Rev. William Franklin Sipes

William Franklin Sipes was born in a basement apartment, on a kitchen table, delivered by a midwife. He grew up in Lockhaven, IL, to a Depression-era subsistence farmer. He and his sister Grace were the only children out of 13 to survive.By the age of 13, he was a thief, carrying a switchblade in each pants pocket. His life changed forever at the age of 17, when he was saved at an Alton, IL tent revival. At age 18, he received a call to the ministry and began preaching on street corners until he entered Bible college in 1952. That was also the year he married Wanda Davenport, and in December 1953 their first child, Kathy, was born. She was followed in later years by three sons " Kevin, Kent, and Kirk. Their first pastorate was in Warden, Illinois, where the parsonage was two rooms in the back of church, without even a stove on which to cook. Then they ministered in Robinson, Granite City, Grafton, and Bridgeport, Illinois. In 1971, they were called to Sherman, TX, and in 1975 to Mesquite. While living in Texas, Pastor Sipes traveled to 20 countries, including Mexico, Belize, Honduras, India (four times), Israel, Russia, Nigeria, and Jordan. He worked full-time while pastoring small churches, then left secular employment behind to pastor full-time. He was active in community and government affairs, served as the President of the Ministerial Alliance, opened the Texas State Legislature, and was honored for 50 years as a credentialed minister in the Assemblies of God. He served as the Senior Pastor of North Mesquite Assembly of God church for 26 years, then as Pastor Emeritus for 10 years more. His hobbies were golf, fishing, and watching his children and grandchildren perform in sports or school events. He is survived by wife, Wanda; children, Kathy, Kevin, Kent and Kirk; 7 grandchildren, Kristin, Kyle, Keith, Zane, Toby, Aaron, and Megan. He performed wedding ceremonies for each of his children and several of his grandchildren. He pastored for 47 years in Illinois and Texas, the last 26 at North Mesquite Assembly of God. After retirement, he served in several pulpits for ministers who were ill or otherwise absent, and during the last several years led a Tuesday night discipleship group for new Christians. He also enjoyed his time in water therapy each week at Baylor Hospital, and often served the spiritual needs of the others in the group. He went to his heavenly reward on April 10, 2011, after a brief illness.