In 1961, the Rev. Dr. William F. "Bill" Todd was the only resident pastor in what was then the small village of Homosassa. People from all over the local community came to him for prayer, counsel and inspiration at the parsonage located just behind the church. They came regardless of their religious background. Many of those had no "organized" religious affiliation, but they came to appreciate and love the preacher they respectfully called "Brother Todd." He loved them too, and 2011 would have marked 50 years of his ministry to the Homosassa area. At the age of 90, he went home to be with the Lord early on Thursday morning, Dec. 23, 2010, surrounded by his loving family and under the tender care of the compassionate nurses of Hospice of Citrus County.Rev. Todd was born June 25, 1920, in Sullivan, Kentucky, to C.H. and Angeline Todd. He was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Barbara Todd, and daughters Angie Wright and Gloria Todd. He is survived by Vedia, his loving wife of 10 years; son Paul and his wife Verda of Homosassa; four grandchildren, Rebecca Morehead and husband Steve, Orlando, Ruth Jones and husband Bryan, Citrus Hills, William Todd and wife Kim, Valrico, and Jerry "Duke" Wright and wife Angie, Evansville, IN; five great-grandchildren, Bradley Lynd and Amber, Carter Todd and Aubrey Todd, Ethan Wright and Jasmin Jones; one great-great grandson, Brayden Lynd. Rev. Todd; one stepson, Stanley Walls of Zephyrhills; one stepdaughter, Joyce and husband Wallace Rowe of Homosassa; two step-granddaughters, Kim and husband David Strickland and Marla and husband David Deuck; four step-great grandchildren, Alexis Strickland and Chelsea Strickland, Brittany Meiman and husband Gary, and Jake Sanow. At the age of 8, Rev. Todd was an orphan. All his immediate family had died. He grew up on the streets of nearby Providence, a small Kentucky mining town. He lived with friends and distant relatives working and eking out a living for himself as a lonely boy. Without supervision, his education was sparse, to say the least. He barely completed the third grade. Years later, he met a young lady named Barbara Lofton. They were married when he was 20 and she was 18. Barbara became his teacher. He was eager to learn. His self-styled education ultimately led to him being called to the ministry.He, his wife Barbara and 1-year-old son Paul moved 50 miles away from Providence, Kentucky to Evansville, Indiana, so he could find work in the military factories during WW2. It was his poor health that prevented his joining the military, even though he volunteered several times. While in Evansville, Bill became very sick, probably because of the neglect of his unsupervised youth. It was during that time of illness that he became a Christian; he was miraculously healed and his life was changed. Soon he was preaching using the words and phrases taught to him by his young educated wife. Rev. Todd became a Pentecostal preacher and evangelist. He was the pastor of Nelson Gospel Tabernacle, Nelson, Kentucky, for many years before becoming a full-time evangelist. Rev. Todd came to Florida in 1961 from Evansville with his family as an itinerant evangelist. He conducted a two-week revival meeting at The Church of Jesus Christ, Homosassa, Florida. The revival meeting was so inspiring and his preaching was so well received that he was chosen as pastor and he accepted. Under his leadership, the church experienced unprecedented growth. When the congregation outgrew the Homosassa location, Rev. Todd had a desire to move to a new location. A site was found in Homosassa Springs. A new church was built, and the congregation relocated in 1981 to the present location at U.S. 19 and Green Acres Street. The church became the Christian Progression Center and is now Christian Center Church. He was the senior pastor for 22 years. The church continued to grow, and his son Paul was asked to return from being pastor in California to help; together they worked together for some 20 years more. He has been affiliated with the same church now for nearly 50 years and was Pastor Emeritus at the time his death.For 48 years he has been a member of the International Ministerial Association Inc. and is a past IMA Southeastern District chairman. Pastor Todd was a nationally known conference speaker. He is the published author of "End Time Connection." He received an honorary doctorate in ministry from Florida Theological Seminary, Orlando, Florida.Friends will be received at Wilder Funeral Home, Homosassa Springs, Monday, Dec. 27, 2010, from 5 to 7 p.m. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2010, at 11 a.m. at Christian Center Church, 7961 W. Green Acres St., Homosassa Springs, with Pastor Marcus Rooks officiating.