Of plane trips and memorials

Dropped my wife at the airport this evening. She is on her way back to California for a memorial service on Sunday afternoon.

First Southern Baptist Church of Lompoc, CA was founded on Sept. 7th, 1958. One of the founding couples were Max and Billie Alexander.

Max was a chaplain in the US Air Force, and a father it seems to most of First Southern over the course of his 43 years there. Max was most well loved and known for his birthday calls. Every year members of the church would receive their annual call from Max. My wife and her folks recall it all, very fondly.

Max died of cancer in 2001. Billie, his wife of many many years and mother to their 3 girls, lived on for another 3 1/2 years in their home. Still a joy to family and friends alike. Grandmother to my own wife in name if not relation and always to be counted on for encouraging words and a spunky attitude, Billie was just as much the church's mother as Max was it's daddy.

Billie died last month and went chasing after her husband Max and her Lord, Jesus. She will be remembered by her church family on Sunday afternoon, May 1st, 2005.