'A gentle giant': Williamson County Constable Kevin Stofle left a legacy of service, love and faith

Claire Osborn
Austin American-Statesman

After Williamson County Constable Kevin Stofle died suddenly of a heart attack this week, some of his friends gathered immediately under an 80-foot cross outside his Georgetown church.

"There were a lot of tears and lots of weeping, and also a lot of prayer," said Rick Cotto, the campus support director at Celebration Church. 

"Kevin exuded strength and courage but also caring," Cotto said. "We loved his heart."

Stofle, who died Monday, was 62. 

Williamson County Precinct 3 Constable Kevin Stofle was first appointed to the office in 2013.

On Tuesday, grief-stricken county commissioners cut their meeting short because of Stofle's death. 

"I lost a friend," Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell said at the meeting. "It's tough for the county right now. … As we are gathered here today, deputies are standing alongside his body to honor him."

READ: Officials: Williamson County Constable Kevin Stofle dies at age 62

Stofle had a 40-year career in law enforcement, starting at age 19 as an officer at the Whitesboro Police Department, north of Dallas.

Stofle joined the Georgetown Police Department in 1982 and was promoted to assistant chief in 2001. He retired in 2012. He also served as the emergency management coordinator for the city before being appointed Precinct 3 constable in 2013.

"He was just someone that loved helping others, so that’s why he was in law enforcement," said Joe Bob Kay, one of Stofle's friends. "He was very good at reasoning with people. He wasn't a man of many words, but he was a man who, when he spoke, people listened."

Williamson County Constable Kevin Stofle died of a heart attack Sept. 13.

Kay said he and his wife went out every Friday night with Stofle and his wife, including going to baseball games and watching Stofle's daughter play volleyball.

"He was a great husband and a great father and a great friend," Kay said. 

Stofle and his family joined Celebration Church in 2009, said Lori Champion, one of the co-founding pastors. She said Stofle was involved in many groups at the church, including one that helped people get out of debt and one that ministered to families. He also was a member of the security team at the church.

"People just looked to him for advice," Champion said. "He had a tough exterior, but he was a gentle giant." 

Stofle spent many years volunteering in the community, including serving on the board of directors for Habitat for Humanity, volunteering for Project Graduation for more than 40 years, being a mentor in the Georgetown school district and coaching youth baseball, according to his obituary.

It said he also was a lead instructor for the Texas Institute of Public Problem Solving at the University of Texas' LBJ School of Public Affairs from 1999 to 2005 and was a nationally certified instructor for the U.S. Department of Justice.

"He was just humble," Champion said. "It didn't matter who you were, he always loved you."

Cotto said the last time he saw him, Stofle gave him a big hug after Cotto, a retired U.S. Army captain, gave a speech about veterans and first responders at an event. 

"Had I known it would be the last time I saw him, I would have held on a bit longer," Cotto said.

Visitation for Stofle will be at 9 a.m. Wednesday, followed by a funeral service at 11 a.m. at Celebration Church, 1601 Westinghouse Road.

Stofle is survived by his wife, Laura Stofle; his son Bryan Stofle and wife Christine; his daughter Amanda Alff and husband David Alff; his son Colt Stofle; his daughter Lauren Stofle; and four grandchildren.

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