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I am Larry Bays from Ecumenical Faith in Action and it is my privilege to be here today to celebrate the life of Bob Kilgore. Faith in Action is a Christian Mission to the poor and hurting in our community. The name Christian means Little Christ and those that follow with Christ’s teaching, including putting the interest of others before our own. While there are many names and adjectives to describe Bob such as good son and brother, faithful and devoted husband, loving father and grandfather, trusted colleague, patriot, and dependable friend, the one that described him best is Christian. To each and every one he was known as a caring gentleman, a good man. I agree with Neal Kilgore who said if you look at the definition of gentleman in Webster Dictionary, it would reference Bob. I would take it one step further; it would have his picture with his big and gentle smile.
I got to know Bob at Faith in Action where he served so faithfully. But to me Bob was more than someone who volunteered, Bob was my friend. Bob and I found we had a lot in common. We both had grown up in the country in SW VA. We both had parents who believed in hard work. Both went to college, both married up as Bob would say, both our wives were teachers, we both worked for public utilities, both of our wives passed away too young, and we both had helped to take care of parents after our wives had passed.
I remember the first time Bob and I went out to eat. It was on a Friday and he had helped in the food pantry. So after we closed, Bob suggested we go for lunch. Knowing Bob was very much a distinguished gentleman, I thought we might be going to House on Main or Wildflower Bakery but Bob had another idea. He wanted to go to one of his favorite places to have one of his favorite meals. So he pulled into Dairy Queen and ordered us both hot dogs. But what a great lunch! Having hot dogs with Bob Kilgore was better than eating steak at a country club. I learned a lot during those meals we shared.
• I learned about Charlene and her courage and while he never said it, Bob's care during her illness.
• I learned about taking the Mega Bus to see Scott’s family and how he enjoyed the visit.
• I learned about his trip last year to see Sara and her family and how he admired your care for each other.
• I learned Bob was pleased about all his grandchildren’s and children’s academic and professional achievements but he was proud of the people you are, your character and your caring for him, each other, and others.
• I learned Bob like to have the blessing said before meals because he was thankful.
• I learned Bob had a heart for others and was always willing to give a hand.
• I learned Bob liked to go to the small post office in Meadowview because they were nice people there.
• I learned Bob like to travel but there was no place like home in SW Virginia to him.
• I learned of Bob’s deep and enduring faith in Jesus that sustained him.
Now to be fair, Bob and I went to more places to eat than Dairy Queen, like Macado’s but I enjoyed Dairy Queen as much as any. Bob was always good company.
Bob served faithfully in many areas of Faith in Action’s Christian Mission. He worked in the food pantry, he drove patients to doctor appointments, and he would even take cardboard to be recycled. Madelaine Warren who arranges the transportation for patients told me patients always requested Bob because of his kindness and gentle spirit. Kathi Lowe our executive director emeritus told me of the time Bob observed the difficulty getting a client in the office because the only wheel chair available had no back. Within a week a new wheelchair arrived and everyone knew Bob had arranged it but he never would admit it.
Ted White, also a AEP retiree, Civitan, and EFIA volunteer told me about the time they ran out of bread one Tuesday night. Everyone wonder where Bob had gone until he backed his truck up to the dock with the bed covered with bread. Bob lived a life of giving and caring. My favorite Bob story was the night he called me at home. He had gone to recycle the card board at JMH when the campus police thought they had a criminal. Bob would always laugh and tell me how he fought the law and the law won.
As I was thinking about Bob earlier this week, I thought of a passage of scripture that has been paraphrased from Romans 12: 9-10: Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.I think these verses describe Bob perfectly and all we have to do is add his name. Bob loved from the center of who he was, there was no fake in him. He ran for dear life from evil, and held on for dear life to good. He was a good friend who loved deeply and Bob practiced playing second fiddle.
While there are many adjectives to describe Bob, I think Christian is the one he valued most. He was a faithful servant and follower of Christ. And for us, we have been given a wonderful example by Bob to follow. Scott and Sara (Bob's children), you have been given a wonderful legacy. May all who come behind Bob Kilgore be found faithful.
God bless you.
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