Our beloved Paula Ann Whitfill (née Riggle) passed away on June 20th at the age of 59 after a  three-year-long battle with ovarian cancer. Her final moments were spent peacefully in her home in Bryan, surrounded by family and close friends.

Paula will be remembered for her generous love for Christ and for the people He placed in her life. Throughout her life, she was deeply involved in her church and community, always looking for ways to encourage, teach, and care for those around her.

Paula had a special heart for children and teens. She served as a beloved substitute teacher, volunteered on PTA boards, and poured herself into ministries that helped young people grow in their faith. Alongside her husband, Mark, she ministered to Hispanic children in Fort Worth and later led pre-teen and teen ministries in Lewisville. Her love for young people extended beyond organized ministry; she and Mark welcomed many of their son Travis’s friends into their home, where Paula helped create a place of belonging, encouragement, and spiritual growth through a boys’ Bible study.

Whether serving in church activities, participating in Bible studies, or simply investing in the lives of those around her, Paula found great joy in helping others know and experience the love of Christ. In recent years, one of her greatest blessings was the fellowship and encouragement she found through her ladies’ Bible study at Faith Bible Church.

Paula’s gift of service was evident throughout her life. She was a skilled, generous, and loving hostess. Her inner beauty was always on full display when she was caring for others. She could make the simplest event a thing of beauty, whether decorating for a gathering of friends and family, a ladies’ Bible study, or putting together an itinerary for a family weekend. She went out of her way to make others feel cared for and to ensure they had a lovely experience. She lived that out even in the midst of the pain she experienced during the past three years. Paula will be remembered for her generosity, her selfless love, her joy and outgoing spirit, and her love of New England in the fall.

Paula’s love for Jesus and her desire for family and friends to have a real encounter with Christ were never far from her mind. She was intentional, especially during the past few years, about speaking of eternity with her Savior and made no bones about letting her family know that her deepest desire was for each one to meet her in Heaven. She held the space between hope and reality with remarkable grace and clarity, never wavering in her greatest desire: that her family would one day join her in Heaven.

She is survived by her husband of 38 years, Mark; her son, Travis; her parents, Walter and Zelda Riggle, her sister, Debbie Wells, and her husband, Stephen and daughter, Miklyn; her brother, Steven, and his wife, RuthAnn, and daughters Cecily and Genna.

A memorial service will be held at Faith Bible Church of Brazos County (1282 FM2776, Bryan, TX) at 11:00 am CT on Saturday, June 27th, 2026. All friends and family are welcome. The family asks that donations to her church (Faith Bible Church of Brazos County) be made in lieu of flowers.