Ginger Garcia
I met Bob and his sister, Isabel, at our church, First Baptist Dallas, one Sunday morning in 2012 when I was rushing in late as always and looking for any open seat. As soon as I met Bob it was an instant connection! "Is this seat taken?" I asked. "I was saving it for a pretty gal like you," he replied. He had the personality of my grandpa who had passed away a couple of years prior, so that was comforting. The next Sunday I looked in that same section for an available seat and was delighted when I realized Bob was saving a seat for me! This continued for several weeks. Then I stopped seeing them at church. I still wondered about them and missed my new friends. My heart was filled with joy when I saw them at church again! Turns out he had just been busy with tax season. ?? I continued to sit with them whenever I attended church, slowly learning more about them each Sunday. They were always faithful to save me a seat in the crowded church and became like my adoptive grandparents, calling me to see if I was okay whenever I didn't attend. Life got in the way, and I once again stopped regularly attending church. I still thought about them and knew I needed to call to check in. This past Sat, Nov 19, I felt God telling me to call Bob. I had been meaning to for many months but never did. So I called and left a message, just as I had done in the past. When I got a return call the next day, I was saddened to hear that it was not my friend, Bob, but instead a lady who informed me that he had gone to be with our Lord. I have so many fond memories of Bob and Isabel and will forever miss sitting with them at church. They were both so sweet, kind, and generous. My thoughts and prayers are with his family during this time of remembering and being thankful. -Ginger Garcia