Dustin Thomas Volz

Dustin was born on July 8, 1974 in St. Louis, Missouri. His parents were Linda Kathleen Gavigan-Mayes (deceased) and Thomas Volz. He had one sister, Marilyn Michelle (Shelly) Volz-Hazel; one half-sister, Kayla Maria Volz and two half-brothers; Brandon Volz and Ryan Murphy. He grew up in St. Louis among family, extended family, and friends. As a boy, Dustin loved Little People toys and he dreamed of being a railroad conductor. He loved dogs, cats, little kids, swimming, and ice cream, especially the ice cream malts that his Nonnie would treat him to. Dustin had an independent streak and chose emancipated status as a teenager. Over the next ten years, Dustin spent much of his time traveling across the country as an "unticketed passenger" on the nation's finest railroads.

Dustin received his degree in Culinary Arts from Forest Park Community College in St. Louis, Missouri, as well a degree in Linguistics from the University of Maryland (Europe), where he studied German.

Dustin met his wife Rizalia in St Louis in 1998. They were married on July 8, Dustin's birthday, in 2005 in St Louis. On April 15, 2008, Dustin and Riz's daughter Ramona (Moni) was born. Moni was the apple of her Papa's eye. Whether snoozing together in a hammock, planting and tending their garden, or sharing a malt, they enjoyed a perfect father-daughter bond.

Before joining the Army in 2009, Dustin worked as a carpenter, specializing in Victorian home restoration. His years in the Army included an influential time in Germany and a tour in Afghanistan. His final Army assignment was as a Cryptic Linguist at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California. Among his numerous awards were two Army Commendation Medals, a NATO Medal, and the National Defense Service Ribbon. Additionally, Dustin received the German Armed Forces Badge of Marksmanship, a prestigious award of which he was very proud.

As an adult, Dustin enjoyed writing, especially beat poetry. He was a novice banjo player and a chef extraordinaire who made his Moni the very best special potatoes. Dustin was quirky, fun-loving, patient, and kind-hearted to a fault.

He is survived by his wife, Rizalia, his daughter, Ramona, his father, Thomas Volz, his grandfather, Robert Volz, his sister, Marilyn Michelle Shelly Volz-Hazel and the beloved family pup, Scout.

Dustin's fellow soldiers will honor him at a memorial at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey on Wednesday, March 4th. A memorial service for family and friends will take place at the Paul Mortuary in Pacific Grove at three-thirty in the afternoon on Thursday, March 5th. A celebration of Dustin's life will take place at some time in the near future on the Monterey Peninsula.

To honor Dustin, family and friends are invited to make gifts in his memory to Veterans Against the War in Iraq and Afghanistan.