Sweet friends and family, it is with the saddest heart that I write today. Will left us to be with the Lord on Friday, May 11th around 3pm. We called an ambulance early Friday morning to take Will to the hospital. There were some acute changes and we thought we would go to the hospital and then Will would be able to come home after they gave him some medication or just did something, anything to help. He was shaking so we thought maybe it was a seizure. The paramedics put Will on a stretcher from the bed and I was able to stand over him and just tell him that I loved him. He looked up with one eye and told me he loved me. That was the last time I heard him speak. He was able to look at me when he was on the gurney entering the ER and squeeze my hand.
I know he is with the Lord now. I had visions before he passed away of him being complete - able to work with the ultimate carpenter Jesus Christ and fly fish in the streams. Now that he is gone the visions are more difficult to hold onto. Death truly is a sting, a terrible loss. I continue to look at the door and expect him to walk though with that huge smile and hold my hand or give me a sweet kiss. It is harder to take one step in front of another when he is not at my side. I just pray for faith and cry. Thank you for continuing to walk through life with us and now death.
We have planned a visitation for Tuesday night at Penwell-Gable Funeral home in Olathe, KS located at on the corner of 143rd and Blackbob. (http://www.penwell-gabel.com/ - obituary is posted here. Click on Olathe) There will be open visitation from 6-7 and at 7 we wanted just to have a time to share and remember Will. The Funeral will be at the same location on Wednesday at 4pm with the burial service to follow.
Will loved the Lord and I just loved him. Its hard to be anything but sad when I know I have lost my best friend. I just long for the day when I can see him again. I know at the same time I will see our Savior. Faith would not be faith if it was in the things seen. I just continue to have faith that the Lord's words are true Jeremiah 229:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
Love to all.
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33 comments:
Aww dear cousin, I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. I will continue to pray for you. My heart goes out to you.
Ruth- the Lindes are praying for you and we love you. We are so sad for your loss. I know God will meet you in your sadness and carry you through.
Ruth, I can't say enough how my heart hurts for you. I will pray for Gods comfort and peace over you and all of your family.
Ruth: I've been thinking about you and your family. This sad time is just a pause in your journey. Keep putting one foot in front of the other. (Uncle Norm's sister)
Ruth,
You don't know me, my husband and I just started attending CBC in Nashville a few months ago, but you and your family have been lifted up in prayer at women's Bible study meetings and home fellowship groups and I just read your blog journal. I can't begin to imagine what you are feeling now, but I thought it might comfort you a tiny bit to know that your story and your tremendous faith has brought incredible glory to the Lord and has been a true inspriration to countless people you'll never even meet. Thank you for your brightly shining light of faith in a world of darkness.
ruth, my family's prayers are with you and yours. i have no words, but my heart aches for you.
Ruth, there are many of us praying for you in Nashville. Your faith and words have truly blessed many.
Ann-Haley (White)Poag
Ruth, I'm so sorry for your loss. I have known Will ever since I attended KSU-Salina with him. He was such a fun guy, always smiling, always full of jokes, and always following the word of God. He has touched so many lives in his time here with us. I dream of the day I get to go fly-fishing with him as he is the one that always inspired me to try it. Now, I am hooked as well as my father. God bless you Ruth, and the entire family, you are in my thoughts and prayers.
"Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His godly ones.” --Psalm 116:15
Ruth, Jason and I were saddened and encouraged to hear about Will's passing. I just cried out to the Lord on Sunday when Byron made the announcement. I will never forget Will. Jason and I had lunch with him one day when he first started dating you; we didn't know who he was at church and we wanted to get to know him. We went to Snappy Tomato Pizza by the church. He was so sweet when he told us that he was dating you. I remember how wise we thought he was in the way that he was courting you. I remember that Jason and I just walked away and smiled because we were so glad that the Lord might provide a wife for him in you. The Lord blessed both of you with His goodness. He is a gracious God and He will always care for His children. We love you and will miss Will. Will is standing in glory beholding the Savior without sin, without pain, and without tears. I envy him. - Kelly Webster
Ruth,
My heart breaks for you and the loss you are experiencing. I will truly lift you up in prayer. There is nothing I can say.
Abby
Ruth, My heart breaks for you. I am so sorry for your loss. You are in my prayers and I will pray for God's peace for you during this time.
Ruth, it is with tears running down my face that I write this. Will, funny, smiling, happy, Will was an inspiration to all those that met him. I was an instructor with him at Jeffco. He always made coming to work fun - my heart hurts to think what the world is missing right now. He recommended me to Mesa and I was hired just after him. We were buddies in Philly on our first airline adventure! I was so happy to be there with him - I felt safe. I am so happy in my heart to know that he met and married you - he deserved nothing less. My prayers are with you, as they have been, through this journey. Will made an impact on so many . . .
Renee
Ruth, I've been reading your blog for a while - ever since your mother gave it to me. Just to let you know, Neil and I are praying for you. I'm so glad that your mom can be with you right now. We're praying especially for Gail too. Neil chatted with your dad last night. We like chatting to him anytime but we want to make sure he doesn't feel alone right now.
Lots of love,
Ingrid (Dhaka)
Ruth, my heart is breaking at what you must be going through. You are continuously in my prayers. I know God will lead you into a place of comfort and shelter. I love you.
