Seventeen years ago Brett and I became friends with Annette at our first Lutherans Concerned meeting. Quickly we grew to know her mother June and stepfather, Dallas, very well. Eleven years ago when we moved to the Akron area, we joined their church. Our friendship with Annette and Sally and Dallas and June only got stronger over the years. Today we attended Dallas’ funeral and were honored to be pallbearers. Dallas suffered from ALS over the past few years.

Dallas was quite an individual. He was so devoted to his church. He worked tirelessly around the church. He coached the church softball team and many youth softball teams. He coordinated many tournaments. What I recall most vividly about Dallas was his sorrow when Christ Lutheran Church closed its doors in 1999. It was his passion.

Dallas regained that passion at St. Mark in Tallmadge. Dallas and June formed the “Out to Lunch Bunch”, a monthly get together of mostly retired, but not only retired, churchgoers at area restaurants. He volunteered until his disease would not let him in the past few years.

Brett and I count the Mutersbaughs and Steiners as some of our best friends. We share every Christmas Eve with their families at their homes after church. They have become such an extended family. We shared their pain a few years back when Annette succumbed from cancer. It’s so hard to lose a young and spirited life such as Annette. It is a close knit family and they carry her memory in their hearts.

We will all miss Dallas. We all will always have many memories of him in our future. The photo on this post was where Dallas loved to be the most, an Akron Aeros game. HE is in the foreground and June in the back. He was also an avid tribe fan. I am sure he is organizing a softball league in heaven right now. Play ball, Dallas!