Ronald Wayne Oliphant: December 29, 1937 – February 14, 2025

Mr. Oliphant, who was known to everyone as Ron, passed away peacefully of heart failure at Missouri Baptist Hospital.  He was a native of Nashville, TN.  He was a graduate of David Lipscomb Christian College, now known as Lipscomb University.  Mr. Oliphant was a gifted acapella singer. During his high school and college  years, he led singing for Churches of Christ in the Nashville area.  He was very active in high school and college choral groups.  However, he really began his career in the ministry when he was hired by the Walnut Street Church of Christ in Dickson, TN as regular song leader, youth director, and substitute pulpit minister. Here he met and married Rose Elaine Barber. This past December they celebrated their 65^th wedding anniversary, and his 87^th birthday. After leaving Dickson, he served as educational director for a church in AR, and 2 other churches in TN. With his family he moved to St. Louis in 1967 when he accepted a position as educational director for the Overland Church of Christ. In 1978 he took a position as executive director for  Christian Family Services, but in 1981 he began a career in sales. By the time he retired in 2002, he was a regional manager for Grainger. He later worked for The Crossing as a pastoral care minister. In this position he conducted funerals, visited hospitals and nursing homes, and did pastoral counseling. Serving people in their times of need was not only his passion, but his gift. Mr. Oliphant loved to work and serve others. In 2017, health problems forced him to retire from Rehabilitations Services  for the Blind. Mr. Oliphant continued to struggle with multiple health problems, and was forced to spend the past 3 years at Mason Point, a long term care facility. Ron was an outstanding speaker, and an excellent teacher. He conducted teacher training workshops for Churches of Christ all over the United States. Being blessed with his beautiful singing voice was a source of pleasure to him and all who were privileged to hear him. He was a natural leader, wise counselor, and friend to many. He will be remembered  by many for his sparkling eyes, ready smile, sense of humor and mischief. He never met a stranger, and had a greeting for everyone.

He is survived by his wife Elaine; son, Gregory Alan Oliphant of St. Louis, and daughter,  Susan Elaine Baker, of St. Louis; 4 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren; sister, Carole Spry of Gallatin, TN. He has several brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, and many nieces and nephews. Mr. Oliphant was very blessed with many longtime friends and will be missed by family, friends, and all who knew him. A memorial service will be held on March9 at 2 p.m. in the chapel of Mason Point, located at 1319 South Outer Forty Road, Chesterfield, MO 63017. The family has requested in lieu of flowers donations be made either to Lutheran Senior Services BenevolentFund/Christ Care Fund for Mason Point, or The St. Louis Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired.