A Man Named Bobby

When I was a teenager at the age of 14 I met Bobby,  he was if (I am not mistaken of his rank) Chief Petty Officer Johnson.
  I met Chief Petty Officer Johnson when they started Navy Sea Cadets at the old Navy Reserve Center in Owensboro,Ky.The Sea Cadets was like ROTC, but was on our own time and we learned things like what they taught in the Navy.
  Chief Petty Officer Johnson was very likeable by everyone in the Navy Sea Cadets.He was more than a leader he was our friend. When those in the unit needed discipline (which was limited)  he disciplined us,when we were needing encouragement he gave us encouragement.
  When I was 16,several from our unit went to Orlando,Florida for mini boot camp for two weeks ,because of the leadership from Lt.Comdr. Stewart and Chief Petty Officer Johnson we excelled and our unit  graduated with top honors.Chief Petty Officer Johnson made the trip down to see us graduate from boot camp.He was as proud of us as if he was the Lt.Cmdr. himself.
   I used what I had learned from my three years in the Navy Sea Cadets and applied it in life.
It was 24 years later when I met Chief Petty Officer Johnson again ,only now he was Mr.Johnson(not for long).He was still the same,friendly,always encouraging person, but he made one thing clear.He said he was not Mr.Johnson he was Bobby.
  Bobby and I ran across each other from time to time through church functions when the churches we attended held joint services and special singing's or revivals.A year ago I moved my membership from the other
Wesleyan Church in town.The first person who not only welcomed me but became one of my best friends in the church was Bobby.We shared funny stories from my teenage years,to praying for each others physical needs.
  Just a few weeks later Bobby had a major physical problem come upon him that no one knew what caused it.While even when feeling down,Bobby continued to give encouragement to those around him.This past Sunday, Bobby went to be with the Lord.Whatever physical problems he had ,are no longer and I can still hear his wisdom.
  He left behind a loving wife ,who like Bobby would tell you it is not Mrs.Johnson it's Deanie or Aunt Deanie, a daughter Debbie and a son Mark and several grandchildren.I tell you this because he is so proud that his family serve the Lord  today, just as he did all of those years.
    I will miss Bobby, but one thing I know, he would not want to trade his place in Heaven for Earth.