For my 1995 my process is to follow the FSM: drive around a bunch so everything nice and hot, park on level surface, shift through gears, then check dipstick. However I have always removed dipstick, wiped it clean, then re inserted, then removed to read level. Is this correct?

 

that's correct

but to be clear, the trans fluid is checked with the engine still running

 

Great thanks. And yes always running (which is why I felt compelled to wipe dipstick since I didn’t want fluid on there from non-running state)

 

Yes, wiping the dipstick and re-inserting is an implied step for checking any oil level using any dipstick.