James Lewis Stripling (1944–2025)

James Lewis Stripling, 80, of Fort Worth, TX passed away peacefully on January 23, 2025, surrounded by family and bluegrass music.

He was born in Fort Worth in November 1944 to William K. Stripling, Jr. and Anna Bland Thompson Stripling and enjoyed surfcasting summers in Nantucket. As a teen, he worked at the family’s eponymous downtown department store, Stripling’s, enjoying ice cream soda breaks at the Pink Rooster. He attended Andover Academy before graduating with a B.A. in Economics from Yale University in 1966. His greatest college athletic achievement was leading the Branford College bowling team to victory by rolling a turkey in the intramural championship.

After Yale, he earned a J.D. in 1969 at UT Austin Law School. From 1969 to 1975 he served in the Army JAG Corps, becoming a Captain while stationed in Vietnam and at Fort Sill. His commanding officers noted his “exceptional competence, analytical ability and judiciousness.” After returning home, he joined Decker Jones Law Firm, where he worked as a tax and estate attorney for the next fifty years, continuing the tradition of legal service begun by his great-grandfather and grandfather.

Jim met the love of his life, Mahala Yates in 1975. He impressed Mahala with his musicianship and his ability to make dolmas. They were married in Nantucket on September 24, 1979, and celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary in 2024. They enjoyed traveling by cruise ship and car, covering much of both coasts of the country. Jim said his marriage to Mahala was “by far the better half” of his life.

Jim was a doting stepfather to Mahala’s daughter, Whitney, who was 10 when they married. Jim and Mahala then welcomed their daughter Lauren in 1983. When Lauren appeared on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Jim was the obvious choice to be her “Plus One.” Jim was also a devoted Grandad to Casey and Callaway Harding, who both soaked up many important lessons, obscure trivia tips, and silly puns.

Jim loved bluegrass and American roots music and played the banjo, mandolin, and guitar–all self-taught. He was an ardent fan of Alan Munde, Tony Rice, Flatt and Scruggs, Otis Redding, and the Rolling Stones. He “picked” with friends, who once styled themselves the band The Sons of Tut.

Jim admired higher math and logic, particularly the work of Kurt Gödel. He participated in TCU’s Silver Frogs program; he took courses in 1960s music and taught seminars on bluegrass, income tax, and the history of the Fort Worth Cats. He enjoyed long-distance bicycling, cryptic crosswords, cooking for those he loved, the Texas Rangers, Dallas Cowboys, and TCU basketball and football.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents and is survived by his wife Mahala, daughters Whitney (Michael) and Lauren, granddaughters Casey and Callaway, brother Bill (Nancy), niece Kristen, and nephew Will (Denise). A celebration of life will be planned for this spring.

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