Leon Vorpahl

Rev. Vorpahl was born September 21, 1918 in Guadalupe County to George and Selma Amanda Bargfrede Vorpahl. He attended schools in Tavner, TX before graduating from Richmond High School. Following high school, he helped his brother on the family farm for a time before heading to Baylor University, from where he graduated in 1943. The following year on August 23, he married Ardis Nelson. Continuing his education at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, he earned a Master of Divinity degree there in 1947. While a student at Baylor and Southwestern, he served in the pulpit at several Baptist churches in Central Texas. His full time ministry began at Troy and continued at Barlett before moving to Sinton. For 13 years he served as minister of First Baptist Church in Sinton before accepting a call to First Baptist in Hillsboro in 1964. He would remain pastor there until his retirement in January of 1985, following which he served as Pastor Emeritus. Beginning with his ordination in 1940 at the First Baptist Church in Beasley, he served in the ministry for 65 years. A member of First Baptist Church in Hillsboro, he also previously served on both the Executive Board and the Human Welfare Commission of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. He was also a lifetime member of the Board of Directors for Latham Springs Baptist Encampment. A longtime member of the Hillsboro Rotary Club, he was honored by the club as a Paul Harris Fellow. Preceding him in death were his parents; brothers and sisters, Elmer Vorpahl, Ella Vorpahl Solomon, Lorene Vorpahl Walzel, Elbertha Vorpahl Gerke, Lillian Vorpahl Boone and Marvin Vorpahl. Survivors include his wife, Ardis Vorpahl of Hillsboro; children, Kathie Boyd and husband, Bruce of Phoenix, AZ, George Vorpahl and wife, Nancy of Austin, Lynette Jones and husband, Ralph of Carrollton; grandchildren Mollie Duddleston and husband, Jim of Rogers, AR, Brad Boyd and wife, Jennifer of Amarillo, Hal Vorpahl of Austin, Julia Vorpahl of Dallas, Andrew Jones of Carrollton, Christopher Jones of Carrollton; great grandchildren, Tucker Duddleston, Sawyer Duddleston, Ashley Boyd and several nieces and nephews. Memorials may be made to Latham Springs Baptist Encampment, 134 PR 223, Aquilla, TX 76622 or First Baptist Church Building Fund, PO Box 271, Hillsboro, TX 76645.