Dennis Wayne Ludwig

“Denny” to his family and friends was born in 1949, a Baby-boomer. Family was very important to him and was not bound by blood. His family included in-laws, extended family and many close friends, especially Navy friends.

He was a proud American and veteran. He loved his country and retired from the Navy after 24 years of service as a Chief Hospital Corpsman. His career offered us an opportunity to live and travel up and down the east coast of the U.S. Each duty station was a gift to experience our wonderful country in a way that a short vacation doesn’t provide and to make lifelong friends. After he retired he worked at the Naval Hospital in Jacksonville FL. It was an honor for him to continue to serve.

Denny’s sense of humor was off the wall. He could make a joke or do something outrageous that made everyone laugh and he loved doing that. Nothing was better than waking up the next day after a night out or gathering of some sort and having our cheeks hurt because we’d laughed so hard the day before. Although there were heartaches and sorrows throughout 47 years of marriage, we laughed a lot.

He was a gifted athlete and enjoyed playing baseball, fast pitch and slow pitch softball, football and golf. He had two nicknames from his ball playing days. “The Vacuum” because he swept up everything that came at him at shortstop and “Frog” because when he switched from baseball to slow pitch softball he couldn’t wait for the pitch to drop so he would leap to hit the ball. Many an evening and weekend were spent at softball tournaments building lasting friendships. Denny was on numerous championship teams throughout his ball playing career. After his softball days, golf became his passion. He loved being outside on a beautiful golf course enjoying the day with friends. He wasn’t a star at golf but he was good enough and he always said it was all about the company he was with.

May 8th was a momentous date for Denny. It was his dad’s birthday, his hero. It was the date he retired from the Navy and it was the date he was first diagnosed with cancer. Denny believed in God and prayed often but he questioned and often wanted to know why God loved him. During the journey through his illness and the support and prayers of our family, friends and church family, his spiritual life grew. At the end of his life, he was at peace.

I love you and I will see you again.

Your wife forever, Elaine