Randy D. Lucas

Randy D. Lucas was born in Riner, VA on February 1, 1929 and passed peacefully to his eternal home on January 7, 2017. Randy was known for his dedication to Christ, generous spirit, faithfulness to family and friends, and eagerness to volunteer to help those whom he could. An only son, Randy learned the electrical trade in the U.S. Navy in which he served from 1949 to 1967 as an IC-1 electrician, both active duty and reserves, where he developed his teaching skills as a naval instructor. After active duty, Randy worked as an electrician on residential and commercial projects in Arizona, Texas, and South Carolina before starting his own contractor business in Greenville, SC, earning the highest national ratings on National Electrical Code exams, teaching at Greenville Technical College (1972-1984), and working as a special consultant to the Governor’s office to attract major international companies to the Greenville area. He served as an inspector-consultant and trained many students who eventually became city and county electrical inspectors. During the 1970s-1980s, Randy donated hundreds of hours to helping build and wire many churches and supporting their ministries. Throughout his forty-five year career in the electrical field, Randy maintained a reputation for honesty, integrity, hard work, and a joyful can-do enthusiasm. He loved working in teams, including Dust Angels at Arizona Community Church, and participating in various church groups, including XYZ and the library at Grace Community Church (members 1984-1998) as well as In-Joy and Lighthouse at ACC (members 1998-present). Throughout the 1990s, Randy made over 60 scrapbooks of dozens of bus trips he and Ellen took with XYZ and InJoy friends around Arizona, the Southwest, and beyond. He loved making new friends, promoting cooperation, and singing. In 1999, Randy miraculously recovered from kidney cancer then, by God’s grace, overcame the serious consequences of a devastating car accident in 2003. Predicted to need two years in a rehab center, Randy miraculously returned home in four months, recovered his strength and voice, and added a new aspect to his daily ministry: singing “Happy Birthday” to people over the phone. During the past ten years, he has called thousands of people on their birthdays to wish them well and remind them that God and he loved them. After complications due to repeated falls, kidney infections, hospitalizations, and complications during the second half of 2016, Randy finally rested after a life well and fully lived after an evening with his family, wife Ellen of 46 years and son John. Open casket viewing will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, January 14 at Green Acres Mortuary in Scottsdale (NE Corner of Hayden/McKellips). The Memorial Service will be held at 1 p.m. January 24th at Arizona Community Church in Tempe (Rural/Knox). In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Randy Lucas should be designated to ACC, Lighthouse Missions in honor of Randy’s passion for sharing the Good News of Christ’s Salvation with others.

Choices defined Randy’s life, and the choices he made continue to influence the lives of the people he met along the path he truly believed God prepared for him to walk. For him, each encounter was an opportunity for blessing. Randy knew that God is always “in charge and in control,” but he also knew that how he made his choices and for whom provided his life with meaning and significance.

Years ago, Randy posted a little sign on his patio gate so that he could see it every time he got the newspaper for Ellen, checked the mail, emptied the trash, or ran an errand: “When all is said and done, more is usually said than done.” He often said, “I learn more by listening.” Actually, I think he knew more than most people he heard, but he gladly gave them the floor so they could feel better about themselves. While others pontificated, Randy cared deeply about the consequences of his choices and, more importantly, his actions.

When I turned fifty, Randy told me what I termed the “Randy Rule”: “People always do what they want to do.” He was a firm believer in free will, but he knew that most people make little of the chances they have to exert a positive influence upon the lives of other people. Unfortunately, many people are too self-absorbed, too selfish to consider whom they can benefit and how with the limited resources of time and energy that God has given them to share. Randy intentionally sought opportunities to make choices that reflected his love for Christ, provided benefits for others, and set a good example of how a good man should behave.

By his choices, large and small, Randy demonstrated his convictions. He believed in Jesus Christ, his Savior and Lord. Every day, Randy chose to do and say what he believed honored Christ. This primary tenet so infused his behavior that he eagerly sought ways to share and care. He believed the tiniest expression of genuine, heart-felt consideration could have a profound effect upon another person’s life. Everyone who knew him knows the influence of his gracious generosity.

