Charles Paul Rich

Charles Paul Rich passed away Saturday, September 25, 2021. Services will be 10:00 am, Wednesday, September 29, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home, with Rev. Terry Graham officiating. Burial will follow at Waco Memorial Park. Visitation will be 6:00 pm-8:00 pm, Tuesday, September 28, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey. Charles was born November 30, 1930, in Tonkawa, Oklahoma, to C. Paul and Mabel Rich. Charles was educated at Oklahoma Baptist University, Eastern New Mexico University, and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He worked as a fulltime Minister of Music for forty-four years and served in numerous churches including First Baptist Church, Brownfield, Texas; First Baptist Church, Dalhart, Texas; East Grand Baptist Church, Dallas; The Village Baptist Church, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; First Baptist Church, Albuquerque, New Mexico; Polytechnic Baptist Church, Ft. Worth, Texas; Rosen Heights Baptist Church, Ft. Worth; and First Baptist Church, Kosciusko, Mississippi. During his time in the ministry, he sang with or directed choirs on mission trips across the United States and in England, Europe, and Belarus, led the music for a revival in Jamaica, and was the Chairman of the Music Committee for the New Mexico Baptist Convention State Board. Following his retirement, he served as interim Minister of Music in several churches in the Waco area, and he conducted the Baylor Singing Seniors for fourteen years. He and his family enjoyed building a vacation cabin in Chama, New Mexico, from the ground up. He would read a book about putting in a floor, or wiring a building for electricity, or putting on a roof, and off we would go and do it. He also enjoyed fishing, hiking, spelunking, and traveling. He toured the Holy Land twice, sang with The Centurymen when they toured Europe, and took the family to England, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, and Mexico as well as many National Parks in the United States. After retirement, he frequently traveled to Hawaii with our mother, Ruth, and her two brothers and their wives. He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Ruth Marie Rich. He is survived by his son, Dr. Steve Rich, PhD; and daughter, Dr. Sheryl Lane, DMA. Pallbearers are his son, Dr. Steve Rich; his son-in-law, Rev. Ben Lane; his grandsons, Chris and Mark Lane; and his nephew, David Polston. Memorials may be made to the Baylor Singing Seniors. The family invites you to leave a message or memory on our "Tribute Wall" at www.WHBfamily.com.