As I’m sure most of you know my dad passed away a week ago today. Last Friday night I sat down on my couch with my laptop and a picture of my Uncle Roland’s obituary for a frame of reference and tried to write my dad’s. Ugh. Not easy. Not in that it was particularly emotional but more so in that my brain was completely blank other than the biographical data of his birth date, date of death, who had preceded him and those of us who are trying to survive him. I really wanted to be able to do this so that my mom wouldn’t have to and my brother was already handling All the other things.
I noted *good stuff* in the middle where the good stuff should go and sent it to my mom. She told me to take a break. So I did. We didn’t have to have it until Monday after all.
Saturday morning I went to the store for things we didn’t really need and cereal, which we really did need mostly in an effort to keep my mind busy. Then around noon my mom called and said she’d written the obituary and she was emailing it to me to see what I thought. Of course she did cause she’s Superwoman. I was relieved that someone else had taken care of it and I figured she knew him best anyway. I don’t know that I gave it my best shot but I did give it a shot. I probably would have given it a better shot after midnight Sunday night since I seem to do my best work under extreme pressure.
I won’t tell you what I was doing while I read her obit because I think it’s illegal and since it was raining while I was doing the unnamed thing it was probably 100 times more dangerous. Suffice it to say I don’t remember how I got from I-20 to Loop 12.
What I later found out was that the obituary was a collaboration between my mom and my brother and they so sweetly added a line of mine from my miserable attempt at Obitting. I won’t tell you which line was mine so that you can peruse to your hearts content trying to figure out which little nugget I was responsible for. That makes it more fun, right? And obituaries can always use a little extra fun.
Without further ado I give you the obituary that is my dad’s life and heart in a very long nutshell. Thank you Mom and Daniel – you guys are amazing.
STEVEN WAYNE WEBB
September24, 1958 – November 25, 2015
Steven ‘Steve’ Wayne Webb passed away peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday morning, November 25, 2015. He was born on September 24, 1958 to Carl Wayne & Billie Maxine Webb in Waxahachie, Texas.
Steve had a quiet, gentle spirit but could make his friends and family laugh and always desired peace in every part of his life. He was called to preach at the early age of 12 years old and relinquished his desire to be a pilot to give his full attention to the service of the Lord. His passion and heart’s desire was to do missions work which he was able to do for a short time in Mexico and Guatemala. He also believed his main ministry was to his beloved wife, Virginia Barnes Webb, whom he met at Southwestern Assembly of God College, Waxahachie, Texas and they married January 19, 1979, almost 37 years ago.
Ministry was his calling and he committed his time to the preaching and teaching of the Word. His life and testimony has touched countless people. And because of his testimony others saw hope for the first time. He continued to let his love and faith in God shine and be his strength even in the darkest hours. In the toughest times of his life is when he served the most! He allowed God to shine thru in spite of what appeared to be incapacitating health. So that it may give strength to others and they would see what the enemy meant for bad God could use for good! He was tireless in his effort to please God. He was relentless in his pursuit to be God’s best friend. Aside from ministry his deepest desire was to be used by God, to be obedient whatever the cost.
Steve was a proud papa. On May 8th, 1980, he became a daddy for the first time. After seeing his baby girl, Faith Suzanne Webb, his heart would never be the same. Some would say he was blessed in that she is EXACTLY like her daddy! Then on February 22, 1982, he was doubly proud when the heir to his name, Thomas Daniel Webb, was born. Some would say he was blessed in that he was NOTHING like his dad, yet he was proud just the same! Then two more people came into his life and became very special to him, in fact, he called them his kids. His son-in-love, Richard Paredes, and daughter-in-love, Stephanie Webb. He was so proud of all four of his kids.
Anyone that knew Steve and had been around him for any amount of time knew that he was a grandpa! He was so proud of Mercedes, Emma, Jimmy, Joey, Daniel, Liliana, and Valor. He would spend countless hours playing, feeding and teasing them. But the countless hours with these activities could not compare to the hours spent in prayer for these sweet grandbabies.
Steve enjoyed everything! He knew something about everything. He was an avid reader and incredible dreamer.
He was preceded in death by his brother, James Andrew, ‘Jimmy’ Webb and grandparents.
He is survived by his parents, Wayne & Billie Webb of Marietta, OK, his beloved wife, Virginia Barnes Webb, Dallas, TX, his children Faith & Richard Paredes, Desoto, TX, Daniel & Stephanie Webb, Dallas, TX. His grandchildren, Mercedes Marie Paredes, Emma Jean Webb, Jimmy Modesto Paredes, Joey Alejandro Paredes, Thomas Daniel Webb II, Liliana Grace Paredes, Gabrian Valor Webb. His sister and brother-in-law, Cheri & Victor Persinger, his brother and sister-in-law Bryan & Renee Webb and as many nieces and nephews as stars in the sky.
Okay, okay…I’ll tell you. I got the very last line. 🙂