Church of Christ Studies

About Ralph Starling

Ralph was born March 18, 1922, in Imboden, Ark., to the late Harry L. and Dollie F. Ratliff Starling.  Ralph went home to be with his Lord on July 14, 2008.  Ralph was buried in Croft Cemetary in Paragould, Ark.  He married Dorothy ‘Dot’ Johns, Sept. 4, 1944, at Dot’s home in Paragould, Ark. She preceded him in death March 15, 1996. Ralph was a graduate of Sloan-Hendrix Academy High School in Imboden, Ark. He received his BS degree in biology and business from Harding College in Searcy, Ark. Ralph was a Church of Christ gospel minister for well over 60 years. He was a full time minister for churches in Arkansas, Schenectady, New York, Brownsville, Fort Worth, Waco, and Richland Hills/Meadow Lake Retirement Village. In 1950 Ralph and Dot moved to Stephenville where he began his full time ministry for six years at the Graham Street Church of Christ. In 1969 he returned to the Graham Street congregation where he continued to preach until 1983. He preached for the Morgan Mill Church of Christ approximately ten years, and until his health began to fail, spent several years as minister at the Johnsville Church of Christ. Over a span of 60 years, Ralph conducted over 1500 weddings and funerals.

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Graham Street Church of Christ - Stephenville, Texas

Ralph Starling came to Graham Street in 1950, after the new building was finished. Brother Starling worked hard to increase the growth of the church. He developed Vacation Bible School into a success for the children. A black Vacation Bible School was set up and supported by the church with Burl Trotter as their minister. Bible classes rose to a record high of over 400 people. A Biblical radio program was also begun during the Starling tenure. In 1956 Ralph Starling behind Stephenville with a flourishing Church of Christ congregation. In 1969 Ralph Starling returned to Stephenville as the minister until semi-retiring in 1983.

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