Randy’s charity, his love for others, manifested his convictions that time is the most fragile, precious resource and that sharing time with someone else can transcend the value of stuff. “Stuff collects dust,” he said, “and the more stuff you own, the more it owns you. Then you have less to give.” Yes, like many people, Randy collected stuff, but his intention was to find ways to use that stuff for others. He created over seventy scrapbooks about over a hundred trips that he and Ellen took with XYZ and In-Joy friends, and each one contained photographs, maps, postcards, cartoons, and, most importantly, Bible verses that Randy collected in boxes so that each scrapbook could remind anyone who turned the pages that the purpose of all this effort was simple: remind people that whatever the event God loved them and wanted them to love Him.

A good man who chose his words carefully, Randy determined to honor his convictions by accepting the consequences of his actions. He never wanted to inconvenience anyone. He accepted blame for almost anyone’s disappointment because he believed he could have done more. He shared glory for jobs well done with others whose participation was minimal because he believed everyone deserved praise for doing well. Persistently, he set the best example he could imagine because “actions speak louder than words.”

Randy was the most honest, most caring, and most consistent person I knew. People ask me how I remember him. My answer is, “Always.” Like thousands upon thousands of people whose lives he changed, I cannot close a chapter upon a man who continues to influence my life. He chose to notice, accept, and love me when I was unworthy of his slightest attention. He chose to talk and walk with me when I would otherwise have felt most alone. He proved his convictions, demonstrated greater character, and showed more charity than any other man I have ever known. He was and is the greatest influence upon whatever part of my life has benefited and, by God’s grace, may benefit others in the future.

Randy was and is my Dad, and I look forward to seeing him again some golden daybreak.

 John Pinkerton

These words opened the Memorial Service for Randy Lucas on February 24, 2017 at Arizona Community Church. They were given by John Pinkerton, Randy’s step-son.

Welcome friends. Today, we celebrate Randy Lucas and recall the wonderful and profound influence he has been upon our lives and those of thousands of people whom he hoped and prayed to meet in heaven.

Heaven. Fifty years ago, heaven was the topic of the first gospel chorus Randy taught me. And the second.

When Randy chose to become my Dad, he proved to be the best mentor, teacher, father, husband, and MAN whom I have ever known. Men call him a “good man,” and women call him a “sweet man.” Most importantly, people knew him to be a Christian man.

Randy exuded joy and humility, often laughing about how he had more fun than intelligent people.

He demonstrated generosity, graciousness, and love to family, friends, and strangers. He strived to walk the talk so that, along the path, they would realize that God’s grace provides a perfect promise, plan, and purpose for their lives.

Randy believed everyone was someone important to Jesus, and he hoped to enlist anyone he met into the heavenly choir where he sings in perfect harmony today.

He led busloads of seniors in song and taught a ten-year old boy about a mansion just over the hilltop. He lived each day as an opportunity to serve others and remind them, with a smile as he said goodbye, to “keep looking up!”

On the back of your program are important verses that Randy shared with people. Today, as his walking companion for the past fifteen years, I turn to Isaiah 40:31 for our Scripture reading: “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

Please bow your heads and close your eyes for our opening prayer, after which, Steve Mitchell, Randy’s grandson through Ellen, will share his heart with us.

(John sang the Lord’s Prayer)

Hello. I’m Steve Mitchell.

Most of you don’t know me. Randy Lucas was my grandfather. Ellen Lucas, was

my grandmother, or my Nana as I called her. Randy was actually my step

grandfather, but was as much a grandfather to me as any man could be because

Randy set an example for me that I want to tell you about today. I watched his

example for over 40 years, how he commanded respect and created a path worth

following.

His were the steps of a good man!

Now, those of you here that are followers of Christ, as I am and as Randy was,

know that in and of ourselves there is no good that does not come from Christ.

Randy knew this better than anyone. He was a willing and eager receptacle of

God’s grace, grace that overflowed to everyone around him and became a shining

reflection of Christ.

I first met Randy when I was about 12 years old on a family trip to Dallas to visit

my Nana (Ellen) and meet her new husband Randy. It didn’t take long to realize

Randy was a man of joy and generosity of spirit. I didn’t think much of it at first.

