Remembering Ben Salvador

January 29, 2010

This past Sunday, Bill Salvador’s father Ben Salvador (84) passed away suddenly. Mr Salvador was the head elder of the Hollywood Church for more than ten years. Bill Salvador will be sharing today’s Journal.

Although not totally unnexpected, the end came quite rapidly. He had a stroke a year ago that restricted him to his lounge and wheelchair. He had another stroke last Wednesday, and was taken to Arcadia Methodist Hospital, but seemed to be recovering, at least according to my untrained eye.

While driving to the hospital after the work bee at church, for what I thought would be a “routine” visit, I got a call from my brother that my dad had just been transferred to ICU, and that I should come immediately. The rest of the extended family, mostly from Arcadia and Loma Linda, started trickling in over the course of the night.

It seems like “Deja Vu”, since we did this for my mom just a couple years ago. For my mom’s funeral, the church was filled. My parents were both teachers (SDA elementary, high school and college levels, plus Los Angeles Unified School District), and have lots of former students in the area. “Papa” was also head elder of the Hollywood church, so I expect to see quite a few former Hollywood church members. Only a few older, current members are left who were here when my parents were at Hollywood.

I expect a very “typical Filipino-Adventist” funeral service/reception: lot’s of bitter-sweet memories, personal reflections, lots of tears, but also lots of joy, food, laughter and relationship-building/bonding and reaffirmations. It is really more an affirmation of life than a ritual of death.

In times like these, I am reminded again: doctrines do matter. Our SDA beliefs in the State of the Dead, the Resurrection and the Second Coming have actually been internalized, and I am at peace. We DO have this hope…

Bill Salvador

Recent Comments

  • Mireya said...

    1

    Bill, thank you for sharing your beliefs in God. I am deeply touched and also reminded that we belong to a wonderful church family of God. The legacy your mom and dad have left through you is a huge blessing to us all. Their memories live through you and will continue to live through your sons. You and Kirsten are a wonderful testament of how God’s love can hold us through life’s adversity and challenges and turn them into blessing. I see you both as God’s missionaries here in the city and I’m honored to serve along side you. Much love, Mireya Peña

    01/29/10 6:25 PM | Comment Link

  • WAYNE Jones said...

    2

    Bill, your statement about your parents touched me
    deeply. It touched me at my parents level and our
    belief level, and also at my own morality level…
    for i think of Barbara and I functioning quite well
    at our age, and at the same time I think about my own fragil
    hold on life, as evidenced by by stroke just last June.
    And my recent cold/flue episode that seemed to sap
    what energy i have, “out of me”…and still lingers
    as I write this.
    I am not in church today but intend to visit you at
    the Vallejo Drive Church.
    I liked you cheerful ending rejoicing in
    the “blessed hope” we all have in Christ Jesus.
    I throughly rejoice in that hope with you and your
    family today.
    God Bless you all/Wayne

    01/30/10 10:21 AM | Comment Link

  • Steve Guice said...

    3

    Bill – I read with sorrow of your father’s passing, and my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family this weekend. Although I didn’t know him, and had only a few conversations with you when I visited the Hollywood Church, I, too, lost both my parents within a couple of years of each other, and know that this can be a diffcult time for all in the family. I hope that the time will come sooner rather than later when the happy memories of a life shared will outweigh the immediacy of loss and sadness that you now feel.
    Blessing and prayers to you all in your time of loss.
    -Steve

    01/30/10 1:45 PM | Comment Link

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