Dr. W. J. Wimpee

WJ Wimpee Dr. WJ Wimpee passed away on December 1, 2002. Services will be held at First Baptist Church of Waco on Wednesday, December 4 at 2:00 PM. Arrangements are through Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey, 6101 Bosque Blvd. Dr. Wimpee’s great faith led him to a lifetime of service to God, his family and Baylor University. He inspired countless numbers of people around the world and was an example and friend to those who knew him. WJ was born on September 29, 1918 in Kaufman, Texas. While attending Kaufman High School, he was the quarterback of the 1934 regional championship football team. Dr. Wimpee enrolled at Baylor in 1936 and immediately became a campus leader. He served as a class officer all four years of his undergraduate career and played end on two of the university’s great pre-World War II football squads. He also was president of Baylor’s Chamber of Commerce his senior year. Graduating with a bachelor’s degree in 1940, Dr. Wimpee entered Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, earning a master’s degree in 1943 and a doctorate in theology five years later. He served as pastor of the First Baptist Church in Dayton, Texas from 1943 to 1945 when Baylor President Pat Neff appointed him director of religious activities at Baylor. In 1948, Baylor President W.R. White named Dr. Wimpee the first chaplain in the university’s history. In 1955, he was appointed executive assistant to the president and played a major role in Baylor’s expanding programs in international exchange programs, spending 10 months at Hong Kong Baptist University as a teacher and adviser to the administration between 1960-61. Additionally, during his 44 years of service, Dr. Wimpee worked as a fundraiser, student counselor and professor of religion. Shortly after his retirement in 1989, Dr. Wimpee returned to his alma mater as director of the Baylor Retired Professors and Administrators Program. He served with distinction in that capacity for nearly 10 years, visiting retired professors and administrators in hospitals, retirement residences and in their homes. Dr. Wimpee also prepared a monthly newsletter to keep them in touch with one another and informed about campus activities. In addition to his Baylor duties, Dr. Wimpee served numerous churches as interim pastor and frequently officiated at weddings, funerals and other occasions. A longtime Mason and Rotarian, he also worked through the years with several Waco and Central Texas area community service groups, including the American Cancer Society and the YMCA. His time at Baylor University spanned the administration of five university presidents; Governor Pat M. Neff, Dr. W. R. White, Dr. Abner McCall, Dr. Herbert H. Reynolds and Dr. Robert B. Sloan. Dr. Wimpee is most remembered by the Baylor family as a beloved theologian responsible for conducting chapel services and religion classes. Until his death, Dr. Wimpee's love, commitment and service to Baylor University were unwavering. For fifty years, Dr. Wimpee was a faithful and active member of the First Baptist Church of Waco, where he attended and taught the Abner McCall Sunday School Class. Dr. Wimpee is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years, the former Lillian Wilkins, who he met while a student at Southwestern Seminary; daughters Gayle West and her husband, Judge David West, of Pasadena, Texas; Deborah Stinnett and her husband, Dr. Mitchell Stinnett, of Joplin, Missouri; and Dayna Schwartze and her husband, Dr. Mark Schwartze, of Waco; sister, Mrs. Thelma Lee of Kaufman, Texas; grandchildren, Erika, Jeff, and Meredith Schwartze, Alyson Miller, David Stinnett, Melissa Parker, and Michael, Glenn, Blake, and Julie West, and eleven great grandchildren. Dr. Wimpee is preceded in death by his brothers Dr. James Wimpee of San Angelo, Texas, and Reverend Robert Wimpee of Kenedy, Texas. Pallbearers will be Jeff Schwartze, Mark Schwartze, David Stinnett, Blake West, Glenn West, and Michael West. The honorary pallbearers are Roy Baskin, Jim Cole, Eddie Dwyer, Glenn Hilburn, Dan Mayfield, Derek W. Miller, Winfred Moore, Charles Myers, Randall O’Brien, Tom Parrish, Paul Powell, Erich W. Schwartze, Mitchell Stinnett, Grant Teaff, David West and the members of the McCall Sunday School Class. Memorials may be made to the WJ and Lillian Wimpee Scholarship fund at Baylor University or to First Baptist Church of Waco. Memorial guestbook at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com. WILKIRSON-HATCH-BAILEY