Doral was introduced to cruel life changes at an early age. An ambulance came for his dad, Prentice Robling, while Doral was five years old. He begged his dad not to go the hospital and die. Prentice promised, "son I will not die." The next time little Doral saw his dad was while standing beside a casket containing his dad.
Doral's mom, Delsa, was a young woman of great Christian faith and love. She taught her little son and two daughters Ruth and Emma ages nine and eleven about faith, love, and eternal life. Delsa would not allow her children to speak negatively about anyone. She would always stop judgmental conversations by interrupting with, "If you can't say something good don't say anything." The "Widow Robling" took her three little ones to the fields and tried to complete the crops. Their property tax money had gone to pay medical bills for Prentice. One day the Sheriff came and placed all of the Robling family belongings in the front yard and auctioned them, including the house and land. The family was left out in the cold with only the clothes they were wearing at the time. A family took pity on them and took them into their home. The house of the charitable family was accidentally consumed by fire. The Robling family was left out in the cold with only the clothes they were wearing at the time. A local lumber company felt compassion for the Widow Robling and her children. Lumber was donated and the citizens of the town built a small house for the unfortunate family. Delsa used her "washboard" to hand scrub neighbor's clothes for about three dollars per week. The house burned during a cold and snowy winter night. The Robling family was left in the cold with only their sleeping clothes on.
Throughout all the hardships and tragedies, Delsa taught her children to love Jesus by loving all of His creation. She assured Doral and his sisters that life was eternal and there would be a better time someday.
Doral loved to sing. He became a singing and preaching evangelist while he was a teenager. His favorite hymn was one entitled "He Lives." I can't remember who wrote it, but I remember it beginning with the words, "I serve a risen savior, He's in the world today. I know that He is living no matter what men say." I can hear Doral singing it to me right now in my memories. Doral became the pastor of a church while he was 18 years old. He could not wait to share the joyful news of Christ Jesus' love and promise of eternal life. Through his pastoral, radio, and television ministries he told millions "the good news."
His passion for the gospel was boundless. He taught me, his son, the same lessons that his mother had taught him. I have never met a more compelling witness. His life and words have always spoken to the depths of my heart about love, the love of Jesus. Dad taught me that my whole reason for being is to receive and return God's love by loving everyone with whom I share my life.
Because of living a loving and happy life, along with taking good physical care, Doral expected to share the turn of the century with me. He told me so. He did not fear the transition from this earthly life. He often said, "Heaven is my home but I'm not homesick." He always had a feeling that there was work left for him to do here. He expected to stick around and do it.
One evening during Doral's fifty sixth year he asked his wife Wilma to call for his friend Luther to bring the ambulance and take him to the hospital. He was feeling some discomfort in his chest. Luther was the local funeral director and ambulance driver. They had conducted hundreds of funerals together and Luther was a trusted friend. Luther put Doral on the ambulance gurney and took him three blocks to the small town hospital where Doral served as volunteer chaplain. As Luther removed the gurney containing Doral from the ambulance, Doral said, "I'm feeling better now, I can walk to the emergency room." Luther had listened to Doral's heart with a stethoscope before departing for the hospital and had not liked what he heard. He said, "Dr. Robling, I'm sure that you are all right but since you are already on the gurney let me wheel you in." Doral consented. Luther pushed him into the emergency room. One of Doral's parishioners and best friends, Dr. Carl Schlageter was on duty in the emergency room. Luther and Dr. Carl lifted him from the gurney and laid him on the emergency room table. Doral immediately looked across the room and smiled a tremendously happy smile. His eyes were beaming. He seemed as though he was seeing a long lost friend. He exclaimed, "Oh Jesus, I love you!" Those were his last words as he took his last breath.
Praise God, he saw Jesus come to get him! He was thrilled to go home with Jesus even though he was not homesick! Luther told Mom about witnessing this event. Since hearing about Dad's experience, my heart has been so filled with a passion for the love of Jesus Christ that frequently I cannot contain it. This is one of those days. That is why I must share this good news with you today. Praise God! He lives, he lives, and we live forever through the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
Daniel Prentice Robling March 16,1999