Dr. Zack Jeremiah Deal, III, 78, passed away Tuesday, June 17, 2025.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11 AM, Saturday, June 28th at Grove Park Baptist Church with Rev. Jonathon Shattuck officiating.  The family will receive friends one hour before the service at the church.

Zack was born in Fort Worth, Texas, 1946, son of the late Zach Jeremiah Deal, Jr. and Barbara Williams Deal. He grew up in Cartagena, Colombia, while his parents were serving as missionaries with the International Baptist Mission Board.  He moved back to the United States to attend high school and university. 

Zack was a life-long student and educator; he received his Bachelor’s degree from Baylor University and then his Master’s and Ph. D. from Vanderbilt University. Zack served in the United States Army as a Chinese translator. He worked at Harvard University in Information Technology for twelve years and was later a professor at several private schools and colleges. He was a member of Grove Park Baptist Church and enjoyed teaching his Sunday School class for several years.

Zack’s motto for life was Socrates’ quote, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” He reflected on his life continually being aware of what he accomplished and what he still had left to do. He wanted to live life as fully as possible.

Zack is survived by his wife of 55 years, Linda Deal and daughter Liza Jackson (Terry), brothers John Deal (Elizabeth) of Boynton Beach, FL, and Daniel Deal of Burlington, NC, and sister Rebecca Deal of Greer, SC, three granddaughters, Jasmine, Sophia and Jenna Jackson along with many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by two nephews Shaun Michael Deal and Shawn Paul Crowley.