Rev. Robert Whitworth

Robert Lee Whitworth, of Waco, passed away Saturday, October 24, 2015, at Sodalis Memory Care. He was 84 years old. Services will be noon Thursday, October 29th at the Harvest Time Church (the former Calvary Assembly of God Church) in Robinson with burial to follow at Waco Memorial Park. Rev. Lee Farmer, Rev. Gary Riley, Rev. Derwood Dubose, Rev. Bob Miller and Rick Bowles will officiate. Visitation will be Wednesday, October 28th from 5-7 pm at Grace Gardens Funeral Home.
R.L. was born November 19, 1930, in Corpus Christi, TX, the only son of Marvin and Myrtle Whitworth. He has one sister, Mary Nell Giere of Houston, Texas.
R.L. felt his call to ministry at the age of 12-years-old. He attended high school and college at Southwestern Assemblies of God College in Waxahachie, and Central Bible Institute in Springfield, Missouri.
He met his future wife, Nona Lee while holding a revival in Robstown, Texas. They pastored in McGregor, Texas five years before coming to Waco in 1959 to pastor Calvary Assembly of God with about 50 members.
R.L. had a passion for unchurched kids. In the early 70s, he organized a bus ministry that brought children and adults to church. As he often illustrated in his sermons, a lady name Mother Welch picked up his sister for church as a child resulting in his entire family becoming Christians. Since R.L. did everything in a BIG way, his bus ministry included eight buses and vans and covered every inch of Waco, Texas. The big white buses rolled the streets bearing the slogan “We Love Kids.”
His mission to help kids never wavered despite the financial difficulties it often presented. He challenged the young people of Calvary to comb the neighborhoods, pass out bubble gum and invite children to church. His motto was to WORK! WORK! WORK!
The little rock church that originally housed the Calvary Assembly of God was on the corner of 20th and Dutton. When the growing congregation outgrew the building, land was purchased in Robinson, Texas. R.L. and Nona showed off their first grandchild, Charisse, in the first service held in the building in 1974.
R.L. and Nona retired in 1993, with over 2,400 people in attendance. At his retirement service, he surprised Nona with a love song he wrote to her, “I’ll Always Love You” sung to her for the first time.
He could not sit still for long so after retirement R.L. served as the interim pastor of Hilltop Church in Crawford and Hewitt Community Church. He loved to mentor pastors and counsel them on church growth. He was a true soul winner and always seized the opportunity to lead someone to Jesus Christ. He also loved to hear stories about the bus kids that grew up and serve in ministry today.
“IT’S WONDERFUL” was his standard quote, no matter what was happening.
R.L. is survived by his wife the love of his life Nona, who was an awesome caretaker and devoted partner in his life of ministry, daughters, Pam Whitworth, Giovanna Nanny, son-in-law, Larry Nanny, two grandchildren, Robert Nanny & Charisse Szanto, her husband Andrew Szanto and great-grandchildren, Delaney and Jaden.
R.L. authored three books, God Told Me to Tell You, Windows, and On a Hill Far Away. He also wrote several publications: How To Set And Exceed Goals, Touch & Keep, The Unconditional Eternal Security of the Believer.
Many of his sermons are posted on www.youtube.com/c/RlwhitworthBlogspotCalvaryAssemblyOfGod
The family invites you to post your favorite memories on his Facebook page: www.facebook.com/RLWhitworth. We would love to hear the stories from the bus kids, and people who had changed lives because of R.L.’s and Nona’s relentless efforts in the ministry.
The family is grateful for all of the caretakers who helped brighten R.L.’s life at the end of his journey: Thanks to the wonderful staff at Sodalis, and especially to Denesha and Alex for their attentiveness, respect and loving care for “Pastor Robert.” Thanks to SouthernCare Hospice, especially Megan and Bo for their exceptional care and the ministry offered to families during this time. A special thanks to R.L’s best buddy, Rod Ready, who visited him often with Mason, who always brightened his day. Together Rod & R.L. drank gallons of coffee at Whataburger and solved many of the world’s problems. And to his Calvary family who he pastored and loved for 34 years, thank you.
Pallbearers are Larry Nanny, Robert Nanny, Andrew Szanto, Karl Giere, Richard Mattix, Rod Ready and David Tarvin.
In lieu of usual remembrances, donations can be made to the Alzheimer Association, or Pleasant Hills Children’s Home, PO Box 1177 Fairfield, Texas 75840