Posted on 07/21/2006 11:43:13 PM PDT by JennysCool
My father died last Thursday.
I certainly do believe it was his own decision. He had suffered his second heart attack about a month ago. He had cleared the hospital in a few days and was dispatched by the doctors to a care facility to get his strength back. He had fabulous care -- including a Filipino nurse he liked especially, who reminded him of his time in the Navy in the 1950s. To get him on his feet, she would come by on her rounds, saying, "Bill, you gotta eat! You gotta get better! We gotta go downtown!"
Even for her, though, that wasn't enough, there at the end. He wouldn't eat a thing. Sent twice back to the hospital for intervenous nutrition and hydration, he would return to the care center still adamant. He would take a few sips from the milkshakes I offered him, carefully fitting the straw between his dentures, but that was all. He was making the effort for me, not for him. I sat long nights in the chair next to his bed, keeping up an endless stream of conversation about the news of the day. He reacted a few times, with a nod or a shake of the head. If I had been Bill O'Reilly, his favorite muckraker, or Sean Hannity, his favorite firebrand, I might have got more of a reaction. But, certainly, not enough to keep him here on the mortal coil.
So, on July 13, 2006, he left us. Same day as Red Buttons. He always loved the "Never got a dinner!" routine Red always broke up the room with during the Dean Martin roasts. He loved Red in "Sayonara." They truly were a pair.
Dad was a joker. His Korean War stories were flat-out funny. He served on the USS Toledo, floating off Korea if needed. Occasionally they were. When the big guns went off, he flinched a bit. He was the ship's weather officer. He was pals with the guys that shot the guns. They didn't warn him.
Dad instructed other officers at the Navy school at Lakehurst, New Jersey, home of the Hindenberg disaster -- some years before, as he would always point out. He wasn't responsible for that one.
He instructed what they used to call "aerographers" in Hawaii and California before being Honorably (or, as he said, "Luckily Honorably") dischargd from the Navy. He joined the Weather Service, married my Mom, and held some pretty distinguished Weather positions in Scottsbluff, Nebraska; Catalina Island, California; Eugene, Oregon; Salt Lake City, Utah, Elko, Nevada, and Seattle, Washington, where he retired as the Official in Charge of the Weather Service at Sea-Tac Airport.
After his retirement, he happily, returned to Nevada, and wrote Keno. Truly a fabulous game, although it doesn't have a TV show yet.
In his last years, (after Mom died, she would never have allowed it) he had a red convertible, drove above the limit, wore a jaunty driver's cap, and just plain doted on my daughter.
When he passed, he left everything to her, all he had, with me as executor.
I know all of you would have loved him. He was a true American. Bright, tough, funny, and non-PC real.
With the Navy's help, his ashes will be scattered off Hawaii, a place he loved so much.
All of us should remember people like Dad, who served and loved this country, with honor, good humor, and fellowship. Accent on the humor.
Thanks for reading. I tried to make him a Freeper, but he never could figure out how to deal with the computer. He played poker on it, though!
Oh, by the way: His parents named him "Bill," not "William" I think they knew he would be "Just Plain Bill" throughout his life. He reveled in that.
His favorite book was H. Allen Smith's bio of John Barrymore, so I'll echo the title: Good Night, Sweet Prince.
Thank you so much for this beautiful tribute to your dad! And thank God for your dad!
Now that's a tribute. God bless you and your family. I know you're sad. He sounds like a wonderful, kind father. He must be, since his son is such a great person.
Thank you so much, Alamo-Girl.
Many thanks, Lady.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam!
So sorry Lin. ((((HUGS)))))
Jenny, I am so sorry about your Dad. He sounded like a truly wonderful man and a great hero. Please accept my sincere condolences and prayers during this time.
Sincerely, RC
What a cool Dad. Thanks for telling his story in such a delightful way.
That's beautiful SmithL! Thanks so much!
Thank you, RushCrush! I always enjoy your posts. FReegards!
Ken, that's a dandy idea, tooling the ashes around, and I'll do it. Many thanks!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.