Ray Van Duivendyk

Rev. Ray Van Duivendyk October 30, 1921 – November 30, 2005 The Rev. Ray Van Duivendyk passed into the loving arms of God Wednesday, November 30, 2005. The family will be hosting visitation at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home at 6101 Bosque Blvd. from 6:00 to 8:00 PM Friday. Graveside Services will be held at Oakwood Cemetery at 11:30 AM Saturday, December 3 with Dr. Tim Van Duivendyk officiating. Ray was born October 30, 1921 in Grand Rapids, Michigan and lived in and around Waco since 1954. Ray and his faithful wife Beatrice, who preceded him in death, journeyed from Michigan to Georgia, Tennessee and to the Waco area as he was pastor of numerous churches and completed his studies in ministry at Baylor University in 1967 and received his Doctorate of Divinity from Southwestern Theological Seminary in Fort Worth in 1972. Ordained in Chattanooga by the Highland Park Baptist Church February 18, 1954, together they served the Northview Baptist Church in Dalton, Georgia and in Texas served as Chaplain of Waco State Home for Children, Blue Ridge Baptist Church, First Baptist Church in Kosse and other churches in the Waco area. He continued as a Bible teacher at the Ridgecrest Retirement Center while often ministering to residents in the nursing care units. His “Dutchman” determined spirit finally let go and let be into death after a challenging two decade long wrestle with a rare disease known as Raynaud’s Syndrome. Ray and Bea were faithful members of the First Baptist Church of Waco. They contributed faithfully to foundations such as: Baylor University, Buckners Children’s Home, General Baptist Convention of Texas, the Moody Bible Institute and others. He is survived by his three sons and their wives, Phil and Sherian of Waco, David and Darlene of Wickenburg, Arizona and Tim and Jeanne of Houston. Also surviving him are his nine grandchildren, Cara and Paul Barney, Davina and Ryan Turner, Stephanie and Travis Purinton, Laura and Aaron Daniels, Abby Van Duivendyk, Jefferey and Amy Tomkins, Erik Van Duivendyk, Julie and Andres Rustan and Leslie and Gary Clifton and nine great grandchildren. Ray was preceded in death by his wife Bea and parents, Jon and Mary Van Duivendyk, sister, Helen Karminga, brother, Peter Van Duivendyk and life longs friends, John and Ruth Swanson. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that gifts be made to the Baylor University Foundation or the charity of your choice. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our “Memorial Guestbook” at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com. Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey