(1937-2020)
My Dad left this earthly life December 2, 2020. A memorial service was scheduled for tomorrow, December 19. However, due to Covid, that memorial service has been cancelled, or at least postponed. This tribute was to be read at his memorial service.
Words fail me, as I attempt to express my love and appreciation for my earthly father. Both Dad and Mom have not only been my physical parents, but also my spiritual teachers. I will be forever grateful for their love and guidance.
What a blessing for Jared, Jason, and me to have spent our entire growing-up years attending one congregation. I am so grateful for the East Main congregation and their willingness to grant my Dad the freedom to work for the church and to develop his unique talents, without placing upon him the yoke of man-made expectations. That is a blessing that relatively few preachers enjoy, and it allowed him to flourish. Dad had been invited, on several occasions, to move and preach elsewhere, but he chose to stay. He loved his East Main brethren. From preaching in the pulpit, to sitting on a hospital floor with the grieving, dad humbly served his East Main family for 56 years.
I cannot remember a time when Dad “slept in”. There was rarely a day that his study light did not burn brightly before the dawn of day. He wrote down the gleanings from his bible study using pen and paper, and then graduated to an IBM typewriter. Later on, much to his chagrin, he conceded to using a computer. I am so very thankful for the blessing of sitting at his feet, listening to his teaching and preaching. Few people knew that Dad would get physically ill before preaching, because he took the responsibility so seriously. He preached with passion and conviction. He had the rare ability to present complicated subjects in an easy to understand manner. I remember attending various debates he engaged in through the years, and my heart was full as I witnessed him defend the truth with skill and grace. Now, through Dad’s posthumous teaching, he will continue to challenge me in my spiritual walk.
I have never regretted growing up in a preacher’s family; in fact, I count it a blessing. For many years, I thought our family was normal, but eventually I learned better. The laughter and fellowship that was enjoyed around our dining table are memories that I treasure. There were many times that we’d stop by Centro-Mart on the way home from services to buy fixings for soup and sandwiches, because Dad and Mom had invited someone over for an impromptu meal. It was especially entertaining when other preachers would visit. When I was quite young and had to go to bed before company left, I would sneak out of bed so that I could listen to the joking and ensuing laughter. Dad’s quick wit kept his sense of humor in fine form.
The love that Dad and Mom had for the Lord and for one another, permeated our home. Mom has been a wonderful helpmeet by his side. Because of Mom’s Proverbs 31 lifestyle, Dad had the freedom to devote his life to preaching and writing, unencumbered by unnecessary distractions. It has always been evident in our home that Mom’s spiritual convictions are her own, and not merely a shadowing of dad’s. Their positive examples created within me the desire to marry a preacher.
If Dad were present today, he would be very uncomfortable with the attention directed towards him. He did what he did, not to receive the praise of men, but out of love for and devotion to his heavenly Father. The highest complement you could give Dad would be to live your life with courage and conviction, as a wholly devoted and faithful servant to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
