Timothy Charles Cripe, aged 61, passed away after a long battle with cancer at their temporary home in Dallas, TX, surrounded by his family on July 14, 2024. Tim was a beloved figure in his community both in Indonesia and the US, and a beacon of faith and kindness to everyone he encountered, living his life as an example of selfless service. Even as he battled cancer he repeatedly quoted Philippians 1:21 to those who asked if he was afraid: “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

Tim grew up in Central California. He loved sports and played tennis and basketball in high school. He attended Tracy High (CA) for three years and one year at Ripon High where he graduated in 1980. He then attended Biola University where he studied Christian Education and was on the tennis team, graduating in December of 1984. He met his wife, Karen Gonzalez, at Biola in 1984. They were married in December of 1985.

Both Tim and Karen felt a calling on their life to serve MK’s overseas through teaching, and in 1992 they joined Wycliffe Bible Translators and moved to Irian Jaya, Indonesia (later renamed “Papua”). He dedicated over three decades of his life teaching missionary students at Hillcrest International School (HIS). While at Hillcrest, Tim served in a variety of roles at HIS including teacher, coach, principal, guidance counselor, Outdoor Education leader, class sponsor, and athletic director. He eventually became the Director of HIS, serving in this role for over 15 years until May 2023 when he was diagnosed with cancer. His commitment to providing quality education extended well beyond the missionary community, as he worked tirelessly to expand the reach of HIS to the Papuan community.

Tim was best described as a man who never met a stranger, and could easily end up talking for hours with someone he’d just met. He placed a high priority on relationships, and loved coaching high school basketball, sponsoring high school classes, and organizing game nights. Tim had a boundless sense of humor, and was never without a Dad joke to share with anyone within earshot. Tim was a man of many joys, and relished them most when he could share experiences with others. He cherished his early years of fishing and camping in central California with his family – a tradition he lovingly passed down to his children. Tim loved sports, especially his San Francisco 49ers and Giants, and faithfully watched them play whenever he could, even while living in the remote jungles of Indonesia. He enjoyed playing golf, frisbee golf, and basketball. Most of all he loved spending time with Karen and their five children; playing games, coaching sports, taking frequent trips to explore the world, and using his creative skills to create stainglass pieces and a treehouse. 

Tim leaves behind a legacy of love and faith. He is survived by his wife, Karen (González) Cripe of Dallas; children, Kayla Cripe of Atlanta, GA, Kyle Cripe of Taiwan, Janelle (Joel) Robbins of Dallas,TX, Marissa Cripe of St. Louis, MO, and Melina Cripe of Abilene, TX; parents, Richard and Mary Gail Cripe of Groveland, CA; siblings, Matt (Melissa) Cripe of Modesto, CA, Rachel (Kevin) Lane of Riverbank, CA, Eric (Teri) Cripe of Pacifica, CA, Jason (Kim) Cripe of Turlock, CA, and 11 nieces and nephews; in-laws Margaret Gonzalez of Dallas, TX, Roland (Beth) Gonzalez of Irvine, CA, Keith (Janie) Gonzalez of Rockwall, TX, Kelly (Jennifer) Gonzalez of Oak Cliff, TX, and 3 nieces.

A service to celebrate Tim’s life and ministry will be held on Saturday, July 20th, at the International Linguistics Center – Event Center at 2 pm in Dallas, TX. Tim will be greatly missed, having lived his life as a testament of his faith and the love he shared with everyone who was blessed to cross his path.

A GiveSendGo crowdfunding account (see link below) has been set up to help the Cripe family with their financial needs.

https://www.givesendgo.com/cripe_family