My Grandad (my Mom's dad) passed away on Sunday. He had been battling Alzheimer's for a number of years. He is the last of my grandparents to pass away. I count myself very fortunate to have known all my grandparents and to have had them all involved in our lives. I'm grateful my daughter got to know my Grandad and Grandma.
I wasn't what you'd call close to my Grandad but he definitely left an impression on me. When I was young I have to admit, I was scared of him. I could never figure out why either. He had a somewhat gruff voice but was never mean or unkind. I recall when one of my cousins was just a toddler I watched her walk right up to my Grandad and start babbling away at him. My jaw just dropped. I don't recall what I thought was going to happen, but he just said a few kind words to her and smiled and she went on her way.
As I got older I came to realize what I perceived as a slightly scary grandad was just a man of very few words. Think John Wayne in "The Quiet Man" and you've almost got it. The man had FIVE daughters and one bathroom! It's a miracle he didnt decide to give up on talking altogether He didn't say a lot but when he did you listened. What he had to say was always to the point and when a appropriate, humorous.
He hated squirrels. Why? My grandparents had walnut trees in their yard. Those squirrels would pick the walnuts, eat what was in the middle and throw what was left down to the ground where it would litter the driveway, and worse their cars. Pesky beasts.
After the Alzheimer's started to take ahold of his mind, his underlying ornery and cantankerous side I suspected he had all these years, would come through once in awhile. Ah ha! I knew he could be grumpy! I didn't like it. That wasn't my Grandad. It was heart-breaking for me to see and hear about. I can only imagine how his daughters felt. Although who's to say it wasn't that stubbornness that allowed him to carry on as long as he did.
I take great comfort in knowing that his passing was a painless one, with him surrounded by his daughters. I look forward to seeing him, my Grandma (who passed away 3 years ago) and my other grandparents again in a world where disease and death are no more. (Rev. 21:3,4; John 5:28, 29)
Here's what I remember most about him:
He liked gardening, golfing and fishing.
He was a voracious reader, making regular trips to the public library and checking out stacks of novels. He seemed to prefer westerns.
He loved watching football, basketball, golf and just about any other sport on TV. He converted an enclosed porch on the back of my grandparents house into his "room." He would spend his days at home here reading and watching TV.
He enjoyed good...no GREAT BBQ!
He liked hot tea and would have a few cups every day.
He liked Dr. Pepper and lemon drops.
He had five daughters, 11 grandchildren and four great-granchildren.
He was 84.
Naomi and her Great Grandad - May 2007
Naomi with her Great Grandma and Grandad - May 2007
Well said my dove well said...
Posted by: Henry | Tuesday, October 19, 2010 at 12:54 AM