Newt Tripp, 84 of Dumas, passed away on Tuesday, February 10, 2026. The family will receive friends from 9 o'clock until 11 o'clock in the morning on Monday, February 16, 2026, at the funeral home. Immediately following the visitation, a graveside service will be held at Northlawn Memorial Gardens. A memorial service will be held at 2 o'clock that same afternoon at First Baptist Church with Pastor Matt Price and Vaughn Tatum speaking.  Arrangements are entrusted to Beeson ~ Morrison Funeral Directors.

Newt was born January 2, 1942, in Brownsville, TN, to William Washington Tripp and Naomi Elizabeth Walker Tripp. He went home to be with his Lord and Savior on February 10, 2026, in Dumas, TX. Newt grew up in Blair, OK, after his parents moved there when he was two years old. The often-told story about their small family’s trip from Tennessee to Oklahoma is that they drove through a terrible blizzard with Newt crying in the back, everything they owned in the car, a car load of canned food that his mother had prepared for them to have when they got to Blair (meant to sustain them until they earned a paycheck from farming), and both his mother and dad hanging their heads out the windows of the car in order to see so they wouldn’t drive off the road—all of this in April, no less! They had to stay on the move so the food wouldn’t freeze.

Newt graduated from Blair High School in 1960. Growing up, he worked on the family farm south of Blair, where he learned to drive a tractor at 4 years old, according to his dad. His love of tractors and big trucks shaped the rest of his life. He also worked at the laundry that his parents owned and operated, and at Quartz Mountain Lodge. He attended Altus Junior College, during which time he drove a school bus and worked for Coca-Cola. Oh, and met Sandy! He married Sandra (Sandy) Stewart on April 24, 1964, and they were blessed with 57 years of marriage at the time of Sandy’s death in 2021.

Newt and Sandy lived in Altus, OK, after marriage, where their first daughter, Cindy, was born, shortly after which they moved to Amarillo, TX. When Cindy was two, they moved to Dumas where they could be more centrally located for Newt’s job as a Tom’s Peanuts distributor. Their second daughter, Kathleen, was born a few years later in Dumas. Newt’s Tom’s route took him around most of the northern panhandle and even into eastern New Mexico for many years. He later began driving 18-wheelers for various companies hauling cattle, gas, and chemicals. He had always held a desire to have his own dirt and land work business and began Newt’s Dirt Work in the early 1980s. He greatly enjoyed riding his tractor (as a kid and an adult!) and driving his truck while clearing land, leveling and hauling dirt, and even clearing snow for businesses and friends in the winter. He was always first to clear snow from driveways for the elderly and widows in the community, never willing to take payment from them. He also drove a truck for local farming friends during corn, wheat, and milo harvests for many years. He reluctantly retired from his business when he became unable to climb on and off his tractor any longer due to knee and joint issues.

Newt was a faithful member of First Baptist Church, Dumas, for over 50 years, where he actively served as a deacon for almost 20 years, becoming a Deacon Emeritus in 2021. He was a faithful attendee of church services and Sunday School and could almost always be found in the foyer serving as an usher most every Sunday. He served on several committees within the church over the years and drove the church bus most any time he was asked and was available to do so. In the last few years, he became unable to attend church services due to physical limitations but always remained God’s faithful and loving servant.

Newt is survived by his daughters Cindy Griffith of Nacogdoches, TX, and Kathleen Armstrong of Amarillo, grandchildren Megan Barr Hastings (Brian), Katie Barr Colbert, and Zack Barr, and great-grandchildren Braxton Galvan, Paisley Colbert, and Cooper Hazelrigg, brother, Robert Tripp (Janey) of Blair, OK, sister Annette Rowe (Dale) of Frederick, OK, brother-in-law Marc Stewart (Karen) of Los Angeles, CA, and sister-in- law, Penny Brotherton, of Kingman, AZ, as well as many very loved nieces and nephews and dear, close friends. He was preceded in death by his wife Sandy Tripp, parents, Bill and Naomi Tripp, and his sons-in-law, Clark Armstrong and Robin Griffith.

The family would like to extend their undying gratitude to the services and staff of Dumas Memorial Hospice, who Newt loved and who we believe provided love and care for him that was always above and beyond and that we believe allowed him to enjoy a little more time on earth. Our special thanks and gratitude to Patsy, Madison, Katie, Carol, and all of the staff for their devotion to Newt these past 10 months. Memorial donations may be made to Dumas Memorial Hospice in Newt’s memory, or the charity of your choice.