David Frederick Oltrogge

DAVID FREDERICK OLTROGGE (“Dave”) was born on June 28, 1936, in Waverly, Iowa and went peacefully to be with Jesus on September 3, 2025. He was 89. Dave was the third child of Victor Oltrogge and Electa (Zehr) Oltrogge. As a child he spent many years in Denver, Colorado and as an early teen, he moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where he graduated from Phoenix Christian High School in 1955.

On June 14, 1957, at Valley Baptist Church, Dave married his high school sweetheart, Judith Andersen (“Judy”). They were married almost 65 years. He attended Arizona Bible Institute and became interested in the cause of Bible translation. After attending the Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL) in Norman, Oklahoma, he and Judy went through Jungle Camp in Chiapas, Mexico and joined Wycliffe Bible Translators in 1959.

In the spring of 1960, Dave and Judy moved to Central America which they called home for the next 35 years. Following God’s call to translate the scriptures for the Tolpan people in Honduras, they moved to La Montaña de la Flor and began to learn the Tol language. As a linguist, Dave was able to create an alphabet for the Tol language and began the meticulous process of cataloguing vocabulary and describing the grammar, finally transcribing oral Tol into written Tol. Today, because of his early and humble efforts in the 1960’s, the Tolpan people have the New Testament in their language and there is a thriving Tolpan church. A copy of the Tol New Testament is on display in the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C.

In 1967, Dave completed a certificate in International Management at Thunderbird School of Global Management in Phoenix and returned to Guatemala City to assume the role of Director for the Central America Branch (CAB) of SIL. He returned to the U.S. in 1973 and completed a Master of Arts in Linguistics at the University of Texas at Arlington in1975. Moving back and forth between Guatemala and Dallas over the next two decades, he assumed various roles with SIL, including a yearly summer role as the Director of the SIL program at the University of Oklahoma, Norman. He finished his PhD in Linguistics at UT Arlington in 1986 and spent the following decade teaching at the Universidad de Mariano Galvez in Guatemala City, where he encouraged many indigenous linguists. After moving back to Dallas in 1995, Dave and Judy began traveling to South America to mobilize the Church in Latin America to take a more prominent role in the Bible translation movement. Together they would teach introductory courses, develop relationships, and strategize with Latin Americans. Even though Dave retired from active service with Wycliffe in 2005, he remained a passionate supporter and advocate for the Bible translation movement in Latin America until his death.

He loved to sing, and great music would make him weep. A good steak, a juicy hamburger, or enchiladas verdes were some of his favorite foods. He was an avid reader and collector of books he loved, especially books by C.S. Lewis. He was energized by deeply intellectual, robust conversation, especially if it was of a philosophical or theological nature.

He loved his family and, every chance he got, he would admonish them to be a “city on a hill,” letting their light shine brightly for Jesus.

Dave is survived by his three children Susan Faith (Oltrogge) Lipps, David Christian Oltrogge, Sarah Elizabeth (Oltrogge) Colby and their spouses, nine grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Judith (Andersen) Oltrogge; his daughter, Cindy (Oltrogge) Upshaw; his two brothers, Vic Oltrogge and Terry Oltrogge; and his sister, Faith (Oltrogge) Taussig.

The family will host a Celebration of Life service at the Cowan Apartments on the International Linguistics Center on Sunday, September 14, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. (7500 W. Camp Wisdom Road, Dallas, TX), with a light lunch to follow.

If you wish to join on Zoom at 12:00 p.m. Central Time, please use this link to enter the waiting room a few minutes before: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6043203078

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Seed Company’s Global Impact Fund which will help fuel resources for their partnership with LETRA (Latinoamericanos en Traducción y Alfabetización). Your gift will encourage Latin American Bible translators and their work around the world. https://seedcompany.com/david-frederick-oltrogge/