Community lost a real friend with the passing of Billy Ed

I lost a good friend and the community lost a real champion of a Christian man in the passing of retired minister Rev. Billy Ed Hostettler in a tragic auto accident on Wednesday afternoon.

Let me say, I am a better person for knowing him.

Read about the wreck at the following link http://gcdailyworld.com/story/1560006.ht...

The guy was an icon in this community.

He had a infectious quick wit and his compassion for his fellow man bubbled forth through his wise words.

He was an encourager, an optimist, a leader, and a man who loved God.

Billy Ed was a visionary who had a special spot in his ministry for the ill and the dying. He was happy holding a hand, giving a hug or just a kind word in a time of need.

He was a family man, a husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

It's a safe bet to say that he performed more weddings and preached at more funerals than any other minister around this part of southern Indiana.

He loved Greene County and it's people and ministered to their spiritual needs for more than four decades.

He was there for me and my family to pray for us and encourage us when I had knee surgery six years ago and he always asked me how I was doing every time we had occasion to chat after that.

He's dancing in heaven tonight. RIP Billy Ed.

If anyone wants to share their thoughts on Billy Ed's death, I would appreciate it. I am putting together a story for Friday's edition and I know his family would appreciate your comments.

Just drop me an email.

I'll be writing more about my friend Billy Ed in the next few days. For now, I ask for prayers of comfort for his family and the family of the woman who was in the car that Billy Ed hit on State Road 45. She's fighting a tough battle and needs our prayers.

Nick is the assistant editor for the Greene County Daily World. He can be reached by telephone at 847-4487 or 1-800-947-4487 or by e-mail at schneider.nick@gmail.com or nschneider@gcdailyworld.com. Follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/wordmaster1953.