Rev. James William Stroud

Reverend James William Stroud, Sr., 82, passed away Saturday, December 18, 2010, peacefully in his home in Port Arthur. Funeral: 11 AM Wednesday, December 22, 2010, at Val Verde Baptist Church in Groves Graveside Services: Springtown Cemetery, 11 AM Thursday, December 23, 2010, in Springtown, Texas Visitation: 6:30 - 8:00 PM, Tuesday, December 21, in the chapel of Levingston Funeral Home in Groves James Stroud, Sr. was born October 16, 1928, in Springtown, Texas to his parents William Franklin and Bertha Elizabeth Stroud. Reverend Stroud had been living in the Golden Triangle with his wife, Lois, for 43 years. He served as a pastor for 8 years at Harding Street Baptist Church in Baker, Louisiana, 2 years at West Kiest Baptist Church in Dallas, 15 years at Val Verde Baptist Church in Groves, and the final 10 years at Friendship Baptist in Beaumont. He retired from the pastorate in 1992. After retiring, he and his son Jimmy founded Red Apple Day Care in Groves, Beaumont, and Port Arthur. He was a member of West Conroe Baptist Church in Conroe, Texas. James grew up in the Springtown area where he graduated from Springtown High School in 1947. He starred in basketball in high school and was recruited by 47 colleges across the United States. He attended Texas Wesleyan College in Fort Worth on a basketball scholarship and traveled with the team for 2 years, playing in places such as Madison Square Garden. Being 6 foot 9 inches, he joked that he was 30 years old before he saw another man as tall as he was. Having to choose between playing basketball and getting married, he chose without regret or hesitation the love of his life, Lois Nadine Neely, who he is happily with today. James was also an avid golfer, and one of his greatest thrills was to play golf with his family. The real joy of James' life was being a husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and pastor. He was preceded in death by his parents Frank and Bertha Stroud, his infant sister Elizabeth, and his wife Lois. Survivors: Sons, Jimmy Stroud and his wife Rita of Port Arthur, and Joey Stroud and his wife Kristi of Dickinson; daughter, Dianna Gross and her husband Jay of Conroe; 9 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; sister, Rena Mae Woody and her husband Scott of Poolville, Tex