Edna Willems was a coda to Dad's life. A surprise ending that no one saw coming.
 
Edna and Dad attended the same Christian boarding school as teenagers, but didn't become friends until Mom's last couple of months. After Mom's death in February 2017, they ate together a few times, developing a mutually supportive relationship. Edna had lost her husband of six decades the year before, so they had a lot in common.
 
Dad moved to Arlington, TX in June 2017 to be near Brian, Barb, and Lydia. They knew that he had left a big chunk of his heart in Kansas when Brian got ready to pay Dad's July cell phone bill: He and Edna had talked for 2000 minutes! They eventually decided to marry, but Dad's cancer intervened. 
 
Dad was devastated by Mom's death, lonely, hopeless. Edna gave him a spark that made his last months fun and hopeful. She was with Brian as Dad died, and says she doesn't regret even a minute of their time together. An unexpected exclamation point. Thank you, Edna.