Young as I was, I chalked it up to the charitable politeness of someone new to the

family hoping to make a good impression. But as the years rolled by, I quickly

realized Randy’s spirit was so much more than politeness.

So, the steps Randy trod during his life I would describe as these:

First of all, Randy stepped through life with JOY – I never saw Randy unhappy or in

a bad mood. I’m sure he must have had times, but more often than not he had a

smile on his face. His joyous outlook on nearly every situation was infectious. He

loved to laugh and have others laugh with him. Perhaps others of you out there

have been f

avored with Randy-isms. John and I nearly put several of them on a Tshirt

once.

Randy-isms were statements you would often hear him say such as…

• Whadya think about them onions! or

• We have more fun than intelligent people or

• Yo ho ho and a bottle! or

• We’re off like a dirty shirt!

There were more. Lots more.

Randy also stepped through life with GENEROSITY – Well to start with, if you’ve

ever been out to eat with Randy Lucas and you managed to get the check and pay

for the meal, let me know because I want to shake your hand. In most cases if

Randy didn’t get his hand on the check first, he would wrestle it out of your hand

in short order. But it wasn’t just paying for a meal. He gave of himself and

demonstrated a generosity of spirit that characterized everything he did.

Professionally and personally he gave far more than was ever required or

expected of him, and if you haven’t heard the strains of “well I hear it’s your

birthday” from Randy Lucas, then you haven’t lived. Other people were Randy’s

first order of business and he invested himself in lives often without thought of

himself.

…and Randy stepped through life in PEACE – Perhaps Randy’s hardest to follow

example for me was a calm, cool and collected evenness of temperament that

told me he was at peace with whatever was going on. This is aptly illustrated by a

memory. I was visiting Nana, Randy and John one summer when I was about 14.

One weekend we took a trip to the Smoky Mountains. After checking out from

our motel stay and turning in the room key at the office, Randy came strolling

towards the car from the main office in a slow, deliberate pace whistling some

tune as he came. As though he were just taking a stroll in the park. I suddenly

realized I had left my pillow in the motel room. I was embarrassed because I had

been instructed to make sure to get everything. As soon as Randy found out, he

stopped his whistling and leisurely stride, did a soldier like about face, resumed

whistling and the same leisurely stroll as he marched back to the office to retrieve

the room key and then my pillow. No lecture, no frown and not another word

about it. I’ll never forget it. This is such a great metaphor for his life as I look back

on it. He seemed to meet whatever bump in life came along with an even stride

and and a peaceful, joyful demeanor as he moved past it.

And finally, Randy stepped through life with CONSTANCY – The joy, generosity

and peace I spoke of, weren’t just exhibited during good times. They were

constant patterns that marked his whole life. Not only that, but Randy could be

depended on, counted on to be there as a rock solid foundation for his family and

his friends.

Joy, generosity, peace and constancy. These were the steps of this good man that

I remember most. This was the example he set for me and one I don’t emulate

nearly often enough. As examples go, I could scarcely do much better than to

follow his. Proverbs 4:18 says, “But the path of the righteous is like the light of

dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.” I thank God for Randy’s

path and that it shone so brightly for me.

Ellen and John

You have our sympathy as well as our joy.

Sympathy - that Randy has gone before us

Joy - for where he is and that

we will see him again

It has been my pleasure to be one of the shepherds

in Randy, Ellen, and John's life.

Years ago, within the first weeks of meeting each other,

Ellen was asking me questions /

She wanted to see if I was in line with

their previous shepherds

After passing her theological exam

they all became long time members of

the Lighthouse class, where we many times discussed

the gift, the shoes, and the crown.

When John told me he would like me talk

about the phrase “are ordered by the LORD” –

he mentioned The gift, The shoes, and The crown

“This Order, arrangement, or sequence”

was visible in Randy’s life.

Randy clearly understood that

deliverance from the penalty of sin,

separation from God,

was a free gift

to anyone who believed in Jesus Christ.

This first ordered step, The free gift,

occurred for Randy in 1952, When while in the Navy,

he personally believed on the Lord Jesus Christ”

The next ordered step had to do with

The Shoes - His walk with the Lord

I asked John if it would be possible to get a pair of Randy's shoes.

He brought me these

They were the ones he wore the last time they walked around the park

Randy took seriously that "the shoes" - "His walk"

was important in his daily life. /

He understood that he could not lose the free gift

by any mistake or failure, /

But, he also understood that

the effectiveness and influence of his steps

Were dependent on being ordered by the Lord.

As part of his walk, the Lord ordered

that Randy would work as a counselor and teacher

with Truth for Youth and Youth for Christ /

This he did from 1957 to 1967

until he went to Libya.

He would tell you, the Lord ordered the direction

his life would take vocationally

as an electrician and teacher, /

both of which were used for God's Glory.

He would also not hesitate to tell you,

the Lord ordered his steps to cross paths with

the steps of a mother and son,

who became his family for half a century.

Randy wore the shoes well

when the Lord ordered and arranged for him to

teach Bible classes in prisons and a Heber boys home.

He also wore the shoes well

through the adversities of

Kidney Cancer and a traumatic accident.

What a miracle we all saw in his recovery

He wore the shoes well

through all his time with

Lighthouse, XYZ, and In-Joy

If you ever went to lunch with him

You knew about the Business Card

If you knew him at all

you knew about his smile

He wore the shoes well

as he approached the finish line of his race.

John shared with me that

shortly before he crossed that line

he sat up, and saluting said

"What are my orders sir"

What an appropriate phrase for a person

whose steps were ordered by the Lord.

The orders on January 7, 2017 were

to "come home"

1 Corinthians 9:24 says: Do you not know

that those who run in a race all run,

but one receives the prize?

Run in such a way that you may obtain it.

25 And everyone who competes for the prize

is temperate in all things.

Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown,

but we for an imperishable crown.

The next time we see Randy,

all that he did while in the shoes

will be visible in a crown.

Randy has been ordered home,

But, the one who ordered his life - orders ours

and while the torch has been passed

The Orders Remain Unchanged.

To those who do not yet have the free gift –

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ

To those who are wearing the shoes –

Run in such a way that you may obtain the crown.

Thank you Jack (and Linda) Tschetter

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and he delighteth in his way.”

I’m so glad that I get to talk about that last phrase, because “delight” is one of the first words that comes to mind when you think about Randy Lucas. No one ever accused Randy of being one of these sour saints who dutifully dragged through life bearing heavy burdens. No, Randy exuded joy, and he dedicated himself to spreading that joy to everybody else.

He started walking the path of life with Jesus decades ago. We compared notes once and figured out that we must have crossed paths back in the early 60s, when I was in high school. Every Saturday night the Truth for Youth ministry had a youth rally at the Encanto park band shell. I was just a kid having a good time, but Randy was there for several years sharing the good news about Jesus with the teenagers who came.

You might have noticed that you can read this verse two different ways. You can capitalize “he” or you can capitalize “him.” It could read, “He – Randy – delights in His – God’s – way.” And that was certainly true. But you could also read it this way: “He (God) delights in his (Randy’s) way.” And that’s also true. Psalm 149:4 says, “The Lord takes pleasure in His people.” And I can’t help see Randy’s walk through life as a reciprocal relationship with His Savior. The longer he walked with the Lord, the more God took pleasure in him. And the longer he traveled in the company of Jesus, the more joyful he got.

Being with Randy was like attending a celebration. My family first came together with Randy and Ellen 32 years ago. We invited them over for dinner, and it happened to be my daughter Autumn’s sixth birthday. We discovered that the same day was Randy’s birthday. He and Ellen immediately adopted us, and from then on we spent every birthday with them. My kids still remember Ellen’s home cooked meals and the birthday cakes with their names in frosting. Even after we moved to Indiana in 1999, Randy and Ellen kept track of us. Ellen was so faithful in writing wonderful letters to us – the only person who wrote to us in longhand. And when we came back for a visit, we would always go out for dinner and celebrate, even if it wasn’t a birthday! Of course, we knew that we would get one of his famous birthday calls every year.

