Gone, But Not Forgotten

With the announcement this week of the passing of Arthur (AJ) Winterholter, a flood of nostalgia came rushing in. Artie was a Godly, straight-talking man's man whom I admired. I haven't seen AJ for years and now the opportunity to do so is gone. But, he'll always live on in my fond memories.

When I began my police career in 1985 there were 29 officers at the small department where I worked. All of us have either quit or retired and six of us, including AJ, are dead; gone from this Earth forever. For those of you about my age, you too are probably starting to lose some of the people who have greatly influenced your life. For me, Officers Fred Dutt, Greg Hedrick, Charlie Crago, Bill Hedrick, Chip Olinger, and Arthur Winterholter, as well as later addition, Officer Roger Flynn, and department employees Rick Farthing, Nadine Shumaker, Sandy Diffenbaugh and Marvin Babb, were not just people I knew; they were my friends. They, and many who still survive, were part of the stability of my life. With the loss of each one I feel a little less secure. I feel the inevitable passing of "our time." Eventually all of the 1985 force will be gone and then, soon after, will anyone even remember us?

Arthur is worthy of remembrance. I believe the small town where I worked is a better place because of Officer Arthur J. Winterholter. We need more people like him. Now he is in the presence of God where I believe he's being rewarded for being the good and faithful servant that he was. Good-bye Arthur. You'll be missed.