Bill Warren Stroupe
June 13, 1932 - November 05, 2023
Visitation: Wednesday, November 8, 2023, 2-4, 6-8 pm; Devlin Funeral Home of Cranberry Township
Service: Thursday, November 9, 2023, 10:30 am; Christ Bible Church
Bill Warren Stroupe of Freedom, PA passed away on Sunday, Nov 5 at home with his beloved wife Mary Ann at his side.
Bill and Mary Ann Cunningham who were madly in love eloped to Cumberland, MD in 1950. Upon returning to Freedom, Pa they proceeded to build their considerable family and a wonderful life. Bill is survived by his wife Mary Ann, four daughters (Patricia Wilds, Catherine Wickline, Barbara Smith, and Janet King) and three sons (David Stroupe, Robert Stroupe, and Timothy Stroupe). He is also survived by 13 grandchildren, 2 step grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren and 2 step great grandchildren. He has one surviving sister, Betty Ann Crumbley.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents Lila Henderson Moses and Ernest Edward Stroupe. He was also preceded in death by his baby boy William Colin Stroupe, grandson Nicholas Erik Maravich, step granddaughter Kristy Jo Wickline, brothers Glenn, Jay and Richard and sisters Lena Taylor and Doris Early.
He was born June 13, 1932, in Alloy, W. Va. He learned to work hard at an early age in Icard, NC where he and his siblings toiled on the family farm. Poor, shoeless, dressed in overalls and no more than 7 years old, Bill would carry a 10-pound sack of wheat one and a half miles to the gristmill to have it ground into flour and then carry it home again. The work ethic instilled in him on the family farm followed him the rest of his life. Bill went on to become a structural ironworker where he built high-rises, power houses and bridges. He could walk a 2”wide angle suspended 100’ in the air. At one point he helped paint the 550-foot tall KDKA tower in Pittsburgh and changed the light bulb at the top. Much to the chagrin of his wife and children he loved to demonstrate his highwire balancing skills at every opportunity. From Iron work, Bill went on to partner with his two brothers in their own structural steel and window installation company known as Skyline Sash, Inc.. Later Bill and his brother Dick developed a 20-acre farm into what is now known as Knob Vue Estates mobile home park. Bill finally retired in 2004, but he never stopped working.
Bill applied that same work ethic and passion to his faith. He put his trust in Jesus Christ in March of 1955. As his faith grew so did his desire to spread God’s word. Brother Bill and others from the First Baptist Church of Evans City started an outreach ministry in the neighborhoods of Fernway Park. The ministry eventually became Bible Baptist Church with the first service held on Oct 1, 1960. The church body grew so in 1964 Bill and others completed construction on a brick sanctuary at 2721 Rochester Road. Bill served as a Deacon and Elder at the church for many years. You could find ‘Uncle Bill’ at the rear of the sanctuary after each service handing out Smarties to children and adults alike. As the church grew, he again donned his tool belt and got to work on an even bigger building where Christ Bible Church now holds services. Bill later withdrew from Bible Baptist to attend the small but mighty congregation of Family Bible Church on Freedom Crider Road. Bill also supported New Tribes Mission as well as many other missionaries and helped build numerous churches. Bill would love nothing more than to share God’s love, John 3:16.
Bill was not all work and no play. In his younger years he loved to play softball and up to his dying day loved watching the Pittsburgh Pirates. In his down time, he took the family camping along the Clarion River where they would raft and fish and make smores by the campfire. He loved to ride the mountain roads on his Honda 90 with Mary Ann hanging on tight in the back. He loved socializing and spending time with friends and family. He loved to tell jokes and play pranks. Once he even brought a live ground hog home in his lunchbox!
Bill was generous with his time and talents and was always helping others. He loved machinery and had quite the collection of toys. He used his well drilling rig, black topping machine, backhoes, dump trucks, and plows to maintain the mobile home court but also to help others in need.
In the midst, of his very active life Bill somehow managed to find time to study God’s word, memorize and write poetry and share both with anyone willing to listen. I leave you with one of his favorite poems.
THE MASTER POTTER
By Bill Warren Stroupe 1985
I watched the Potter as He turned the wheel;
The clay He was molding yielded to His will.
He removed the lumps and removed the grooves,
And with moistened hands He made it smooth.
As He molded the clay in His hands,
I knew at that moment He had a plan.
For He had a picture in His Mind,
Of a vessel of the rarest kind.
He worked and labored to perfect every line,
To make each detail ever so fine.
It’s a vessel He wishes to put on display,
One that people can see from day to day.
Are we yielding to the Master’s hand?
Desiring to do His least command?
Or are we stubborn and hard to control,
like clay that is crumbly and hard to mold?
I want to be a vessel of the rarest prize,
One that is pleasing to the Master’s eyes.
I want to see a smile appear on His face
and be a vessel that portrays His work of grace.
Bill is now smiling in the presence of his Master.
Family and friends are welcome on Wednesday from 2-4, 6-8 pm at Devlin Funeral Home of Cranberry Township, 2678 Rochester Road, Cranberry Township. Funeral Services will be held Thursday at 10:30 am at Christ Bible Church. Private interment will be held at Sylvania Hills Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers if you wish donations can be made in Dad’s memory to any of the following:
Family Bible Church Missionary Fund
325 Freedom Crider Rd
Park Quarry Ext.
Freedom, PA. 15042
St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, Stjude.org
Office of Fund Development
AHN Hospice
4818 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15224
We are all saddened to hear of your loss. I first knew Bill as a teen and thought he was such a wonderful person because of his love for the Lord and people. I also have great memories of my dad and Bill having way too much fun serving the Lord together at Bible Baptist. It is comforting to know he is at home with the Lord and that we will all see him again.
so sorry for your loss. prayers to your famiy
To the Stroupe Family I’m so sorry for your loss of your husband and Dad ! You’re in our thoughts and prayers! The Cashdollar Family
I will always cherish the kindness he showed to my mother during her illness. He was a man of good character, who could also make you laugh. I know he gave my mom a big hug up in heaven. Love to you all.
My sympathy to all the family for your loss.
May God be with you all at this time.
Jennifer always ♥️ spoke highly of him
I will ALWAYS cheerish the time I got to spend as a child and adult with Bill, Mary Ann and all the kids. They were my youth group leaders and I’ll never forget them. We always had so much fun and learned how God wants us to be. They lead by example. He was Always smiling, and I’m sure he’s smiling right now. Thanks for all the wonderful memories.
Our Dear friend Bill,
We loved and will cherish your encouragement each time we met for our Bible study. We will remember your joy in sharing your faith and your poetry.
Bill blessed me and my family during a very trying time in our lives. I look forward to spending time with Bill once again when we are gathered around our Savior Jesus’ eternal throne.
I was privileged to come to know Bill, his wife and some of his children.
I also was privileged to part of AHN team caring for Bill and Mary Ann.
God’s blessing on you all.
The man who became my father-in-law because I married his son Robert. But became my “earthly father” by his choosing. I will love and miss you ever day Dad until you greet me in Heaven.
Mary Ann and family, so very sorry for your family’s loss. He was a kind and gentle man. He loved his family and living a wonderful life. He will be missed by many. He is with God!
My deepest sympathy and prayers for the whole family.
what a great Christian man. what else can you say