ELK GARDEN, W.Va. (WV News) — “A follower of Christ who carried the joy of the Lord with a beautiful smile” was how Elk Garden residents described late pastor Rev. Don Marple.
A community pastor while he served at the Assembly of God Church, Marple was known for sharing the love of Christ with everyone regardless of their denomination or church affiliation.
With his passing in 2021, it was decided to dedicate the “passageway” near the church as Rev. Don Marple Lane.
Calling it a passageway, Mayor Marian Droppleman noted that Brother Don, as everyone called him, deserved more than just an alley.
Friends and family gathered recently to celebrate a life well lived as they shared memories in preparation for the display of the signs in his memory.
“The best way we can honor him is to live a life for you (God),” said Assembly of God pastor Greg Moreland as he lead everyone in prayer.
“Everyone here can agree with me that Brother Don was sure a blessing to this community,” said Droppleman, who attended his church and was saved under his ministry.
She noted how even after he retired, he still ministered, recalling how she would see him in Walmart and how he would ask how thing were and would gently take her hands in his.
His daughters Joyce McIntyre and Vickie Szabo agreed, saying, “Walmart was Dad’s mission field. He always found someone to minister to.”
They spoke of how they would go to another part of the store to pick up something and when they returned he would still be there ministering and praying.
“No matter where you saw him, he always had the word for the Lord,” said Droppleman. “It really was a blessing to have known him.”
Sharing how Marple would teach on the fruits of the spirit, Marple noted, “That’s what God expects for us.”
She spoke of the virtues Marple would want everyone to think about, including what’s honest, sincere, just, pure and praiseworthy.
Droppleman shared that John 3:16 was one of his favorite scriptures as those gathered recited it aloud.
Marple started his ministry at Elk Garden before pastoring at Central Assembly in Cumberland and then in Connecticut before returning to his home church.
His daughters shared how he was asked to speak at the Elk Garden Baccalaureate Service and then found out there was an opening at the church and he was asked to return to the pulpit.
“Daddy prayed about everything,” they said. “He loved this town with all his heart.”
“This town loved him,” said Droppleman.
Harold “Bucky” Dayton shared his story of how he came to Christ through Marple’s ministry.
He said the Marple family prayed for him until 1985 and they still do. He didn’t want to go when they asked him to go to church one Sunday evening when Marple was having revival, saying he would go “next week.”
“I’m on the floor, nothing more important than watching the Redskins game. I started getting a pain in my chest almost instantly. I thought I’m going to have a heart attack; I don’t want to be here by myself and die all alone without really knowing the Lord. I think it’s the fastest I ever got ready in my life,” he said.
“I was about 10 rows back when Uncle Don said, ‘If you want to give your heart to the Lord let him know right now’ and I did that night,” he added.
“We have a good pastor now, he will do the same thing that Brother Don did,” he concluded.
Keith Moreland shared John 3:17, adding that Brother Don would often call on him, “For God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Christ his son, he can save you.”
“When you close them for the last time, there’s no time to pack the bags after that, you’ve got to have the bags packed for your destination then and one or two places we are going to spend eternity. Hell is too hot for anybody to go to hell,” he added.
Pastor Moreland recalled Brother Don telling him when they first met, “Do what the Holy Spirit tells you to do every time and you can’t go wrong.”
“When I prayed the Holy Spirit had already showed me that you were going to ask me to pray,” he said. “I don’t know the contents of your heart, but Brother Don would be truly honored to know that any lives that he touched, that he will see you again in heaven.
“You want to honor Brother Don, get plugged in somewhere and work for the kingdom of God. Live your life for something bigger than ourselves. We need to reach people and show the love of Christ,” he added.
“It’s about being followers of Christ. If we could get everybody to get a heart for Christ we wouldn’t have room in these churches, we’d fill these churches up over and over,” Moreland said.
“There is a reward set aside for each of us in heaven when we finish the race. It may seem like it’s difficult to give up some things. You don’t have to give up anything, just accept Christ’s love and take that first step of faith. After that God deals with individuals it’s about a personal relationship,” he said.
“As Christians we’ve got to stand strong. We have to do what God wants us to do,” added Droppleman. “We have to let the Holy Spirit lead us. He will get you through anything that comes your way.
“We need more people that will be bold enough to stand up for Christ,” she said.
“The big question is, ‘Are you ready?’ If you’re not, it’s very easy to get ready,” she explained that one simply needs to call on the name of the Lord, tell him you have sinned, acknowledge he’s your God and you want to live for him.
Pastor Moreland agreed, calling it, “a conversation with the best friend you will ever make.”
Droppleman closed the service with the benediction in the words that Brother Don would offer, saying, “The Lord hold you in the palm of his hand and keep you safe until we meet again now and forever.”
Those in attendance responded to the closing and shared in singing one of Marple’s favorite songs, “I’m Feeling Mighty Fine.”
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