Westminster Seminary California remembers the life and grieves the death of a beloved friend. Dr. Robert B. Strimple was promoted to glory on Sunday night, November 17, 2024. Our brother was surrounded by his immediate family. Please join us in praying for his family, church, friends, and legion of students as we grieve the death of a father, grandfather, professor, and mentor. Indeed, we grieve, but we grieve in hope because of the one who is the resurrection and the life. Our Lord and Savior, Jesus, has defeated sin and death for all those who are his, like Dr. Strimple, who look to Christ alone for their salvation.
Dr. Stimple’s teaching echoes in the hearts and minds of those blessed to sit under his teaching. His fingerprints are ubiquitous around the seminary and in the lives he shaped. Dr. Stimple was the founding dean of our institution, its first president serving in that capacity from 1982 to 1988, and its first and long-serving professor of systematic theology. Many of our current faculty members were his students, and his legacy lives on through their instruction. We are all grateful to God for the faithfulness of our beloved teacher.
Dr. Strimple commenced teaching at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia in 1969 and was received into the ministry of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church in 1970. He moved to Escondido, California in 1979 with several dear friends and colleagues to establish a Reformed and confessional seminary on the West Coast which is now Westminster Seminary California. He retired in 2001 after 41 years of teaching and was honored as President Emeritus and Professor Emeritus of Systematic Theology. In 2003, the Robert B. Strimple Chair of Systematic Theology was established at Westminster Seminary California.
In his letter announcing his plans to retire, he wrote: “Alice and I praise God for the life and ministry he has given us together, and for our four believing children and twelve grandchildren. The highlight of that ministry has certainly been these years at Westminster in California, especially those exciting, satisfying, early years seeing a new Reformed seminary for the preparation of men for the gospel ministry established here on the West Coast. How thankful we are for the wonderful faculty, trustees, staff, and students who have made up the very special Westminster California family!”
How thankful we are to the Lord for Dr. Stimple and Alice. His faithfulness, courage, and humility were fundamental in establishing and forming our community. He will be missed.
We pray that the God of all comfort will comfort you all as we await the return of our king and the resurrection of the dead. Even So, Come Lord Jesus!
To hear more about Dr. Stimple’s life and legacy please read Dr. W. Robert Godrey’s Tribute to Dr. Strimple. On January 18, 2025, Westminster Seminary California will host Dr. Strimple’s Memorial Service. We will make details available as the plans come to fruition.
