Stephen McKinley Dodrill

Stephen McKinley Dodrill was born in Ft. Myers, Florida on March 19, 1991. On October 31, 2009, he was thrown from his ATV, dying immediately. Stephen had just graduated from Bloomington High School North and was planning to attend a technical college for diesel mechanics. Almost any night, he could be found in his or a friend's garage working on something that had an engine, the louder the better. Stephen played basketball for nine years culminating in a junior high school state championship with a home school team in 2006. He traveled to Rwanda to help build a school for Youth For Christ and is well remembered there. He was involved in Young Life in high school. Stephen's legacy was not his trophies; it was his friends. He lived large and was a natural leader. He had a deep booming voice with an infectious smile and laugh. He was a loyal friend and always willing to help when somebody got in trouble. Many nights he would leave in the middle of the night to take someone home who had been drinking or to fix a broken down car. He encouraged one friend who was dabbling in drugs to quit and to get a natural high by having fun with him. He was always out in the woods, hunting with friends, building ATV trails or building large bonfires. He lived more in his 18 years than many do in their 70. Stephen was refreshingly honest. He always told things straight to your face. He was not wordy but when he talked, people listened because he had something to say. He was known for being trustworthy. He made up his own mind about things of importance. About a year ago, Stephen told his father that he could not sit on the fence any longer about the direction of his life. He gave his life to Jesus Christ with the same total commitment that he pursued his other loves. His life changed and those that knew him saw it. He always looked for people he could trust and he trusted Jesus for what he could not see. Stephen loved his family. He spent four days with his Mom last year driving to California. He was always up for a road trip. He loved to wrestle with Jonathan, Olivia, Claire and even Mom. He loved Joshua and helped him on projects. He dearly loved little Claire and she loved him. He would scoop her up with one big hand when he came in the door, much to her delight. He will be sorely missed. He is survived by his parents, David and Cathron Dodrill by brothers Joshua and Jonathan and sisters Olivia and Claire, all of Bloomington, IN, by his grandmother Sally Swift of Jacksonville, FL, and by his grandfather Richard Stephen Swift and Martha Swift of Hendersonville, NC. He is preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Rufus McKinley Dodrill and Violet Dodrill. The visitation will be 5-8p.m., Tuesday, November 3, at the Allen Funeral Home, 4155 S. Old State 37, Bloomington, IN 47401 The memorial service will be held on Wednesday, November 4 at 10 a.m. at Emmanuel Baptist Church, 1503 W. That Road, Bloomington, IN 47403. Pastor Nussbaum of Exodus Church will officiate. Burial will be at Clear Creek Cemetery, next to the school his brothers and sisters attend. Donations may be sent in his name to the work in Rwanda to Youth for Christ International, P.O. Box 4555, Englewood, CO 80155 and to Young Life Greater Bloomington, 4111 W. Broadway Ave., Bloomington, IN 47404. Online condolences may be posted publicly or sent to the family privately via www.allenfuneralhome.org. The Facebook group "Remember Stephen Dodrill" is another place to read about Stephen and see pictures of him that people have posted.

Tributes

Stephen McKinley Dodrill

March 19, 1991 - October 31, 2009