In Memory

"You know this is the first time I've seen you this month." (Spoken to anyone on the first Sunday of any and every month.)
 

"Hello Jean. You can't say 'hi, Jean' because that's a whole other word." (Spoken to anyone when Jean Nolan was around.)
 

"Well, there's Punch and Judy." (Spoken whenever I was drinking fruit punch.)

 

By now, you must know I am talking about Bob DeMoreland. Bob had "a million of 'em" and he faithfully shared these remarks with us every Sunday, every Christmas Eve, and every special event at Centenary. Bob was a faithful man in so many ways. He faithfully taught the Sunshine Class for many years, until it got so small that he joined that class with the Seekers class. He faithfully contributed to the church finances every Sunday. He was incredibly faithful to his wife, Virginia, when she became ill – spending all day, every day with her in the nursing home, when she could no longer be at home with him.

It was his faithfulness that led to our sad discovery of his death. It was Sunday, January 10, at 9:15 a.m. Dan Tillman was ready to start the Seekers adult Sunday school class but Bob wasn't there yet. We all agreed we needed to get someone to go check on him at his house, because it wasn't like Bob to be late. We were saddened to learn a few minutes later that he had passed away at his house. Pastor Mernie came into our class and prayed with us, and helped us share some fond memories and start the talking that would help ease our pain in losing our dear brother Bob.

You know, like all of us, Bob had his imperfections. But Bob was an incredibly faithful man. How many of us can say that we are so faithful in our Bible study and church attendance that someone would go looking for us the way we went looking for Bob that Sunday.

There is a lesson for each of us in his faithfulness to his wife and to his church. I will think of Bob every time I wear a turtleneck. And I will think of Bob every time I feel like skipping church.

What would I say to Bob if I could see him again right now? I would say, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

                                                                                                                                     Judy Tillman

 

 

 

Grace Haskins (Bob's daughter)

357 Hemsley Drive

Queenstown MD 21658

 

Don DeMoreland (Bob's son)

667 Discovery Court

Davidsonville MD 21035