I Am Wilshire – Charles Yarbrough.
Hometown: Ardmore, Oklahoma
Education: BA in 1974 from Oklahoma Baptist University; JD in 1978 from SMU Dedman School of Law
Profession: Attorney, VP of Atmos Energy
Present city: Dallas
Tell us about your family.
My wife, Judy, is a minister and runs a nonprofit bakery with our son, Collin, the youngest of our four children. He is a PhD candidate at SMU in their School of Engineering. Our oldest, Jennifer, teaches kindergarten at Kigali International Community School in Kigali, Rwanda. Our other daughter, Elizabeth, is a teacher in Wylie. Our other son, David, is an executive with a private hospital company in Oklahoma City. We have seven grandchildren.
What are your favorite hobbies?
Reading history, photography and yard work.
What brought you to Wilshire and when?
Judy and I moved to Dallas in 1975. We visited all the Baptist churches we could identify in the area and were very frustrated because we could not find a fit. We got in the car and started driving around. The last church we found was Wilshire. We went there the next Sunday and were greeted after the service by Fred and Clairene Herold. After visiting Sunday School the next week, we joined. My work took us to Amarillo in 1984 and Houston in 1987. But we re-joined the first Sunday we were back in town, which was George’s first Sunday. That day, we had thought to visit Park Cities, but couldn’t find a parking place. We said, “let’s just go to Wilshire because we know where to park.” We walked in late, and John Menton found a spot for us to sit on the second row next to the Pastor Search Committee. The kids and I were ready to join that morning, but Judy wanted to wait. We waited until the evening service. We’ve been here since.
Where are you engaged in Wilshire?
I am a member of Cord of Three Class, a deacon, chair of the Personnel Committee and an ex officio member of the Pastor Search Committee. In the past, I’ve been on the Weekday Education Committee and the Finance Committee.
What has surprised you most about Wilshire?
Its resilience and creativity.
What’s something interesting most people wouldn’t know about you?
At one time I was a licensed Baptist preacher, a licensed DJ and a licensed pilot.
What adjectives describe you?
Quietly assertive, patient listener, shy.
- If you’d like to be featured in “I Am Wilshire,” email Carolyn Murray at cmurray@wilshirebc.org.