Rev. Billy Orr Waldrop

PLEASE PRACTICE STRICT SOCIAL DISTANCING AND REFRAIN FROM SHAKING HANDS, HUGGING OR MAKING PHYSICAL CONTACT WITH MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY AND OTHER VISITORS. MEMBERS OF THE SAME HOUSEHOLD ARE PERMITTED TO SIT TOGETHER IN THE SAME PEW, OTHERWISE PLEASE MAINTAIN 6FT MINIMUM DISTANCE.

Reverend Bill Waldrop went to be with his Lord Jesus on February 10, 2021 due
to complications from Covid-19. Visitation will be held on Monday, February 15, 2021
from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Family Baptist Church (7091 State Hwy 359). A private
family funeral service will be held Tuesday, February 16, 2021 which will be live
streamed at 11am . Bill will be buried with military honors in the veteran’s section of the
city cemetery.
Bill was born near Itasca, Texas on November 1, 1939 to Walter and Gladys
Waldrop. He was raised and attended school there. On August 29, 1959 he and Carolyn
Gant were married as teenagers. To this union were born a son ,Billy, and a daughter,
Tammy. They celebrated 61 years of a very happy marriage last August.
Bill accepted the Lord Jesus as his personal Savior on November 5, 1970. He
loved the Lord Jesus with all his heart and soul. He felt called of the Lord into the
ministry. In May of 1973, he graduated from Tennessee Temple Bible College in
Chattanooga. He and Carolyn became full-time missionaries with Maranatha Baptist
Mission Board in August of that same year. They graduated from Rio Grande Bible
Institute Spanish Language School in May 1976 and then moved to Laredo in June
1976. Throughout the years of ministry, the Lord used them to establish several
churches on both sides of the border in Laredo and Nuevo Laredo with the most recent
being La Iglesia Bautista Calvario. For a time, he missionary pastored Laredo Baptist
Tabernacle concurrently while establishing a church in Nuevo Laredo. They established
Rio Grande Missionary Help in 1985. Before becoming a missionary, Bill worked in
Itasca, Waco, Marlin, Hearne, Texas and Chattanooga, Tennessee. He was a proud
veteran of the United States Air Force.
Preceding Bill in going to heaven were his parents(Walter and Gladys Waldrop),
his siblings (Leo, Harold, Walter Lee, and Patsy) , his father-in-law and mother-in-law (
Bart and Wanda Gant), his beloved son-in-law (Dr. Kelle Hein), and niece (Cindy Gant).
Bill is survived by his wife, Carolyn, son, Billy Waldrop (Petra), and daughter,
Tammy Hein; his six grandchildren: Captain Kelle Hein (Captain Colby), Davis Waldrop,
Kalen Hein (Brandi), Kyla Hester (Jeffrey), Kiery Saldivar (Alejandro), and Kesha Hein;
his six great grandchildren: Paxton Hein, Tucker Hein, Scarlett Saldivar, Bentley Hein,
Jax Saldivar, and Kelle Hein III “Patton”; several nephews and nieces, other relatives,
and many friends.
Pallbearers will be: Captain Kelle Hein, Kalen Hein, Jeffrey Hester, Alejandro
Saldivar, and Darren Buck.

Funeral Services are under the arrangement of Gamez & Sons Funeral and Cremation Services, 1029 Bob Bullock Loop, Laredo, Texas 78043.

In accordance with city ordinance, the number of visitors will be limited to 50 percent occupancy capacity. Please feel free to wait in your vehicle for a turn if church reaches capacity. All visitors must wear a face mask before entering the building and use hand sanitizer provided upon entry. Visitors must provide their own face covering.  Anyone that is knowingly sick or has upper respiratory illness is asked to stay home and may be denied entry.