Pastor Dorward and his wife Marge joined the Saint Matthew congregation in April 1995 following his retirement as pastor of St. Michael Lutheran Church in Cherry Hill. He passed away on December 2, 2023 at the age of 94. The following article is a small tribute to his life.
Rozella Bower
Dallas was born in Reading, PA in April 1940. He was a graduate of Muhlenberg College and the Lutheran Seminary at Philadelphia. He was ordained as Minister of Word and Sacrament on May 26, 1953 in Ocean City, NJ. Along the way he met and married Anna Margaret (Marge) and they had five children: sons Thomas, Martin, Gregory and Andy and daughter, Margaret Susan (Peggy Sue). Peggy Sue died as a teenager and Andy died in infancy. After the death of Peggy Sue, Dallas and Marge became leaders in a support group for parents whose children had died, known as Compassionate Friends.
In over 45 years Pastor Dorward served three churches in the NJ Synod. The first was Bethany in Gloucester City. From there he was called to Holy Trinity in Burlington. Two members of our congregation, Brian Sena and Karen Widin, were members of Holy Trinity for many years. I asked them for some memories when Dallas was their pastor. Karen said he had a pivotal role in her life. She remembers his patience and encouragement with her persistent curiosity in confirmation class and asked so many questions. The Dorward’s daughter was her best friend and she recalled going to their house after Christmas Eve services and enjoying many homemade goodies. He guided members in writing Christmas programs and talent shows that were performed by the Sunday school children. She said Pastor Dorward “instilled in me the joy of serving, learning and celebrating a life centered in Jesus Christ.”
Brian Sena remembers Dallas as being an extremely active pastor. At church picnics, he swam in the lake, ran sack races and played wiffle ball. He also dressed in lederhosen and sang bar songs while leading Fastnacht celebrations. He convinced Brian’s mother to send him to Camp Biesler by himself, which gave him the best memories over those six years. He added, “he was more than a pastor. He was the most active member of a thriving congregation.”
Pastor Dorward was called to St. Michael Lutheran Church in Cherry Hill where he maintained his active lifestyle in addition to being a dedicated pastor. A friend who is a member there described him as being a very humble man in many ways. He continued to coach soccer and to enjoy gardening at a friend’s house. Pastor Dorward retired from there in 1994
While being a devoted pastor to the congregations he served, he had three passions: soccer, vegetable gardening and golf. He was a soccer player, coach and, a founder and president of the South Jersey Soccer League. Karen Widin said he coached her brother’s team, which included his sons. Her friends were amazed and amused that the intense soccer coach was also her pastor.
After his retirement and joining Saint Matthew, Dallas continued to be a pastor in other ways: serving numerous churches as a Sunday supply pastor, including Saint Matthew, when the pastor was away, or as a Vice Pastor to several congregations. He led an early Tuesday morning (6:30) men’s Bible study at Saint Matthew for many years. (That has morphed into the Monday morning (11:00) Bible study for men and women!) He also led a Bible study at Cadbury Continuing Care. He was a volunteer at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, leading school groups on tours. The family moved from the house where he gardened and he was lost without his plot of earth. Bill Lawrence had become friendly with him and when Dallas talked to him about it, Bill offered his backyard garden plot where Dallas planted vegetables for several years. Bill recalled, “he was like a kid with a new toy except it was new dirt”! He performed the wedding ceremony for Bill’s daughter Kim and the 50th anniversary marriage vows renewal for Bill’s in-laws, Bud & Dot Koch. Bill described him as “a super great guy”.
Dallas leaves behind his wife of 70 years, his three sons, eight grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren as well as a sister.
May God grant him eternal rest and peace.