Honoring a Faithful Servant, Diane Bailey
![Diane Bailey faithfully served the Church and God’s people as an administrative assistant for more than 41 years. Photo of Diane Bailey](https://www.ucg.org/files/styles/full_grid9_breakpoints_theme_top_hat_narrow_1x/public/image/news/honoring-a-faithful-servant-diane-bailey.jpg?timestamp=1620138891)
Diane worked for the Ambassador Foundation at Ambassador Auditorium in Pasadena, California, from the late 1970s until 1995—when the performing arts events there were discontinued. Diane worked directly for the Auditorium Manager (first Kevin Gardner and then Peter Eddington) as an administrative assistant—doing scheduling, staff payroll, wardrobe, special events, receptions, typing and more.
Peter Eddington recalls wonderful memories of Diane. From the early days of their friendship and working together in Pasadena, Diane was a regular visitor to Peter and Terri’s home, often babysitting their three sons. Everyone loved Diane; her stellar attitude was hard to fault. She set a wonderful example as a virtuous, Christian woman. No one had a bad word to say about her. Mr. Eddington writes: “We will greatly miss Diane and her smiling face at the home office. Her loyal friendship to me and our family for 40 years was so much appreciated. We look forward to seeing her at the resurrection of the Saints!"
Diane had a great sense of humor! Terri Eddington recalled a time when they were working together at the auditorium. Diane was known for drinking a lot of water. So, some of the guys filled the water cooler up with fish. When she went back to get water, she was in for a big surprise! She took it coolly and calmly with a great attitude.
Diane later worked for the United Church of God, an International Association, from 1995 until 2020, as an administrative assistant for the Church president (six of them, most recently Victor Kubik) and for Church legal counsel, Larry Darden.
Victor Kubik, who worked with Diane for more than 10 years, shares the following: “Diane was an unassuming, unpretentious person who professionally handled so much of the president’s office communications. She was a faithful servant; a deeply converted and caring person who befriended many who needed encouragement. We shared many challenging and even humorous moments together that I will miss. Diane had outlived different administrations but never spoke of anyone with harsh, judgmental words. She was a beautiful example of a person who seemed natural in ways so many of us have to work at.”
Larry Darden reflects: “Diane was a hard worker and always promptly carried through on any task that I, or her other ‘boss,’ assigned. I don’t recall that she was ever cross with me or anyone else in all those years. She will be missed.”
Her co-workers and friends will remember Diane as the glue that helped keep the home office running. She nurtured and valued relationships. She was known for being kind and loving, taking an interest in people’s children, asking about their pets (she loved her dog Baxter) or remembering the various health trials others were going through in the midst of her own. She showed her care and concern in the small ways—always keeping the hot sauce stocked in the kitchen area, and making sure we never ran out of coffee and tea. Natasha Teague remembers her dear friend: “She was a sweet woman, always looking out for others and focusing on them rather than herself.”
On Tuesday morning at 6:07 a.m., Dec. 8, Diane Bailey fell asleep until the Resurrection. Her brothers, David and Danny, were by her side when she took her last breath. Diane’s was a life well lived and precious to God and to all who knew and worked with her.