Phil Stribling

Wimberley recently lost the man behind one of this community’s most exuberant and contagious smiles--Mr. Phil Stribling. Someone easily identified across a crowded room by a grin that often overwhelmed his face, and a bellowing laugh that authentically portrayed the joy of someone who was happy making others happy, Phil was well loved by family and friends for the complicated man that he was, including his quick mind, occasionally tough demeanor, and his compassionate heart. Phil was most known and loved for his wry, satirical, sometimes farcical sense of humor. He helped us all to lighten up a little...and laugh a lot.

Philip Morris Stribling, resident of Wimberley for more than 20 years, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Dec. 21, 2018, at the age of 86. Phil’s death followed a battle of more than 10 years with Alzheimer’s Disease and his death was the result of complications from that disease. But while Phil’s mind and body suffered some of the most heinous insults this cruel disease could hurl at him, he never allowed it to completely rob him of his laughter, even to the very end.

Battling this illness with him hand-in-hand was Phil’s devoted wife of 16 years, Jackie Maloy Stribling, who faithfully and lovingly cared for him day and night, and was with him when he left this life to be with the Lord that he loved.

Phil was born Dec. 11, 1932, in Sweetwater, Texas, to parents J.C. Stribling, III, of Llano, Texas, and Stella Morris Stribling of San Saba, Texas. Phil descended from a long line of Texas cattlemen and spent his formative years on ranches in the Texas Hill Country and West Texas, working cattle and later managing herds for his father, who bought and sold cattle from ranches in West Texas and Oklahoma. He grew up and attended school in Sweetwater, and graduated from Sweetwater-Newman High School in 1950. He spent the next few years in Lubbock at Texas Tech University, where he graduated with degree in Marketing.

In June of 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea. Phil, who was a lover of country and a patriot from an early age, enlisted in the Army and later served in both Korea and the Phillipines. He returned to the United States following an injury, retiring with the rank of first lieutenant in 1963.

Phil’s professional career was if nothing else, diverse. He started out in the 1950s in sales and marketing for Gulf Coast Business Forms in Beaumont, Texas, but would later find himself owner and manager of a fishing resort in Arkansas, the War Eagle Cove Resort, in the late 1970s. He entered into the world of real estate while in Arkansas, where he was first licensed as a real estate broker, and continued to be involved in some form of real estate sales, property management, and land development until he retired in the early 2000s. As an entrepreneur, Phil also owned several businesses, including a successful office equipment and supply store, Information Processing Supply, in the 1980s.

Phil is preceded in death by his parents, J.C. and Stella, and brother, James Clayton Stribling. He is survived by his wife, Jackie Maloy Stribling of Wimberley; from his first marriage to Carolyn Amos (deceased), son Brad Stribling and his wife Jennifer of Dallas, Texas, and their children, Mariel Stribling Gingrich and her husband Dr. Brian Gingrich of Princeton, New Jersey, and Andrew Stribling of Dallas; and son Brian Stribling and his wife Julie of Russellville, Arkansas, and their children, Sarah Stribling and her husband Zachari Meyer of Teaneck, New Jersey, and Bonnie Stribling and her son, Jack Glenn, of Russellville.

Services will be held Thursday, Jan. 10, at 11 a.m., at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Wimberley. Interment to follow at St. Stephen’s cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to: the Alzheimer’s Association, Wimberley Adoption Group & Rescue (WAG), and the Gardening Angels of St. Stephen’s.