Stanley Verbal Jr.

1937-2017

Dick’s Life Verses

Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful,

And endures through every circumstances.

Three things will last forever—faith, hope and love—

And the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:7, 13

Dick was raised by a single dad in a two-room house. He never had his own room, slept on a couch and had two dresser drawers to call his own. After school, he walked home, grabbed his fishing pole and a jelly sandwich . . . then, headed to a nearby park where he fished until dark. Returning home, he ate a can of beans or soup with crackers, listened to the radio programs like “Abbott and Costello” or “Dick Tracy” and went to bed with all the lights on, because he was usually alone until midnight. He was one of the fastest kids in his elementary school and excelled in high school baseball, football, and track.

After his education and service in U.S. Army, Dick landed his dream job as a manufacturing engineer with McDonnell Douglas Aerospace and worked on the Mercury and Gemini Space Programs, meeting many of the astronauts. Over his 44-year career, he also worked at Northrop Corporation on the space station, JPL’s Pathfinder Project to Mars, and at Lockheed Martin. He lived in five states, traveled to ten countries, owned four vacation properties and restored way to many classic cards to count!

Dick loved the Lord and really knew how to pray! He served on church boards, school boards, and the Nazarene District Counsel. He loved teaching kindergarteners in Sunday school and leading recreation at a ton of VBSs and summer camps. He coached baseball and track and never missed his sons’ sporting events. Dick was most at home in nature: fishing, hiking, hunting, boating and sitting by a campfire.

Above all, he loved his family unconditionally and it showed. He was a wonderful husband to one wife and a super dad to two sons. He treasured all his grandkids and never missed an opportunity to encourage them and buy them treats.

While Dick lost his memory in his later years, he lived a life that his family and friends will never forget . . . and will always miss being a part of.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOeZRbrLvzw