Donald Wayne Tobias

was born December 2, 1924 in Washington, D.C. to Pearl Louise Parker Tobias. He was raised by his loving mother but as great an influence was his grandmother, Laura Tobias, and aunts Jo, Billy and Gertrude. No one met grandmother Tobias without hearing about the Savior; and aunts Jo and Billy were missionaries to China and Africa respectively. They were a driving force on his spiritual life. Don grew up in Arlington and graduated from Washington & Lee High School in 1942. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corp in 1943, achieved the rank of sergeant and served as a crew chief in the 487th Bombardment Group stationed in England. After the end of World War II, Don returned to the Washington, DC area where he worked for the Federal Government, took classes at George Washington University and purchased a home with his mother on Powhatan Street in Arlington. By the age of 21, Don was "sick of hearing his mother talk about the Lord". He agreed to come to church once more if she would promise never to talk to him about it again. As Don told the story, he almost knocked over the altar in his rush to bow before the Lord Jesus and confess his sins. He went home and poured out 21 bottles of liquor and immediately called all of his friends to tell them of his conversion. There was no turning back for Don. None of his children would ever know the Don Tobias that lived before that day. They would grow up knowing the Don Tobias who prayed for the sick, shared the love of Jesus Christ with people everywhere, drove around the beltway looking for hitchhikers with whom he could share the gospel ("...only after getting up to highway speed", he would quip) and marked up and cried over Bibles until they were rendered unreadable. In 1946 he met Phyllis Rothe Croswell who lived with her father across the street. They were married June 20, 1947. Their first child, Diane, was born the next year, followed by Lynn, Craig, Denise, Glenn and Jacque. In 1958 Don started Data, Inc. Computer Services. In 1970 Don became the president for the National Chapter of Full Gospel Business Men's International, a fellowship of Christian businessmen. In 1971 Don began working full time for CBN's 700 Club Regional Office. In 1975 Don and his wife Phyllis began a ministry called Greater Love Ministries dedicated to educating others in Biblical doctrine. They spent several years on local radio stations as well. In 1977 Don was asked to lead a small group in a home church in Reston. This grew into a larger fellowship, New Testament Fellowship that met in Reston & Great Falls. In the 80's Don returned to his entrepreneurial talents and worked in numerous businesses, including a Herbalife Distributor and earning his realtor license along with Phyllis and beginning Tobias Realty. His last business venture in the 90's was the Tobias Company which sold and installed water filtration systems. Don was always known for his lively and fun-loving personality as well as his steadfast stand and belief in God's Word. You could not meet Don and not hear about his love for his Savior, Jesus Christ. Don was a very physically active and strong man well into his late 70's. On a rare trip to the hospital occasioned by a life threatening infection, his wife, Phyllis, told the physician that Don's last trip to a doctor's office was in 1948. That hospital trip was around the year 2001. It was only in the last few years when Parkinson's disease began to take over, that his mobility was affected. In 2011, Don & Phyllis moved into the Dumfries, VA home of his daughter, Jacque, and son-in-law, Doug Dietrichson. He was mentally alert and still sharing Christ with all those he came in contact with right until the very end. Many of Don's family were at his side Wednesday, April 18, 2012 as he was finally able to look directly into the eyes of the Savior he had loved for so long. Don took his last breath in this earthly body at the age of 87. Don is survived by his wife of almost 65 years, Phyllis, five of his six children, (his eldest daughter Diane having died of cancer in 2010), 28 grandchildren, and 6 great grandchildren with 1 more great child on the way. The Tobias family would like to thank Captial Caring Hospice for their services and care of Don for the last 6 months. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not to thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him and he will direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

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Donald Wayne Tobias

December 2, 1925 - April 18, 2012