James Stripling

James Stripling

January 23, 2025

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

He was born in Fort Worth in 1944 to William K. Stripling, Jr. and Anna Bland Thompson Stripling. He attended Andover Academy then earned a B.A. in Economics from Yale University in 1966 and a J.D. from UT Austin Law School in 1969. From 1969 to 1975 he served in the Army JAG Corps, becoming a Captain while stationed in Vietnam and at Fort Sill. After returning home, he joined Decker Jones Law Firm, working there as a tax and estate attorney for the next fifty years.

Jim met the love of his life, Mahala Yates in 1975. They were married in Nantucket on September 24, 1979, and celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary in 2024. Jim said his marriage to Mahala was "by far the better half" of his life. Jim was a beloved stepfather to Whitney, father to Lauren, and Grandad to Casey and Callaway.

Jim loved bluegrass and American roots music and played the banjo, mandolin, and guitar, all self-taught. He enjoyed TCU's Silver Frogs program, taking courses in 1960s music and teaching seminars on bluegrass, income tax, and the history of the Fort Worth Cats. He enjoyed long-distance bicycling, cryptic crosswords, and local sports.

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. For information, visit https://everloved.com/life-of/james-lewis-stripling/.