Timothy Stettheimer

Timothy was born on Aug. 3, 1966, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to Jerry and Mary Stettheimer. In 1975, his family moved to Dallas, Texas where he was raised. In college, he met Carol Evins, whom, after a whirlwind courtship of six years, he married on May 16, 1992. They welcomed two children while they lived in Garland, Texas and two more after moving to Arlington.

Through hard work and academic talent, Timothy received a full ride to attend Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology. He continued his education, earning a master's degree in applied cognition and neuroscience from the University of Texas at Dallas and a PhD in information science from the University of North Texas.

The Stettheimer family moved to Birmingham, Alabama in 2003. There, Tim and Carol raised and homeschooled their four children and kept their two dogs, Jessie and Millie who loved Tim as much as any animal could. Every time Tim returned home from a trip—whether his long ones to England, Ireland, Australia, Singapore, or Germany, or even a 5-minute jaunt to take out the trash—Jessie would run circles around him, so excited that her tail would throw her off balance.

Timothy worked in the fields of healthcare IT and executive management for over 25 years, until ALS forced him into retirement in fall of 2022. He was passionate about equipping leaders. He held positions with Children’s Hospital of Dallas, AdventHealth, St. Vincents of Birmingham, Ascension Health, and the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME). He served as a board member for the Alabama Quality Assurance Foundation for over 10 years. He also held faculty positions with Boston College, the University of North Texas, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and the University of Phoenix. Timothy’s career culminated in 2022, when he became the provost of a fledgling graduate level university through CHIME. In November, CHIME presented him with a lifetime achievement award and endowed a scholarship in his name.

The Stettheimers had been active members at Crossbridge Church of Christ since 2006. There, Timothy used his gifts to serve as an adult education minister for many years. After some training by Carol, he joined the praise team, and in 2016, he became a shepherd at the church.

Timothy had a lifelong passion for learning and self-improvement. He began studying Biblical languages in 2008 and was especially focused on Hebrew. He visited Israel four times to improve language skills and Biblical knowledge.

He had endless hobbies and interests: working out with his new favorite exercise program, yelling at the Cowboys for losing another playoff, listening to his favorite Amy Grant album, attending Alabama Symphony Orchestra performances, taking vocal lessons, and certainly reading. Tim had shelves packed full of Star Trek novels and boxes overflowing with financial guides. Every time the Stettheimer family visited Texas, Tim would be sure to stop and linger at the used bookstore near his parents’ home, and he never left with less than he could carry.

He was truly the world’s best dad. He never missed an elementary school sports game or a music recital, and he joined in on the high school debate scene where he intimidated many a 10th grader. Even though he would have preferred a fruit pie, for years, he baked and decorated each child’s birthday cake. He took each child to space camp and on trips around the country and world. He supported his kids’ interests and paths entirely.

Timothy passed away in his home, surrounded by his wife Carol and his children Sarah, Katie, and Samuel. He is also survived by his parents Jerry and Mary, his sister Lisa, and his son Peter. He is preceded in death by his grandparents Joseph Stettheimer, Della Howell, and A.T. and Mary Alice King.

Timothy faithfully met his August 2022 ALS diagnosis with gratitude for the life he had been given and hope for the next life.

“I actually see myself moving into a brilliant sunrise. This chapter that I have been blessed to live here simply will move into the next chapter which will be lived in the perfect presence of my Lord. That face is what sustains me and what has sustained me through my life,” Timothy wrote in September.

A funeral service will be held at Crossbridge Church of Christ on Tuesday, Feb. 14 at 2 p.m. with visitation starting at 12 p.m. The Stettheimer family encourages donations to The ALS Association and Team Gleason to honor Timothy’s generosity and help others suffering from the disease that ended his life too soon.

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