Anthony Edward Trout

Anthony Edward Trout made a dramatic entrance into the world on March 18, 1975. He was a more than 10 pound baby and his shoulders were so wide, as his Mom tells the story, it almost cost both of them their lives. Everyone was fine and healthy. They named their youngest son after his Dad, reversing the first and middle names so he would not be a second. Life was not always easy for Tony. He frequently spent time in the hospital from an early age with epilepsy. Yet in every childhood picture, he is smiling. Tony could light up the room with his presence. As a young man, while attending Royal Rangers at church, Tony realized his need for a Savior and accepted Jesus Christ to forgive his sins. Soon after, he was baptized on a day that his family did not know that it was going to happen. He found out that they were having baptisms at the church that day and disappeared. Then suddenly his family was sitting in the congregation watching their young son get baptized. They had not brought extra clothes with them that day, but it didn’t matter. It was about being obedient to his Lord and King. On his first date with his future wife, he told the story with tears rolling down his face of how God healed him from epilepsy in the year or so after he accepted Christ. He remembered being in the backseat of the car and God’s spirit being so strong that he lifted His hands and voice in worship to God. He knew the epilepsy was gone in that very moment. It took a bit more convincing for his parents, who eventually realized that he had in fact been healed. Tony grew up and went through a prodigal season which eventually led him to entering Teen Challenge and finding freedom from alcohol addiction. While in Teen Challenge, John 14:6 became Anthony’s life verse: “Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life.” He would share the story of how God had set him free whenever God led him to do so and loved the song “Prodigal” which says, “I will tell of Your story / I'll carry Your name / I'll live for Your glory Lord / I'll share in Your pain just to love You / For nothing compares to what You've done for me” Tony met his wife in September of 2013. Starting in early October of that year, not a day would go by without talking to each other. On November 7, 2015, Anthony Edward Trout and Melody Joy Miller committed their lives to each other on a beautiful wedding day in Branson, MO. Surrounded by family and friends, including Melody’s remaining grandparents, they started a journey to love and honor and respect each other as they ran the race together hand in hand. Life would take them to North Carolina in 2016 where they lived for 6 years. After moving across the country for Tony’s job in heating and air conditioning, a knee injury forced him to change careers. God led him to go back to school for computers. He studied hard and earned an associate degree in IT and Cyber Security. Eventually he took a remote position with tech support at Dell Technologies. After much prayer, God led Tony and Melody to move to Oklahoma to be closer to their families and the corporate offices for their employers. God’s hand was so clear in every step of the process. They bought a house in Bartlesville, OK and moved into their new home in October of 2022. They shared seven wonderful weeks there together. They dreamed about all the things they would do, people they would see, and places they would go. On the morning of December 12th, Anthony woke Melody with pain and loss of feeling in his leg and pain in his chest. Anthony died later that evening from a previously undiagnosed genetic heart defect. This ending of his story is not what those who loved him would have written. But his family trusts God and knows Anthony is in the presence of his Lord and Savior and they will see him again. Tony loved all things Pittsburgh sports, amazing food especially incredible brisket, travelling the world and across the country with his wife, spending as much time as possible with family and friends, being at the beach or the lake, being as generous as possible with anyone who needed help, and celebrating people on their journey to find freedom. He was a man of prayer. If you knew him, he probably prayed for you. He would remember what was going on in your life the next time you saw or talked to him and would ask you about it. He was full of life, quick to laugh, quick to apologize, quick to forgive, quick to extend grace, and quick to serve. He would frequently thank God for the blessings he had been given, the blessings God was going to give, and the ability to bless others. Preceded in death by: Grandparents Survived by: his wife, Melody Trout of Bartlesville, OK; his parents, Edward Trout of Washington, IL and Kathryn Trout of Washington, IL; his brother and sister-in-law Brad and Diana Trout of Pittsburgh, PA; niece Krista Bergthold and her husband Aaron Berghthold of Eureka, IL; nephew Korey Trout of Washington, IL; nephew Steeler Trout of Washington, IL; great-nephews Benji and Micah Bergthold of Eureka, IL; father-in-law and mother-in-law David and Laura Miller of Jay, OK, sister-in-law Charity Miller of Siloam Springs, AR; along with aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends all over the world. Services will take place in Bartlesville, OK in January 2023. Details forthcoming. All are welcome to come celebrate his amazing life. A non-profit will be established in his name in 2023 to carry out his dream of helping those who complete addiction recovery and desire to continue to walk in freedom. Memorial contributions may be made to the non-profit. Details will be provided soon.

Anthony Edward Trout

March 18, 1975 - December 12, 2022