Glover Shipp

Glover Harvey Shipp entered the presence of God in the early morning of April 20th, 2016. Glover was born August 1, 1927 and was 88 years old when, in the words of Genesis 25:8, he was "gathered to his people." He is survived by his wife, Marjorie, with whom he was married 67 years, two siblings, Twila Hughes (Bud) of Torrance, CA and Gail Shipp (Valerie), of Union City, CA, and by six children: Jerry Shipp (Gina) of Round Rock, TX, David Shipp (Nancy) of Glencoe, CA, Mark Shipp (Sheree) of Austin, TX, Terry Shipp (Gail) of Sylmar, CA, Cynthia Berryhill (Don) of Murfreesboro, TN, and Sofia Newton (Barry) of San Antonio, TX. In addition, he is survived by 13 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, 3 great-great-grandchildren and an indeterminate number who consider themselves adopted members of his family.

He was a Christian, father, husband, grandfather, preacher, missionary, artist, author, teacher, musician, and poet. He stood head and shoulders above most of the rest of us in intellect, talent, education, and achievements, yet he did not see himself that way. In his own eyes, he was a servant of God who did what he could.

Glover grew up on a farm in southern Oregon. He went to Pepperdine College in Los Angeles, where he majored in art and Bible. He married Marjorie Smith on September 23, 1948 at York Boulevard Church of Christ. In 1949, Glover and Marjorie moved to Dallas, Texas, where he edited and illustrated the Gospel Treasures series of Sunday School materials and ministered at the Beverly Hills Church of Christ.

After a bout with polio, the family, including three young boys, moved back to California. There he ministered at Kerman and Pinedale Churches of Christ, pursued a master's degree in art, and had a fourth son. After three years in Richmond, CA, the family moved to Los Angeles where he worked as director of Public Relations at Pepperdine College. While there, they adopted a daughter, Cindy, and made plans to move to Belo Horizonte, Brazil, as missionaries, where they spent the next 18 years, supported by the Richland Hills Church of Christ. He ministered to churches throughout Brazil and was the publisher and editor of Christian Life Press. While in Brazil, they became legal guardians of Sofia, who became a foster-daughter. Also, toward the end of this period, he received his Doctor of Missiology from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena CA.

Returning to the US in 1985, Glover worked for four years at the Mission Resource Center in Abilene, then worked for 13 years at Oklahoma Christian University as the managing editor of the Christian Chronicle. He served as an elder for the Edmond Church of Christ in Oklahoma City for 20 years. After retirement, Marjorie and Glover moved to Austin, Texas, where he taught at Austin Graduate School of Theology and was heavily involved in the Timeless Psalter/Commentary project, which he considered one of his most significant contributions.

He has authored over 30 books, written dozens of hymns and song lyrics, and created hundreds of paintings and other works of art, including a 100-foot mural in the youth wing of the Edmond Church of Christ. He taught at Pepperdine University, Abilene Christian University, Oklahoma Christian University, Austin Graduate School of Theology, and Nations University.

Glover has left his fingerprints on many lives and projects throughout the world, too many to be chronicled and numbered. He will be remembered as a great man of God, one of the last of the "greatest generation," and will be sorely missed.

In lieu of flowers or plants, please send donations to

The Timeless Project
Austin Graduate School of Theology
7640 Guadalupe Street
Austin, TX 78752-1333