"He Was Truly a Man of God"

The family asked me to write my Dad's obituary (I guess somebody thought I was a writer), and I thought I would share it with you:

“He was truly a man of God”. Those words were offered time and again by friends and family members of Richard “Dick” Moore, who passed away September 22, 2009 at the age of 75. Born on April 16, 1934 in Piqua, OH, Dick did not have a traditional childhood. His father died with he was only six. Shortly thereafter he and his brother Ben were sent to live with his grandparents in Celina, OH. At the age of 15 he moved again, this time to live with his uncle and aunt in Kansas City, MO. It was there that he met Ann Edwards, the young lady who would become his best friend and later his wife of 54 years.

Dick came west to attend Pasadena College. Ann followed a year later and they married in 1955. Two became three very quickly when son Rick was born in 1956. Daughter Brenda followed in 1959 and the family of four lived in several Orange County cities.

Dick spent the bulk of his career with State Farm Insurance, working in regional offices in Santa Ana, Westlake Village, and Costa Mesa, handling various supervisory roles. Although his career paid the bills, his joy came from his family, his church, and his music.

His children always came first, from catching fastballs from Rick with a glove inadequate for the task, to teaching daughter Brenda about the mysteries contained in the never-seen “Daddy’s Handbook”.

Son-in-law Scott joined the family in 1980 when he married Brenda, and daughter-in-law Anne married Rick in 1987.

When first grandchild Emily came along in 1988, he developed a new career as a professional grandchild fan and supporter.

He had a special relationship with each of his four grandchildren. From holding little Emily in his arms as they danced to the Big Bands at Disneyland, to teaching his only grandson Eric to play and love the game of golf the way he did (Dick had more than one hole-in-one), to playing “let’s pretend” games with granddaughter Hannah, and taking on real estate tycoon granddaughter Rachel in heated Monopoly battles, each grandchild felt they were special in his eyes.

Through the years there wasn’t a concert, drama, musical, open house, or half-time performance that he missed.

Dick was blessed with a beautiful, smooth bass-baritone voice, and he used that talent to sing solos, sang with his wife Ann in choirs, madrigal groups, Dickens Carolers, and in 1971 co-founded The Watchmen Quartet with whom he ministered for 11 years. He was mentor to his son Rick, who followed his Dad as bass singer with The Watchmen when he retired in 1982.

Church was always a central part of his life, serving not only the music ministry, but Sunday School, church boards, and in his last assignment, helping in the counting room at Saddleback Church. He lived to serve others.

His past was important to him, and he documented many of his favorite memories at his blog, MooreTheBetter.blogspot.com. Please read it to appreciate more about this “man of God”, husband, father and Papa.

He will be deeply missed by everyone who knew and loved him.

In lieu of flowers, we ask that you give a donation to a charity Dick supported which changes the lives of children and the poor in Vietnam.

Giving it Back to Kids, Inc
10112 Stonybrook Dr.
Huntington Beach, CA 92646
(866) 342-4483
www.givingitbacktokids.org