Christa Kunkel Smith, professor emeritus at Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, Texas, passed away on July 16. She was 92 years old.
Born in Vietz, Poland (then part of Germany) in 1932, Professor Smith moved to Texas in 1958 after marrying her husband Don, an American serviceman. She quickly enrolled at Wayland Baptist University, ultimately earning her bachelor’s degree in English, German, and French. She then enrolled at Texas Tech University and received two master’s degrees in English and German.
After completing her graduate education, Professor Smith joined the faculty at her undergraduate alma mater in 1969. During her long tenure with Wayland Baptist University, she taught several courses on world literature, German, and French and was a dedicated supporter of Wayland’s student athletes. Additionally, she had stints teaching in other Texas communities, Alaska, and at Kenya Baptist Theological Seminary.
Professor Smith retired from Wayland Baptist University in 2012 after 43 years of service. In honor of her legacy, the university inducted her into the WBU Athletics Hall of Honor and established the Christa Kunkel Smith Modern Language Endowed Scholarship to support students pursuing language studies.