Craig Stripling

Craig Stripling was born October 19, 1946, in Nacogdoches, Texas to M. M. (“Mack”) Stripling and Nettamae (“Ned”) Stripling, both of whom predeceased him. He died August 22, 2026, at Baylor Saint Luke’s in Houston, a resident of Nacogdoches County, Texas at the age of 79.

Craig attended Nacogdoches public schools- Central Elementary, Raguet Elementary, Thomas J. Rusk Junior High, Nacogdoches High School. In high school he was elected Vice President of the Student Council and later elected President. He was a member of the National Honor Society, Who’s Who, was selected “Most Likely to Succeed”, and was class Salutatorian. He later attended the University of Texas at Austin where he was member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Social Fraternity and the Texas Cowboys Service Organization. He attended South Texas College of Law in Houston and began practice in his father’s law firm in 1975, practicing law in the same building at the same desk for over 50 years. He was a former State Director of the Texas Young Lawyers Association, and a Fellow of the Texas Bar Association.

Craig was a member and President of the Nacogdoches Boosters Club, an over 100 year old community and Stephen F. Austin State University promoting and supporting men’s club for several decades. He was a retired Director of Fredonia State Bank. He was a Charter and former member of Fredonia Rotary Club and was previously a director/owner of Nacogdoches Abstract and Title Company. He was the founding member and thrice president of the Nacogdoches Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution. He was a member of the Sons of the Republic of Texas, the latter two being heritage genealogical societies.

Craig is survived by his wife, Wendy Schuler Stripling, and his son Sam Stripling, his sister Jody Stripling (Michael) McLean, his niece Morgan McLean, her husband and daughter Mike and Lily Lonegan. Survivors also include first cousins John (Marianne) Young, Bill (Mary) Stripling, Mary (Tom) Duncan, Nancy Crawford McEwen, Sam (Linda Maxwell) Crawford and numerous other cousins.

He enjoyed getting to meet and know people. He liked smooth going gaited horses, old pocket knives, old pocket watches, antiques and collectibles, “country cooking” and being from East Texas. He especially cherished his childhood memories of growing up and hanging out in his grandfather’s drugstore, Stripling’s, on the town square in the best of the best times- 1950’s, early 1960’s where he on a regular basis got to meet and know town folks who daily came into the drugstore for soda fountain or shopping sessions and to by virtue of his riding in the prescription delivery truck got to meet hundreds of the store’s customer. The happiest day of his life was in 1954 when he was baptized at First Baptist Church in Nacogdoches. Craig wanted to leave you with these words: “I was fortunate that my valley was green and blessed and I hope that yours is likewise so. Remember that God’s river is always full and He welcomes you to His water.” Pax Vobiscum!