up in Roscoe, Texas where he developed his love for the great outdoors and adventure through the Boys Club. He was athletic and participated in football. He was an active member of FFA, raised Poland China pigs, and won multiple ribbons at livestock shows. He carried his love for the outdoors, athletics, and raising animals throughout his life. He fished, ran in races (often winning), rode bicycles, went rappelling, backpacked through the wilderness, and raised animals (pigs, horses, goats, cows, and chickens).

When he graduated from high school he went to Texas Technological College known today as Texas Tech. His folks wanted him to major in business, but he wanted to major in Animal Husbandry. During his senior year at Tech, he ruptured his kidney in a game of touch football with some Tech football players, and it was removed in emergency surgery. He viewed it as his first personal miracle that he survived.

After graduating, he began his dream career of farming and raising cattle. Two years later he met a young lady who would become his future wife, Benita (Farris) Medlock. At that time, she was working in Sweetwater as a child welfare case worker. Her supervisor invited him to their office to meet. Benita often said, “We met at the child welfare office, and he has been a case ever since.” They married in 1970 and began their partnership in farming, ranching, and in life.

On Easter 1970, their first child, Jenny, was born. A year later, on Easter, she developed double pneumonia, and God brought a second miracle by healing her. Later, two other children, Amanda and Andrew, were born.

In 1980, Landrum had a second dream. He wanted to move to Wyoming. So, he packed all his family’s worldly goods into his 20-foot stock trailer, and they moved to Sheridan, Wyoming. He didn’t have plans for a job or a place to live. Amazingly, his parents and Benita’s did not object to this crazy idea. In Wyoming, he worked at several jobs such as dairy farming, concrete work, and ranching. He leased a piece of land to continue his passion for raising cattle.

All the while, he remained actively involved in the church he attended. He was often asked to preach, and people would tell him that he ought to be a preacher. He would always say that he really didn’t think that was something he should do. Then one day he picked up a hitchhiker on the way to his mini ranch. Landy was dressed in his worn-out cowboy hat and boots. Despite his appearance, the hitchhiker asked if he was a preacher. Landy and Benita began questioning if this was God’s Call. A few months later he sold his cattle. Benita said, “Only God’s Call would cause him to do that.”

Yet again, he packed up his family’s goods in his 20-foot trailer now affectionally called “Covered Wagon” and moved to Wilmore, Kentucky to attend Asbury Seminary. He attended Asbury Seminary for three years and graduated with a Master of Divinity degree.

After spending three years in Kentucky, he again moved his family to Texas to begin his career as a full-time pastor. In his pastorate he served churches at Lubbock Cooper, Woodrow, White Deer, Stinnett, Lorenzo, and Pleasant Valley Amarillo. He also served as Conference Youth Coordinator where he took many young people on backpacking and mission trips.

He was instrumental in getting Refugee Services of Texas started in Amarillo enabling him to touch the lives of people from various countries including Somalia, Iraq, Iran, Sudan, and Burma. He was honored by this opportunity to serve because he felt that he was truly making a difference in people’s lives by assisting them in establishing a new home and career in the United States.

Landrum continued to be a faithful servant to his Lord and Savior by teaching a Sunday school class at Faith Southwest and participating in various activities of the church. His great desire was to see his family have a relationship with God. He did not want to be praised, because he didn’t think he deserved it. He wanted God to receive all the praise and glory. To God be the glory for a life well lived.

He is survived by his wife Benita, his sister Susan Kerbow of San Angelo, and his children: Jenny Hensler (Troy Fillingim) of Seminole, Amanda Medlock-Klyukovski (Andrei) of Kirksville, Missouri, and Andrew Medlock (Emily) of Bentonville, Arkansas. He has been blessed with five beautiful grandchildren: Madeline Hensler, Grayson Hensler, Amelia Medlock, Sam Medlock, and Gregory Klyukovski.

The family asks in lieu of flowers, make donations to Faith Southwest Church Amarillo, Texas.