George Mitchel Stokes

GEORGE MITCHEL STOKES, 83, died July 14, at a local hospital. Memorial services will be held Monday at 11:00 AM in Miller Chapel on the Baylor campus, with Dr. Burt Burleson officiating. Interment will be a private family service in Oakwood Cemetery. The family will receive visitors Sunday evening from 6-8 PM at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey, 6101 Bosque Blvd. George Stokes was born in Paducah April 12, 1918 to Henry and Suella Stokes. He graduated from Plainview High School, received a BS degree in Voice from West Texas State, Canyon, an MA in Speech from Baylor, and a PhD from Northwestern University, Evanston. He was drafted via fish bowl draw into service in August, 1941 and served in the African and European theaters in the 410th AAA and 364 MP until VE Day and without break was being sent via Hawaii for the beach invasion of Japan when the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. While study for his Master’s degree at Baylor University, he met and married Katy Jennings from Mabank. They spent many years singing together for church, club and community service organizations. For several years he studied guitar with Ken Frazier at MCC and recently worked with Kurt Kaiser on a CD being produced by the Baylor Alumni Association. He spent 31 years at Baylor University as Director of Speech/Communications and Director of Baylor Alumni Association. He was selected as “Outstanding Teacher” at Baylor in 1978. Sometimes known as “The Voice of Baylor,” he was in charge of the PA system at Baylor Stadium for 26 years. He was Master of Ceremonies at All University Sing for 30 years and MC for Pigskin Revue for 40 years. Stokes has served as a board member for some 20 years of the Paisano Baptist Encampment in the Davis Mountains. Survivors include his wife, Katy; daughters Polly and her husband Dick Barnes of Jackson, Miss and Chris and her husband Jim Mullens of Dallas; four grandchildren, Kate and Beth Thomason of Jackson, Miss and Kelsey and Cameron Mullens of Dallas; his brother Gordon Stokes of Houston; and his mother Suella Stokes of San Angelo. Memorials may be made to Dayspring Baptist Church or Baylor University. WILKIRSON-HATCH-BAILEY