Ray Vanderpool

Services for Ray L. Vanderpool, 81, of Tyler, will be held on Saturday, March 3, 2007 at 2:00 PM at Green Acres Baptist Church with Rev. officiating. Burial will follow in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Tyler under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home. Mr. Vanderpool passed away, Thursday, March 1, 2007 at the Trinity Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler. He was born July 16, 1925 in Dallas, Texas to the late Beulah and Milton Ray Vanderpool. Ray graduated Tyler High School in 1944 and attended Kemper Academy in Boonville, Missouri. He later went into the United States Navy where he attended Naval Officers Training and was medically discharged in 1945. Shortly after his discharge he began his career with Ideal Bakery Company of Tyler where he served with his father in all aspects of the company business and later became president. He also purchased Sun Beam Bakery in San Antonio in 1967. After his retirement in 1974 he devoted himself to his passions: his churches, various ministries, and evangelism. The church and the Lord were two of the most important parts of his life. Ray was one of the founders of Grace Community Church and was a member of the Kiwanis Club of Tyler. However, the most significant occurrence in his life was when he became a Christian in 1960. Mr. Vanderpool was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Joan Vanderpool Boring; and his first wife, Patricia Ann (Ware) Vanderpool. Ray is survived by his loving family including his wife of 12 years, Barbara Vanderpool of Tyler; daughters, Vici Vanderpool of Dallas, Jan Stark and husband Bubba of Austin; sons, Milton Vanderpool and wife Cathy of Tyler, Todd Vanderpool and wife Lee Ann of Cordova, TN; step children, Anna Rose and family of Fayetteville, AR, Kenneth McCarty and family of Tyler, Stephen McCarty of Breckenridge Village of Tyler;granchildren, Amy Roberts and husband Ben of Tyler, Bethany Vanderpool of Tyler, Lee Vanderpool of Colorado Springs, CO, Anna Stark of Austin, James Stark of Austin, Meredith Stark of Austin, Lauren Vanderpool of Cordova, TN, John Todd Vanderpool of Cordova, TN; great granddaughter, Eden Claire Roberts of Tyler; and numerous neices and nephews. Pallbearers will be Paul Potter, Randy Stevenson, Melton Miller, Robert Sparkman, Kenneth McCarty, and Bob Sanders. Honorary Pallbearers will be Ray Breedlove, Roby Hadden, Bruce Brookshire, and J. B. Raulson. The family will receive friends from 6:00- 8:00 PM Friday, March 2, 2007, at Stewart Family Funeral Home, 7525 Old Jacksonville Hwy., Tyler, Texas 75703. Memorials in honor of Ray Vanderpool may be made to Breckenridge Village of Tyler "Scholarship Fund";15062 CR 1145, Tyler, TX 75704. For more information or to express condolences, visit www.stewartfamilyfuneral.com.

Ray Vanderpool

July 16, 1925 - March 1, 2007