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Rev. Albert Faulk remembered; Community pays respects at packed auditorium
By CAROL BROEDER/Arizona Range News
"Albert spent his whole life practicing for this day, and when the Lord sent his angels to gather him up, he got an express ride, ball in one hand and Bible in the other, to the right side of God's throne," said Sonny and Mary Anne Martinez in a most fitting tribute to Rev. Albert Faulk, who died recently at the age of 93.
"He taught us what love, faith, and understanding are. He was a quiet and unassuming man, but when God's work was needed there he was. We will all miss you, buddy."
And because "everybody has an Albert story," members of the community were invited to share theirs, some of which were told at his memorial service held last Saturday at the Willcox High School Auditorium.
Willcox lost both a local legend and a much-loved preacher when Faulk died on Dec. 29, 2005.
He was born in Del Rio, Tex., on Dec. 26, 1912, to Everett Lawson and Maida (Waddell) Faulk.
He married Geraldine Warnke on Oct. 28, 1938, in Texas.
"I knew that he was really a man of God," said his wife of 67 years. "Once he dedicated his life to God, there was no wavering from it."
The couple had three children -- Philip, Timothy, and Judy, all of whom are Willcox High School graduates.
Faulk was a Southern Baptist preacher who founded churches in this part of Arizona.
"He would start it as a mission, and then stay with the church until they called a pastor," Geri explained.
In March of 1953, Faulk and his family moved from Duncan to Willcox, where he founded the First Southern Baptist Church.
In addition to Willcox and Duncan, he also founded churches in Bowie and Kansas Settlement.
In 1970, Faulk voluntarily gave up his driver's license.
Angry with then Gov. Bruce Babbitt for political reasons, Faulk mailed him his driver's license, vowing never to try to get it back.
After that, Faulk became a familiar sight around town walking down the street, bouncing a ball with one hand and carrying a Bible in the other.
He walked to Northern Cochise Community Hospital three times a day to visit the sick, Geri said.
Even more remarkable is the fact that Faulk would hitchhike to Tucson to visit someone in the hospital there.
He would also hitchhike to Fort Grant to visit prisoners, said his son, Tim, adding that with his trademark red rag and ball, "he wouldn't stand out five minutes before he'd get a ride."
Hitchhiking has its risks, and at times Faulk had experiences that frightened his family.
"Go with God and you'll never go wrong," Faulk said in farewell to a truck driver who had given him a ride out of Tucson.
The man swore at the preacher, and drove off in anger.
"Albert wasn't all the way out of the truck, and could have been killed," said Geri, adding that she wished he had stopped hitchhiking.
But he didn't.
"He had enough faith that he knew God would take care of him," Geri said.
"He loved people and was very concerned about everyone," she added. "He wanted to help people, live as close as Christ did here on Earth, helping the poor and helping the sick."
"He was a wonderful father," said his daughter Judy Bauer. "He was a fun father."
"He worked nights so he could do the Lord's work during the day," Bauer added. "I was always proud of him. All my friends thought a lot of him. I always felt special because of him."
And while Faulk did not seek recognition, he received it from the community when he was named 1990 Willcox Citizen of the Year.
He was lured to the event by being told that his wife was receiving the award "for enduring him so long," said son Philip.
Though not a hospital employee, Faulk was named "Employee of the Month" in November of 1997 at NCCH for his dedication to visiting patients.
"Albert Faulk was unofficially part of NCCH years before he became a nursing home resident," Hospital CEO Chris Cronberg said last week. "His dedication to the facility and his devotion to everyone involved will not soon be forgotten."
Faulk walked to the hospital until physically unable to do so, after which Geri would drive him to NCCH so he could continue his visits.
"In our eyes he was a saint," Philip said. "In his eyes he was a sinner. If he could talk to you today, he would tell you that this life is short, so ready yourself for the next life."
Dan Douglas, director of Westlawn Chapel and Mortuary, said last Saturday that Faulk "probably did more weddings and more burials than anyone in town."
