Delmar Singleton spent decades trying to make Middle Georgia streets safer for motorcycles -- and Christmas brighter for children.

His friends now hope his untimely death Saturday in a Houston County accident will further the causes he was so passionate about.

The 62-year-old motorcycle enthusiast was headed back to AP’s Hidden Hideaway when he was hit from behind while stopped at the traffic light on Ga. 247 at Davis Drive.

Word of the accident spread quickly back to the Macon bar where he sat every Sunday reading the paper.

AP’s worker Kaylin Gary put up a bunch of pictures of him inside the front door just hours after he was killed.

“I feel like if I died tomorrow, what would the world miss? But somebody like Delmar, that’s different,” Gary said Monday afternoon. “He never judged anyone.”

Singleton was like part of her family.

“It’s devastating. It was devastating to everybody here,” Gary said.

Singleton served as the coordinator for the District 7 of ABATE, American Bikers Active Toward Education.

He was organizing the 13th annual “Love Run” to benefit the Georgia Industrial Children’s Home. Motorcyclists leave at 1 p.m. Saturday from Junior’s Junction in Byron and finish their ride at AP’s.

A $15 donation per person will help purchase gifts for the children.

The event will now double as a tribute to Singleton, whose funeral arrangements are incomplete.

Gary expects five times as many participants this weekend, which could mean over 500 motorcycles thundering between Byron and Macon.

AP’s bartender Sue Lord last saw Singleton at lunch Saturday. She served him a tuna salad with lots of vegetables and his trademark water with lemon. He had given up sweet tea, she said.

Singleton was a fixture at the biker bar. He was expected back Saturday night after attending a benefit barbecue at Bahama Bob’s, Lord said.

“He put everybody else before himself,” said Lord. “He always would put a smile on your face now matter how you felt.”

He recently brought in some Harley-Davidson signs for door prizes or the auction, but he preferred Triumph motorcycles and Cushman scooters.

He was on his new 2012 Triumph when he was killed. A Chevrolet Astro van, driven by 80-year-old James Leroy Edwards of Juliette, pushed the bike more than 360 feet down the highway.

Singleton was thrown off and suffered fatal injuries.

Charges against Edwards are pending the results of blood toxicology testing, said Cpl. Sean Alexander, a fatality investigator for the Houston County Sheriff’s Office.

Singleton’s friend Michael Smith would like to see tougher penalties for hitting a stopped motorcycle. Smith always puts his flashers on when stopped at red lights.

“The only time you don’t have control over a motorcycle is when you’re stopped,” said Smith.

He said Singleton will be missed.

“I have a lot of fond memories of Delmar,” Smith said. “He was a card. He was a character and that was appreciated.”

In March, Singleton retired from his job as a maintenance mechanic for the Macon Housing Authority, where he spent 30 years.

“I can’t say enough good things about him,” said his former boss, Tracy Barlow. “All of the employees were crazy about him. I can tell you that.”

Over the years, Singleton also called upon his motorcycle friends to help Kids Yule Love.

“It’s a shame God took him home because he was sure needed on earth,” said Joe Allen, Kids Yule Love founder. “He was good to help the less fortunate, especially the children.”

For the crew at AP’s Hideaway, they’ll miss the mandatory hugs coming in the door and hearing Singleton say how beautiful the ladies are.

“If something was bothering you, you can always talk to Delmar,” Lord said.

“There won’t never be another like him,” Gary said. “There really won’t.”

To contact writer Liz Fabian, call 744-4303.