Jim Truitt

Dr. Jim Truitt went to be with his heavenly Father after a bout with pancreatic cancer on Tuesday, June 7, 2011 at his residence.

Services will be 10 a.m., Saturday, June 11, 2011 at First United Methodist Church, Waco, Texas with Rev. Stephen Ramsdell officiating.

Burial will follow in Oakwood Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. Friday at OakCrest Funeral Home, 4520 Bosque Boulevard.

Jim was born March 4, 1940, at Baylor Hospital in Dallas, Texas, to Alton and Nova Merle Truitt of Athens, Texas. Jim grew up in Corsicana, Texas, and attended Southern Methodist University, where he got Bachelor's degrees in economics and math. He then attended Purdue University, where he received his Master's degree in economics and met his wife Cecile, who was working on her Master's degree in mathematics.

After both of them finished their Master's degrees, Jim and Cecile got married on August 25, 1962, and then moved to Champaign, Illinois, to get their Ph.D.'s in their respective disciplines.

Jim's life was changed forever when First United Methodist Church, Waco, had a Lay Witness Mission in 1969. Jim visited with people who had a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Jim asked Jesus into his life; after that event, he wanted to serve Jesus Christ in everything that he did.

After obtaining the Ph.D. degree from the University of Illinois in 1969, Dr. Truitt became Chair of the Department of Economics and Finance at Baylor University. After the Departments were split, Dr. Truitt continued as Chair of the Department of Economics until 2000. When Dr. Truitt retired as Department Chair he continued as a part-time faculty member until August, 2004.

Dr. Truitt went part-time in 2000 so that he could serve the Lord through his work with One Mission Society (OMS) and Asbury University. Dr. Truitt served as Chair of the Finance Committees and the Investment Committees for these two organizations. He found great joy in serving the Lord through these two organizations.

Preceding Jim in death were his parents, Alton and Nova Merle Truitt, and his step-mother Mary Taylor Truitt.

Jim is survived by his loving and encouraging wife, Cecile, who has taken care of him through his illness; two daughters, Dr. Susan Truitt, a career missionary in Seoul, Korea with One Mission Society, and Catherine Truitt Newman and her husband, Tod and their three precious children, Zachary, Hannah, and Samuel of Tucson, Arizona; brother, Dale Truitt and wife, Alice of Commerce, Texas; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

Jim and Cecile will always be indebted to the Foretravel Motorcade Club for many fun vacations.

In lieu of flowers, Memorials may be made to One Mission Society, P.O. Box A, Greenwood, IN 46142, Asbury University, Wilmore, KY 40390, or the W. James Truitt Endowed Scholarship at Baylor University.