Alvin Cole Ringle

A Life of Joyful Service and Faithful Leadership

Alvin Cole Ringle, 89, of Waco, passed away Monday, November 10, 2025. Memorial Service will be held 2:00 p.m. Saturday, December 6, 2025, at First Baptist Church of Waco, with a reception to follow in the church Parlor.

He was born on May 24, 1936, in Delhi, Louisiana to Charles Clifford Ringle and Vita Lorraine (Robertson) Ringle.

Since 1966, Alvin Cole Ringle devoted his life to church recreation ministry, serving communities in New Orleans, San Antonio, Atlanta, and—since 1977—at First Baptist Church of Waco, Texas. His vision and energy shaped a full-time program of church and city-wide recreation, offering sports leagues, instructional basketball for children, summer-long day camps, Royal Ambassadors, and a rich variety of craft, fitness, and social activities for all ages.

He founded and directed the Waco Christian Recreation Association, mentored Baylor University recreation interns for nearly five decades, and organized the Texas Chapter of the Volvo Club of America, leading it faithfully since 1996. Whether restoring vintage Volvos, skiing on water or snow, or enjoying a round of golf, he embraced life with enthusiasm and curiosity.

Above all, his greatest love was for his family, his church family, and his Lord God—whom he served with unwavering devotion and joy.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Clifford and Lorraine Ringle; his brother, Milton, and his wife Wanda; and his son, Bradley.

He is survived by his devoted wife, of 65 years, Mary Louise (Stewart) Ringle; his sons, Jeff Ringle, of Round Rock, Texas, and Greg Ringle, and his wife, Dena, of Waco, Texas; and his cherished grandchildren, Benjamin Ringle, and his wife, Jenni, of Dallas, Texas, Samuel Ringle of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Jonathan Ringle of Waco, Texas.

The family invites you to leave a message or memory of Alvin in his “Memorial Guestbook” at www.WHBfamily.com.