Bobby Kristensen

Bobby Reid “Bob” Kristensen, 88, died on June 4, 2017. Bob was a native Texan, born in Timpson TX on August 30, 1928. He had a great love for the small towns in East and Central Texas and found the citizens of those towns to be “the salt of the earth.”

After graduating from Timpson High School, Bob attended Virginia Military Institute (VMI) in Lexington VA toward the end of WWII, completing 2 years of accelerated college. Then he entered the U.S. Army, completing Ranger Training. Upon discharge, Bob attended and graduated from Rice University in Houston TX. While pursuing post-graduate work on a PhD at Rice, he was recalled to active duty in the Korean War with the mobilization of the First Ranger Battalion. He was commissioned in the field and received two Purple Hearts, Bronze Star with V for Valor, Prisoner of War medal, and Army Commendation medal.

Following the Korean War, Bob attended the Perkins School of Theology of Southern Methodist University in Dallas TX, graduating with a Master of Theology degree. He received a Doctor of Theology degree from Union Theological Seminary in New York City. Dr. Kristensen was also the recipient of numerous honorary degrees. He was ordained in the Methodist ministry, serving churches in Bronson, Brookeland, Anderson, Whitehouse, Troup, St. Phillip’s of Houston, and First United Methodist of Houston.

In 1967, Bob left active ministry, entering the insurance business. He earned the CLU degree and pursued this career but still missed the pastorate. Bob began fulltime ministry again in 1982 as senior pastor at Hilltop Lakes Chapel in Hilltop Lakes TX and joyously ministered there for over 18 years until he retired. In 2007, Bob and his wife, Virginia, moved to Cinco Ranch in Katy TX to be near their five children, and they became members of St. Peter’s United Methodist Church.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Wallace Kristensen and Lou Willie Shipp Kristensen, his wife of 47 years, Mary Virginia Ward Kristensen, and a grandson, Seth Tyler Havers. He is survived by his two daughters, Suzanne Miller and Cynthia Hepler, and their spouses. He is also survived by Virginia’s three children, Maurice Estlinbaum, John Estlinbaum, and Mary Kettle, and their spouses, as well as a combined 8 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 11am on Saturday, June 17, at Hilltop Lakes Chapel, #2 Hilltop Drive, Hilltop Lakes TX 77871, with Dr. Tony Taylor, Senior Pastor, presiding. A private family interment will be held at Hopewell Cemetery near Hilltop Lakes. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hilltop Lakes Chapel Foundation, PO Box 1143, Hilltop Lakes TX 77871.