Gerald Arthur Ripley, Jr.

Gerald Arthur Ripley, Jr., was born on September 15, 1945, to Gerald and Helen Ripley in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. The oldest of twelve siblings, he grew up in Erhard, MN, and accepted Jesus as his Savior at the age of nine while attending Camp Joy. He graduated summa cum laude from Concordia College (Moorhead, MN), where he majored in mathematics and minored in chemistry. He met Sharon Torvik while studying at Concordia, and they married on May 28, 1966. Gerald earned a Master of Divinity degree from Luther Seminary (St. Paul, MN) and was ordained as a pastor on July 11, 1971.

Moving to Texas, Gerald and Sharon raised three children (Chad, Sharie, and Angela) and pastored four churches: Emanuel’s Lutheran Church (Seguin, TX, 1971–1974), First English Lutheran Church (Victoria, TX, 1974–1980), Beitel Memorial Lutheran Church (San Antonio, TX, 1980–1987), and Abundant Life Church (San Antonio, TX, 1987–2021). Hallmarks of Pastor Ripley’s ministry included faithfulness, integrity, humility, an openness to the present-day gifts of the Holy Spirit, an abiding commitment to prayer, a heart for the citywide church in San Antonio, and a passion for missions. Members of the congregations he served consistently commented on his genuine love, authenticity, wise counsel, and willingness to help in any situation. Encouraging Christians to become engaged in government, he founded the Pastors PAC to vet candidates for office according to Christian values.

As a husband, father, and grandfather, Gerald prioritized spending time with family and savored celebrations, meaningful conversations, and friendly competitions while playing table games during “family fun nights.” An avid fisherman, Gerald enjoyed fishing on the Texas gulf coast and the lakes of Minnesota. Other hobbies included gardening and watching sports (cheering for the San Antonio Spurs, Minnesota Vikings, and Minnesota Twins). His jokes and dramatic storytelling captivated his grandchildren and delighted listeners of all ages.

On May 25, 2021, Gerald went home to be with the Lord at the age of seventy-five. He is survived by Sharon, his wife of fifty-five years; children Chad, Sharie (Gary), and Angela; and grandchildren David, Alyson, Natalie, Josiah, Jonathan, and Amanda; ten of his siblings; a large extended family; and the Abundant Life Church family.