Dr. Paul Wayne Stripling

Dr. Paul Wayne Stripling passed away peacefully on March 4, 2022 in Mansfield, Texas at the age of 86. Dr. Stripling was a beloved husband, precious father and grandfather who served the Lord faithfully for over 60 years of ministry. A Celebration of Life Service will be held Friday, March 11 at 2:00 pm at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home at 6101 Bosque Blvd in Waco, Texas. Visitation will be on Thursday, March 10 from 5:00-7:00 pm also at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home. Paul was born in Herrin, Illinois, on January 21, 1936 to Dr. Ben and Lucille Stripling. The Striplings moved to East Texas in his childhood, and he became a Christian at the age of 9 while his father was the pastor at the First Baptist Church of Gladewater, Texas. Paul enjoyed participating in ROTC and performing in the marching band in high school; he graduated from Gladewater High School in 1954. While attending Baylor University as an undergraduate, Paul served as the President of his junior class, President of the Honor Council, and as a member of Baylor’s Chamber of Commerce. He met Roberta Donnell in 1958 while attending Seventh and James Baptist Church, and they married at the First Baptist Church of Midland in 1960. Dr. Stripling received his Bachelor of Arts Degree at Baylor University with a double major in Radio/Television and Religion. He went on to earn Bachelor of Divinity, Master of Theology, and Doctor of Theology degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth. He also received an honorary doctorate degree from Dallas Baptist University. Dr. Stripling’s pastorates included Emmanuel Baptist Church, White Oak, Texas; First Baptist Church, Joshua, Texas; Baylor Baptist Church, Ennis, Texas; First Baptist Church of Golden Acres, Pasadena, Texas; and Gaston Avenue Baptist Church, Dallas, Texas. Dr. Stripling served as Executive Director of the Waco Regional Baptist Association for 21 years and was blessed to cultivate relationships with ministers and congregations in over 130 churches in Central Texas during this time. Following his retirement from this position, he was named Executive Director Emeritus of the WRBA. In 2017, he was honored to receive the Texas Baptist Legacy Award presented by the Baptist General Convention of Texas. Dr. Stripling was also delighted to serve as a trustee at Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center for 17 years and serve as an adjunct faculty member at various times at Baylor University, the University of Mary-Hardin Baylor, and George W. Truett Seminary. He also enjoyed serving as the Director of Hand-in-Hand ministry at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home, a role which allowed him to provide grief counseling to the bereaved. Dr. Stripling wrote numerous articles for the Sunday School Board and Southern Baptist Convention, among other publications. He authored multiple books including From Me To You, based on his daily radio program at KCBI. He also penned Turning Points in the History of Baptist Associations in America and contributed to many other publications including Chicken Soup for the Golden Soul. Dr. and Mrs. Stripling’s love of travel prompted them to see much of the world, and they were blessed to lead groups to Israel, Rome, and Germany. They were also involved in evangelism efforts throughout the U.S. as well as in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Mexico. Dr. Stripling especially cherished time teaching seminary students in St. Petersburg, Russia. Dr. Stripling is preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Ben and Lucille Stripling and his in-laws, Mr. Robert and Marion Donnell. Dr. Stripling is survived by his wife of 61 years, Roberta Donnell Stripling; his sister, Carolyn Stripling Margraves; and his two daughters, Paula Voyles Jewell and her husband, Kirk, and Mary Nelson and her husband, Alan. He is also survived by two sets of twin grandsons: Tucker and Tyler Voyles and Blake and Paul Nelson. Memorials may be made to the Dr. and Mrs. Paul W. Stripling Ministry Guidance Endowed Scholarship Fund at Baylor University, One Bear Place #97050, Waco, Texas, 76798. “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints” (Psalm 116:15). The family invites you to leave a message or memory on our “Tribute Wall” at www.WHBfamily.com.