Walter (Walt) William Stroup, 83, passed from this life to his heavenly home on Sunday, September 21, 2008 in a local hospital.  Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at 10:00 AM at the Lewisville Church of Christ in Lewisville, Texas with Jeff Jenkins officiating.  Interment will follow at 4:00 PM in the Elmwood Memorial Park in Abilene, Texas under the direction of Mulkey-Mason Funeral Home of Lewisville, Texas.

Walt was born on November 14, 1924, in Decatur, Alabama to Frank and Mattie Stroup.  His family moved to Coahoma, Texas where they were cotton sharecroppers.  As a young boy he was in Boy Scouts.  In high school, he was a drum major in the band and graduated from Coahoma High School.

When World War II began, he went to California and was a welder helping to build war ships.  He later joined the Navy Seabees and was stationed in the South Pacific.  Following the war, he met JoAnn "Jodi" Higginbotham and they were married on April 19, 1945 in Big Spring, Texas.  They had two daughters, Jan and Sherry.  He graduated from Hardin Simmons College and attended graduate school at the University of Texas.   He was a teacher in Clarendon and Big Spring, Texas for several years.

Walt had a career change.  He was an insurance agent for Southwestern Life Insurance Company for 60 years where he earned his American Chartered Life Underwriters Certification.  He also received the Million Dollar Round Table Award and the Texas Leader Round Table Award many times.  His achievements at Southwestern Life afforded Jodi and him the opportunity to travel the United States and the world to company conventions.   Walt was always known for sending birthday cards to his clients and enclosing a balloon in cards for children.

Walt and his family resided in Big Spring, Texas until 2000 when they moved to Lewisville.  He loved to be a part of all activities his girls participated in, including PTA, Scouts and Band Boosters.  He also served on the Big Spring City Council and as President of the American Business Club.  His favorite hobbies were camping and fishing in Colorado and New Mexico.  He took his sons-in-law and grandson bird hunting many times during the Thanksgiving holidays.

While in Big Spring, Walt was a faithful Christian and involved in the 14th and Main Street Church of Christ.  He served as a deacon and an elder for 40 years.  He loved to sing religious songs and had most of them memorized.  He taught many Bible classes and individual Bible studies.  After moving to Lewisville, he served as a deacon for the Senior Citizen Ministry at the Lewisville Church of Christ.  Walt was a true Christian gentleman who loved God and his church.  He loved his family and especially his five grandchildren and nine great grandchildren, who affectionately called him "Guggie."  He had a great sense of humor and never met a stranger.  He got to know people by telling stories or jokes.  Walt loved "fixing" things.  He felt that he couldn't make whatever was broken worse and thought he might even be able to improve it.

Walt is preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Dorothy Sanders and Edith Winteroad Smith, three brothers, Merle Stroup, R.M. Stroup, and James Stroup.  Another brother died in infancy.  Walt is survived by his wife of 62 years, Jodi, two daughters, Jan South and husband, Tom of Abilene, Sherry Griffin and husband, Bob of Lewisville, five grandchildren, Amy Pratt and husband, Brian, Heather Isbell and husband, Mark, Holly Hall and husband, Jason, Ginger Stockton and Scott South and wife, Alison, nine great grandchildren, Brian Pratt, Jr., Brock Pratt, Bryce Stockton, Cade Isbell, Wade Isbell, Colt Isbell, Peyton Hall, Mackenzie Hall and Canyon South, as well as, numerous nieces, nephews and friends. His pride and joy were his great grandchildren who he had the opportunity of influencing.

Memorial contributions can be made in Walt's name to:  The Lewisville Church of Christ Building Fund,  901 College Pkwy, Lewisville, TX 75077, Christian Homes of Abilene,  1202 Estates Dr.,  Abilene, TX 79602 or the Medina Children's Home, 21300 State Highway 16 N, Medina, TX 78055-3808.