November 16, 1937 - February 20, 2022
Funeral Services for Rev. Terry Walborn will be held 2:00 p.m. Monday, February 28, 2022, at the House of Prayer Church in Enid, Oklahoma with Rev. Tony Hays officiating. Committal prayers and interment will follow in Enid Cemetery under the kind guidance of the Amy Stittsworth Funeral Service. Military graveside rites will be conducted by the United States Navy,
Terry Walborn was born November 16, 1937 to Cecil and Neva Walborn in Hutcheson, Kansas and passed from this life on February 20, 2022 in Enid, Oklahoma. He was raised in Arlington, Kansas where he attended school until he was 18 years old. At that time he left school and enlisted in the Navy. His career in the Navy was from November 22, 1955 – July 17, 1959. All four years he was stationed at Norfolk, Virginia Naval Base on the ship, USS Everglades AD24.
As a young man, Terry loved cars and driving fast. Perhaps one of his favorite cars was a 1935 Ford Coupe. His love for cars never diminished over the years. He was always noticing sharp looking cars around him.
Another love that Terry had when he was younger, was boxing. He began training for the Golden Gloves in Larned, Kansas and even boxed in the Convention Hall in Hutcheson, Kansas. This career carried over into the Navy where he improved on this skill.
While in the Navy, Terry developed a bad habit of drinking. Yet, many times during this state of mind, he would pray (though he was a sinner) and ask God to give him a good wife that would raise their children in church. Upon his honorable discharge from the Navy he was unable to leave behind his drinking, but God was still working on answering his prayers.
Meanwhile, in Missouri was a young lady named Dora who was a preacher’s daughter. She, too, had lived in Arlington, Kansas and knew who the Walborn boys were. However, while in Missouri, she was dating a boy from the church. One evening he professed to have accepted Christ as his Savior. When Dora’s dad mentioned this to the boy’s mother, she knew nothing of this confession. They realized that he was only saying this to stay with Dora. She made a public announcement that she would never marry a sinner! Soon afterwards, Dora’s family moved back to Arlington. This was about the time that Terry had been discharged from the Navy.
While sitting on her parent’s porch and writing a “Dear John” letter to the boy back in Missouri, Terry and his brother, Dick, drove by the house. Seeing Dora sitting on the porch they stopped, and Dick hollered at her. Dick and Dora had been in the same class at school, so she knew him better than she knew Terry. She came down and started talking to Dick. Dora’s sister, Margie, came out and joined the group but began to talk about their car. Terry invited them for a ride. The girls agreed and they went driving around and eventually ended up going to Hutcheson. When they got home, Terry asked Dora if he could see her tomorrow night. She agreed and they went for a drive again. This went on for awhile then Terry asked her if they could go steady. She remembered her words of, “I’ll never marry a sinner”. Before she agreed to go steady, God showed her a vision that He was going to save Terry. With that in mind, she went against her own statement and agreed to see Terry. On one date she told him that God could save him and even make a preacher out of him if He (God) wanted. Laughing, Terry said that the church would burn down if that happened.
After they began to go steady, Terry, by himself, was involved in a couple of car wrecks. This was God’s way of getting his attention. He knew where Dora stood, and he said that he was going to make a change.
Change came after they were married on September 10, 1959, and had Telisa. The family had been going to church on Sunday mornings but this particular Sunday night, when Telisa was about 2 years old, they had gone to a Sunday night service. Unbeknown to them, Dora’s parents came to the service that night. They didn’t know that Terry and Dora would be there as they were only accustomed to going on Sunday mornings at that time. At the end of the service when the altar call was given, Dora prayed that Terry would go to the altar. He just stood there. Reaching out, she lightly placed her hand on his shoulder and together they went to the altar. Dora’s mother was able to watch Telisa and her dad came and prayed with Terry and Dora. God saved Terry and delivered him from his addiction to alcohol. Later, when Terry was working in a laundry mat, he was putting some bleach on things to get them clean, and God used that moment to call Terry into the ministry.
While working on getting his credentials, Terry and Dora pastored a small church in Caney, Kansas. It consisted of 3 or 4 elderly people and 4 children. They were there 4 ½ years. They also pastored in Ponca City, Oklahoma, Kingfisher, Oklahoma and Abundant Life Temple in Enid, Oklahoma.
Terry never forgot where God brought him from and where He took him. He was never ashamed to tell anyone who would listen to him, his story of God’s grace and mercy.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Dora, of the home; daughters, Telisa (David) Lowry of Arkansas and Lauri (Jessie) Espinoza of Missouri; grandchildren, Adam, Shane, Crystal, Joshua, Latosha and Bradley and 10 great grandchildren; and brother Dick Walborn.
Preceding Terry in death were his parents, Cecil and Neva Walborn.
Obituaries are posted, in part, due to the generosity of The Commons.
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