My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your families. I meet Will in Nashville, we never flew together because we were both Captains. We exchanged airplanes on occasions and he was always upbeat or had something funny to say. I remember running in to him one day in Chicago, my first officer asked him how he was doing, Wills reply was, "I'm Winning" with a big smile. I only knew him from second hand knowledge, what people told me about him. Everyone always enjoyed flying with him and spoke highly of him. Looking back now I wish I had the opportunity to get to know him better. I am very sorry for your loss. We will pray for both of you.....May God Bless you always.
Captain Robert Ruiz
Mesa Airlines
Nashville CRJ Captain
Our hearts and prayers are with you all.
Ruth- I am so sorry for your loss. I admire your strength and faith as you continue on this difficult journey. You don't know me, although I feel like I know you and Will through updates. I am a friend of Kristen, our kids go to school together. I wanted to tell you that my sister lost her husband in Jan, and that if you wanted to talk to someoneshe would be available. I know that you have a huge support group, but incase you wanted to talk to someone who has suffered a similar loss. My sister has been trying to find a support group with young widows, but has not had much luck. Please let me know if we can help you in any way. Again, I am so sorry about Will.
Ruth, I am sorry for your loss, and in this sad time want to let you know that my thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family. God bless you.
-Heather Dowdy
-Mesa Airlines
Ruth, I had the pleasure of flying with Will in Colorado. He was a great person. He left this world to early. I will prey for him and your family.
The world will miss him.
My name is Holly I work in Mesa Reservations along with several others. We send you our sympathy and our hearts go to you and your family during this time.
Ruth,
i like to think that Will and i were friends. we flew together quite a bit in Nasville and talked about alot of things. About hunting, fishing and the Lord. I remember talking about Josh Harris' book "I Kissed Dating GoodBye" right about the time you two met. I still catch myself saying little "Will-isms" that i picked up from him. I want to say something profound to comfort you but words escape me. My wife and i will continue to pray for you. Stay close to Jesus.
Clay and Jennifer James
Ruth,
Our heart goes out to you as well. You will be in our prayers. We love you and will keep praying for you through these hard times.
mike and amber kever
Ruth, I know it's been a long time since we've seen each other, but my heart truly breaks for you. I've always seen you as a picture of real faith, and it's clear you're still standing strong. He will continue to hold you. I just wanted you to know that my family is praying for you.
Love, Kristie (Isbell) Knox
ruth, it is with tears running down my cheeks that i write just to say my heart is with you. may God do what no one else can do and give you comfort and peace and faith.
anna white
I'm so sorry for your loss. I can't imagine the anguish you must feel - I feel so bad for you. I am newly married too, and only slightly older than Will. When I try and put my mind around that scenerio, all I can do is cry. I never had the pleasue of meeting Will, but I work for the same company he did, that is how I heard about him. I'm so happy to know that he believed in Jesus, and to know he is with him now, is a wonderful thing. You two look so happy in the pictures!
Ruth...I just heard from Becky about Will. No words can ease your pain, but know that your sisters around the world and in TN are praying for strength and endurance for you. You truly are an amazing woman and right now Will is praising you just as it says in Proverbs 31 and you are clothed in strength and dignity...I love you and will be lifting you up in prayer!!
Megan Fuller
Will and I were in the same seniority range, and so never flew together. Every time we swapped aircraft, or met in a jetway or terminal, Will always had a smile on his face and a positive outlook, even when our former employer was doing everything possible to ruin that day. He was a great man, and will be missed. My prayers for all of his friends and family.
"I mourn for those who never knew you." - KsE Everyone should have had a chance to know Will.
Rob Akins
Former Mesa CRJ Captain
Nashville, TN
Dear Ruth,
You don't know me...Will's sister Terri is one of the dearest friends the Lord has ever sent me. She had given me your blog address so I could follow. You both have been in my prayers for the past year. I cannont even express how my heart hurts for you and the rest of the family. I am so sorry for your loss. I am also rejoicing that you and Will had something that so many never have. And Will is now dancing with Jesus. God bless you Ruth.
Denice
Ruthie--We've told you many times what an incredible blessing you have been to Willis and our entire family, and we wanted everyone reading to be aware of how thankful our entire family is for you. You and Will are both one in a billion. Will is constantly in our memories, and you are always in our prayers. Love, Ron and Betsy
Ruth,
Adam and I have been praying for you and Will since his diagnosis. I cannot imagine what a difficult time this must be for you. I feel honored to have met you both last spring in San Francisco. I have heard so much about your incredible faith and spirit. I will continue praying for your strength. I know you will continue to be an example of faith and love with everyone you encounter.
Lynn Ann Veitschegger (Marcelle's nursing school friend)
Ruth,
I don't know you--I just happened upon your story through Heather Bruce's blog. I am lifting you up in prayer--my heart aches for you. As simple as it may sound, please know that you are being prayed for by a sister in Christ.
May the God of all comfort be close to you.
-Glenna Marshall-
Ruth - Mary and I are praying for you and your family. We have shared your story with others at church and at Go Ye Village - they are praying too and wanting updates. I never met Will, but you were courting when your family lived in our Brentwood home when your parents were on furlough. We are also praying for your classmate, Shana, who has been separated from her husband due to an immigration problem when they left the country to repeat their vows with friends and family in South Africa. Now she is there and her husband is home working and looking for a way for them to be reunited.
Charles Anderson
Ruth,
How are you holding up? I want you to know that you two continue to be in our prayers. We'll miss Will. That great smile, happy eyes and his trademark "quick handshake". He was one of our very best.
I hope that you are settling into your new life. If there is anything any of us can do to help out, please let us know.
All my best,
James Durden
Former Mesa Captain
Denver/Chicago
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