Two priests who served in the Diocese of Fort Worth recently died. The Rev. Thomas G. Keithly of Dallas died of Covid 19. The Rev. Canon George E. Luck, also of Dallas, died “surrounded by the love of his wife, Diana, and three children,” according to a Facebook post by his daughter, the Rev. Mary Luck Stanley.
Virginia C. Wilder, executive assistant to Bishop George R. Sumner of Dallas, sent word on July 23 that, “Father Tom Keithly, a retired priest of long association with Incarnation, died this week from COVID-19 at the age of 89. Prior to joining the clergy team at our parish, Father Keithly attended the General Theological Seminary in New York City and served parishes in Branson, Missouri, and the Texas cities Ft. Worth, Brownwood, Paris, and Terrell. Father Keithly was married to Ginny for over sixty years before she passed away earlier this year. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.”
The Rev. Canon George E. Luck died on July 23. He served as the Episcopal chaplain at the University of Texas at Arlington, as assistant rector at St. Alban’s, Arlington; and rector at St. Christopher, Fort Worth.
Here is the obituary published in the Dallas Morning News:
On May 12, 1933, George Edmund Luck Jr. was born in Houston, Texas, to Allene Hakenjos Luck and George Edmund Luck.
Growing up in Fort Worth, he attended Pascal High School, where he played quarterback, and he hit a hole in one when he was fifteen. George loved riding his horse, Polly.
Eventually he fell in love with the girl who lived across the street, Jane Amantha Marti and they were married on Thanksgiving Day, 1954. Feeling a call to become an Episcopal priest, George went to seminary at Philadelphia Divinity School. George and Jane took great joy in raising their son, the Very Reverend George Thomas Luck, their son, David Michael Luck, and their daughter, the Reverend Mary Louise Luck Stanley. George and Jane grieved the deaths of their two infants, Mary Katherine and Diane Louse. In October of 1983, Jane Luck, who was beloved by many, died after a prolonged struggle with Diabetes.
Much to the joy of his children, George met and fell deeply in love with Diana Nelson Fricke. She was a rebel like him, an advocate for social justice and the needs of the vulnerable, and a faithful Episcopalian who would eventually get ordained as a Deacon in the Episcopal Church. They were married on May 30, 1987 and shared a pastoral ministry to many in the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas, and especially to the clergy. George had a loving relationship with Diana’s children, John, Mark, and Steven Fricke, as well as their spouses and children. Both George and Diana treated each other’s children and grandchildren as their own.
George loved The Episcopal Church, was ordained priest in December of 1958, and in the sixty-one years of his priesthood, he served as Vicar of the Church of Our Merciful Savior, Kaufman, Vicar of Holy Trinity Church, Forney, Episcopal Chaplain at the University of Texas, Arlington, Assistant Rector at St. Alban’s Church, Arlington, Vicar and Rector of St. William Laud Church in Pittsburg, Associate Rector at St. John’s Church, Dallas, Rector of St. Christopher’s Church, Fort Worth, Rector of Holy Trinity Church, Rockwall, and Interim Dean and Honorary Canon at St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Dallas. George was a professor at the Anglican School of Theology and the Stanton Center for Ministry for more than forty years, teaching Old Testament, Spiritual Theology, and serving as a spiritual director to many. George loved going to the mountains, traveling, playing the guitar, and singing blue grass music. He enjoyed listening to classical music and reading history and theology.
The Reverend Canon George Luck died in the peace of our Lord on July 23, 2020. He is survived by his wife, the Reverend Canon Diana Luck, the Very Reverend George Thomas Luck and Jane Lewis, David Michael Luck, the Reverend Mary Luck Stanley and the Reverend Mark Stanley, John and Tammy Fricke, Mark and Vicki Fricke, and Steven and Tamara Fricke, as well as George’s beloved grandchildren, Jack Stanley, Hannah Stanley, Kristen Shef, Jessica Klooz, Chelsea Fricke, Brian Fricke, Dani Fricke, Shannon Baxter, Ian Baxter, and Ryan Baxter. His great-grandchildren include Serenity Baxter, Michael Johnson, Kaia Shef, Asher Shef and Delilah Shef.
The Burial Rite will be for family only, and will be streamed live at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, July 27, 2020. To access the live stream, https://www.facebook.com/WeAreResurrectionPeople/
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Matthew’s Cathedral, 5100 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas, 75206 or episcopalcathedral.org.