Randy never tried to call attention to himself. He saw himself as just a servant. He would drop everything to help you. I could call and say, “Randy, the light switch in our closet feels hot to the touch.” Before you know it, he would be over there rewiring the switch so our house wouldn’t burn down. He just wanted to serve you and bring you joy. He wanted to be a signpost pointing to Jesus, because Randy’s exuberance was more than just a happy disposition. Life was sometimes hard for him. It was a struggle to recover from that car crash a few years ago, and he had to persevere through hardships, just like the rest of us. But he learned long ago that “the joy of the Lord is our strength.”

Nothing gave Randy greater satisfaction than helping other people come to know that Savior whom he so deeply loved. In fact, I was talking to his son John last week and we were speculating a bit. We were just wondering if Randy still hadn’t made it to the throne of God yet, because he was still trying to get through the crowd of people who wanted to shake his hand – well, with Randy it’s usually a bear hug – people who said, “I’m in heaven because you loved me and helped me become a follower of Jesus.” The Bible says that there is joy in heaven every time a sinner repents, and Randy has been touching off parties in heaven all his life.

If you’re a person who senses that you have never experienced the kind of God-generated joy that Randy knew, you’ll find that he has left behind a host of people who would be delighted to help you step onto the path that he followed.

We have a 5-year-old granddaughter, and the other day she told my wife, “I really love Grandma. And I really love Grandpa. And I really, really love Jesus.” Out of the mouth of babes. But when Randy looked back at a lifelong walk of faithfulness to Jesus, I think he’d say the same thing. He really loved Ellen. He really loved his son John. He really loved all of you. And he really, really loved Jesus. And now he is with Him. Let the party begin!

John Bechtel

* * * * * * * * * *

Randy D. Lucas was born in Riner, VA on February 1, 1929 and passed peacefully to his eternal home on January 7, 2017. Randy was known for his dedication to Christ, generous spirit, faithfulness to family and friends, and eagerness to volunteer to help those whom he could. An only son, Randy learned the electrical trade in the U.S. Navy in which he served from 1949 to 1967 as an IC-1 electrician, both active duty and reserves, where he developed his teaching skills as a naval instructor. After active duty, Randy worked as an electrician on residential and commercial projects in Arizona, Texas, and South Carolina before starting his own contractor business in Greenville, SC, earning the highest national ratings on National Electrical Code exams, teaching at Greenville Technical College (1972-1984), and working as a special consultant to the Governor’s office to attract major international companies to the Greenville area. He served as an inspector-consultant and trained many students who eventually became city and county electrical inspectors. During the 1970s-1980s, Randy donated hundreds of hours to helping build and wire many churches and supporting their ministries. Throughout his forty-five year career in the electrical field, Randy maintained a reputation for honesty, integrity, hard work, and a joyful can-do enthusiasm. He loved working in teams, including Dust Angels at Arizona Community Church, and participating in various church groups, including XYZ and the library at Grace Community Church (members 1984-1998) as well as In-Joy and Lighthouse at ACC (members 1998-present). Throughout the 1990s, Randy made over 60 scrapbooks of dozens of bus trips he and Ellen took with XYZ and InJoy friends around Arizona, the Southwest, and beyond. He loved making new friends, promoting cooperation, and singing. In 1999, Randy miraculously recovered from kidney cancer then, by God’s grace, overcame the serious consequences of a devastating car accident in 2003. Predicted to need two years in a rehab center, Randy miraculously returned home in four months, recovered his strength and voice, and added a new aspect to his daily ministry: singing “Happy Birthday” to people over the phone. During the past ten years, he has called thousands of people on their birthdays to wish them well and remind them that God and he loved them. After complications due to repeated falls, kidney infections, hospitalizations, and complications during the second half of 2016, Randy finally rested after a life well and fully lived after an evening with his family, wife Ellen of 46 years and son John. Open casket viewing will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, January 14 at Green Acres Mortuary in Scottsdale (NE Corner of Hayden/McKellips). The Memorial Service will be held at 1 p.m. January 24th at Arizona Community Church in Tempe (Rural/Knox). In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Randy Lucas should be designated to ACC, Lighthouse Missions in honor of Randy’s passion for sharing the Good News of Christ’s Salvation with others.