Known all over town for his distinctive head covering, Faulk "would forget his 'Tom Landry' hat and put on his cowboy boots and a Stetson," for a funeral on a ranch, he said.
"He brought healing to this community, and he brought joy to this community," Douglas said. "I don't think anyone will ever forget Albert."
"He taught us what love, faith, and understanding are. He was a quiet and unassuming man, but when God's work was needed there he was. We will all miss you, buddy."
And because "everybody has an Albert story," members of the community were invited to share theirs, some of which were told at his memorial service held last Saturday at the Willcox High School Auditorium.
Willcox lost both a local legend and a much-loved preacher when Faulk died on Dec. 29, 2005.
He was born in Del Rio, Tex., on Dec. 26, 1912, to Everett Lawson and Maida (Waddell) Faulk.
He married Geraldine Warnke on Oct. 28, 1938, in Texas.
"I knew that he was really a man of God," said his wife of 67 years. "Once he dedicated his life to God, there was no wavering from it."
The couple had three children -- Philip, Timothy, and Judy, all of whom are Willcox High School graduates.
Faulk was a Southern Baptist preacher who founded churches in this part of Arizona.
"He would start it as a mission, and then stay with the church until they called a pastor," Geri explained.
In March of 1953, Faulk and his family moved from Duncan to Willcox, where he founded the First Southern Baptist Church.
In addition to Willcox and Duncan, he also founded churches in Bowie and Kansas Settlement.
In 1970, Faulk voluntarily gave up his driver's license.
Angry with then Gov. Bruce Babbitt for political reasons, Faulk mailed him his driver's license, vowing never to try to get it back.
After that, Faulk became a familiar sight around town walking down the street, bouncing a ball with one hand and carrying a Bible in the other.
He walked to Northern Cochise Community Hospital three times a day to visit the sick, Geri said.
Even more remarkable is the fact that Faulk would hitchhike to Tucson to visit someone in the hospital there.
He would also hitchhike to Fort Grant to visit prisoners, said his son, Tim, adding that with his trademark red rag and ball, "he wouldn't stand out five minutes before he'd get a ride."
Hitchhiking has its risks, and at times Faulk had experiences that frightened his family.
"Go with God and you'll never go wrong," Faulk said in farewell to a truck driver who had given him a ride out of Tucson.
The man swore at the preacher, and drove off in anger.
"Albert wasn't all the way out of the truck, and could have been killed," said Geri, adding that she wished he had stopped hitchhiking.
But he didn't.
"He had enough faith that he knew God would take care of him," Geri said.
"He loved people and was very concerned about everyone," she added. "He wanted to help people, live as close as Christ did here on Earth, helping the poor and helping the sick."
"He was a wonderful father," said his daughter Judy Bauer. "He was a fun father."
"He worked nights so he could do the Lord's work during the day," Bauer added. "I was always proud of him. All my friends thought a lot of him. I always felt special because of him."
And while Faulk did not seek recognition, he received it from the community when he was named 1990 Willcox Citizen of the Year.
He was lured to the event by being told that his wife was receiving the award "for enduring him so long," said son Philip.
Though not a hospital employee, Faulk was named "Employee of the Month" in November of 1997 at NCCH for his dedication to visiting patients.
"Albert Faulk was unofficially part of NCCH years before he became a nursing home resident," Hospital CEO Chris Cronberg said last week. "His dedication to the facility and his devotion to everyone involved will not soon be forgotten."
Faulk walked to the hospital until physically unable to do so, after which Geri would drive him to NCCH so he could continue his visits.
"In our eyes he was a saint," Philip said. "In his eyes he was a sinner. If he could talk to you today, he would tell you that this life is short, so ready yourself for the next life."
Dan Douglas, director of Westlawn Chapel and Mortuary, said last Saturday that Faulk "probably did more weddings and more burials than anyone in town."
Known all over town for his distinctive head covering, Faulk "would forget his 'Tom Landry' hat and put on his cowboy boots and a Stetson," for a funeral on a ranch, he said.
"He brought healing to this community, and he brought joy to this community," Douglas said. "I don't think anyone will ever forget Albert."
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