1942
Raymond
2011
Rev. Raymond F. Gilstrap
October 4, 1942 — November 14, 2011
Raymond Francis Gilstrap was born October 4, 1942 to Jack and Geraldine Seeley Gilsrap in Wichita, Kansas. He departed this life of 69 years, 1 month, and 10 days November 14, 2011 at Hilltop Lodge in Beloit where he had resided the past 2 ½ months.
Ray spent his early years in his family's music store in Arkansas City, Kansas that was owned by his mother's parents. He developed many skills and knowledge of musical instruments and their care.
After high school, Ray attended Kansas State Teachers College at Emporia, Kansas where he received his Bachelor of Music Education degree. This is where he met his wife Jeanne Appleby who was also a music major. Upon graduation, he pursued other avenues of employment beginning with the Santa Fe Railroad, and later worked as an insurance agent, movie projectionist, and a wholesale food buyer. Eventually he followed his true career path and became a public school band director for fifteen years.
On August 19, 1962 he married Jeanne at Clyde, Kansas.
At age 40, he felt a call to Christian ministry and Ray and his family moved to Kansas City, Kansas where he attended Central Baptist Theological Seminary and received his Master of Divinity degree and embarked on a whole new life of service. While a seminarian, he was an associate pastor at First Pilgrim United Church of Christ, and following seminary he served for 17 years in American Baptist Churches and his final 7 years in United Methodist Churches, retiring in July, 2008 at which time he retired to Beloit.
He was a member of First Baptist Church, Abilene.
He was preceded in death by his parents and step father Chester Blair.
Left to mourn his passing and celebrate his life are his wife Jeanne of Beloit, children Sherri Stannard and husband Scott of Mission, Kansas, Jack Gilstrap and wife Nancy of Abilene, Donald Gilstrap and wife Kathy of Maize, Kansas; one brother Mike Gilstrap and wife Susan of Omaha, Nebraska, one brother-in-law Fred Appleby and wife Frankie of Hazelwood, Missouri; three beloved grandchildren Connor and Kagen Gilstrap and Sky Stannard.; many nieces and nephews and friends.
Pastors Glenn Fogo and Dennis Finch will officiate at Funeral Services which will be held at 2:00 P.M. Thursday at First United Methodist Church in Beloit. Burial will follow in Pleasant View Cemetery at Ames, Kansas. Memorials may be given to the Gideons International. Friends may call from 9 AM until 8 PM Wednesday at the McDonald Funeral Home with the family receiving friends from 6:30 PM until 7:30 P.M.
Ray spent his early years in his family's music store in Arkansas City, Kansas that was owned by his mother's parents. He developed many skills and knowledge of musical instruments and their care.
After high school, Ray attended Kansas State Teachers College at Emporia, Kansas where he received his Bachelor of Music Education degree. This is where he met his wife Jeanne Appleby who was also a music major. Upon graduation, he pursued other avenues of employment beginning with the Santa Fe Railroad, and later worked as an insurance agent, movie projectionist, and a wholesale food buyer. Eventually he followed his true career path and became a public school band director for fifteen years.
On August 19, 1962 he married Jeanne at Clyde, Kansas.
At age 40, he felt a call to Christian ministry and Ray and his family moved to Kansas City, Kansas where he attended Central Baptist Theological Seminary and received his Master of Divinity degree and embarked on a whole new life of service. While a seminarian, he was an associate pastor at First Pilgrim United Church of Christ, and following seminary he served for 17 years in American Baptist Churches and his final 7 years in United Methodist Churches, retiring in July, 2008 at which time he retired to Beloit.
He was a member of First Baptist Church, Abilene.
He was preceded in death by his parents and step father Chester Blair.
Left to mourn his passing and celebrate his life are his wife Jeanne of Beloit, children Sherri Stannard and husband Scott of Mission, Kansas, Jack Gilstrap and wife Nancy of Abilene, Donald Gilstrap and wife Kathy of Maize, Kansas; one brother Mike Gilstrap and wife Susan of Omaha, Nebraska, one brother-in-law Fred Appleby and wife Frankie of Hazelwood, Missouri; three beloved grandchildren Connor and Kagen Gilstrap and Sky Stannard.; many nieces and nephews and friends.
Pastors Glenn Fogo and Dennis Finch will officiate at Funeral Services which will be held at 2:00 P.M. Thursday at First United Methodist Church in Beloit. Burial will follow in Pleasant View Cemetery at Ames, Kansas. Memorials may be given to the Gideons International. Friends may call from 9 AM until 8 PM Wednesday at the McDonald Funeral Home with the family receiving friends from 6:30 PM until 7:30 P.M.
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