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“Hear, ye children, the instructions of a father.” Proverbs 4:1

In the year 1957, Walter L. McFarlin was designated Father of the Year by First Baptist Church of Blanco; the only such honor in the church’s 150 year history.

Brother McFarlin would rise with the dawn to arrive at church. On cold winter mornings, he would build a fire in the old wood stove (those where the days of the pot belly stove) so as to have the building warm for Sunday School and church. Also, he would sweep the old wood floor.

During the warm summer days, Brother McFarlin would arrive early on Sunday mornings to open the door and windows, allowing the morning breeze to cool the building.

Most of all, Brother McFarlin served and walked with God. In the admonition of the Lord, he and his wife, Bertha, raised their children: Winnie, Lillian, Melba, Evelyn, Eldon and Ginny. Martha Moore Bates passes on a forwarded rememberance that the happy McFarlin family often walked together while singing. Brother McFarland served as church chorister.

On this Father’s Day, we praise the Lord for the history of Brother McFarlin; for what he meant to the church and to the community. McFalin’s grandson, Larry Moore, inherited the gift of a strong singing voice of praise.