Arizona Shooting Victim, 76, Protected Wife Amid Hail Of Bullets - LATimes

[WillyT]

Arizona shooting victim, 76, protected wife amid hail of bullets
By Ashley Powers, Los Angeles Times
January 9, 2011, 11:36 a.m.

<snip>

Reporting from Tucson — Dorwan and Mavy Stoddard had known each other as children growing up in the Tucson area. They each moved away, married other people and had children; each of their spouses died. Eventually, they reunited in their hometown and were married nearly 15 years ago. On Saturday, Dorwan, 76, was killed while he and Mavy stood in line to meet U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.

They had planned to go to the grocery-store event to meet Giffords, whom Mavy particularly admired. And then they were going to go to breakfast, said Mike Nowak, the minister of Mountain Avenue Church of Christ, where the Stoddards had volunteered for years.

Mavy said she heard fireworks-like blasts, and the couple dove toward some chairs as Dorwan tried to shield Mavy with his body, Norwalk said. Mavy was struck at least once in each leg.

"She didn't realize she'd been shot," said Jody Nowak, the pastor's wife. "All she felt was his weight on her."

Mavy said Dorwan, who died at the scene, saved her. She got to tell him goodbye, Jody Nowak said.

"That would be something Dorwan would do," Mike Nowak said. "He would have protected her."

<snip>

More: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-arizona-shooting-victims-20110110,0,1429157.story

:cry:

[Little Star]

1. That was heartbreaking. k&r

[stray cat]

2. There were heroic individuals who displayed the beat of humanity

[renate]

3. so incredibly touching

I read the article and he sounds like a truly wonderful man.

It's just impossible to imagine that goodbye. :cry:

[WillyT]

4. Kick !!!

:kick: