Betty Ann Stripling, 86, of Sherman, passed from this life on earth on January 5, 2011, with her husband Carl, to whom she had been married for 64 years, at her side. Funeral services will be held at Waldo Funeral Home in Sherman on Friday, January 7, 2011 at 2 p.m. Her son, Rev. Mark Stripling, Men's Ministries Director of West Texas Assemblies of God in Lubbock will officiate, assisted by Pastor Albert Fisher of Key Memorial United Methodist Church of Sherman. Pallbearers will be Scott Trice, Cliff Trice, Andrew Trice, Matt Stripling and Mike Stripling. Burial will be at Pilot Grove Cemetery under the direction of Waldo Funeral Home.

Betty was born October 24, 1924 to Gus Viser and Hannah (Washburn) Viser at Bartlesville, Oklahoma. She married Carl Stripling on April 6, 1946 at Shreveport, Louisiana. She was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and aunt. Raising her three boys on a farm east of Denison, she was a wonderful helpmate to her husband Carl, who was a teacher and principal in the Denison schools. She loved flowers, and had quite a rose garden at her home. During her retirement years she became an antique dealer. With her health failing for some time, complications led to kidney failure. After a final visit with her husband, sons, and grandchildren, she bravely made the decision herself to discontinue dialysis, telling her family, "You all need to let me go, I am ready to go to heaven, and soon." God granted her request at three a.m. the next morning. Special thanks go out to all the nurses and staff of SICU and second floor west at Wilson N. Jones for the wonderful care given to her (and to her family) during the last week of her life. You are all the best! Betty and her husband attended Trinity Lighthouse Assembly of God for many years, and in recent years were members of the Senior Adult Sunday School Class at Key Memorial United Methodist Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother John Viser, sister Jane Trice, son Keith, and granddaughter Kristi. She is survived by her husband Carl of the home, sons David and wife Karan of Austin, Phil and wife Louise of San Mateo, California, Mark and wife Debbie of Ransom Canyon, Texas, five grandchildren, and three great grandchildren.

The online register may be signed at waldofuneralhome.com.