My Father's Gone, Send A Prayer With Him (Vanity)

self | 10/8/03 | JohnRobertson

[John Robertson]

Born in 1918, he never knew his father, who died in the Great Flu Epidemic of that year. An Army vet of the Pacific theater, he was the sole survivor of a plane that went down in Borneo, and carried shrapnel his whole life. CCC camps in the 30s, outdoorsman, conservative, a hard-drinking man from the time when that description was uttered with some awe, not disparagement. But he quit one day, with his own one-step program: I'm through with that. Born and died in northwestern Pennsylvania, though he did some ranging in his time.

I was asked to deliver his eulogy. Here it is.

[MissAmericanPie]

What a dear man to protect his loved one from the pain of parting by sending Joe home to fetch paper and pens that he knew he would never use. May the angels welcome him home with celebration, may he rest in God's peace, until that glorious day of joy, seeing Jesus take his throne, and the resurrection into a new body that never wears out.

[snippy_about_it]

Thanks for the ping Johnny, I made it here right after you. This is a wonderful post.

[Saundra Duffy]

He was ready.

That says it all. God bless the family.

[patton]

Well done.

[netmilsmom]

>>IF YOUR DAD'S FISHING DAYS WERE ANYTHING LIKE MY FATHER'S, THEY PROBABLY ARE BOTH HOISTING BEERS AGAIN.<<

LOLOLOL! You've got that right! And coming back with the story of that big one that got away.

Thank you FRiend! Sometimes it just takes a few words to have the warmth of ones dad come rushing back.

All blessings on you and yours!

[Peach]

Howlin -

I read that poem at my grandmother's funeral. Prior to that, I read it at her daughter's funeral (my aunt).

[John Robertson]

"I hope you think of that, and think of the people who welcomed him "Home"."

Very helpful and touching. Thank you!

[John Robertson]

sending a cup of coffee too :-)

Thanks for the joe!

And the kind thoughts.

[John Robertson]

Dear Miss:

Beautiful thoughts, and thank you for them.

[Wait4Truth]

Prayers to your dad, John. And to you. God bless.

[Okies love Dubya 2]

Thanks for posting this--you have brought forth a lot of good memories of your dad and have solicited a lot of good memories of other FReepers' fathers.

My brothers and I were devestated by the unexpected death of our dad by drowning back in 1989. I was 16, my brothers were 13 and 7. He died on his 38th birthday. Since then we have all graduated high school, one brother has a college degree, and the other is on 90% music scholarship. I have been married since 1995 and have two children, one of which bears my dad's name. When I look at my youngest brother, it is like looking at my father when he was younger. Dad had a great sense of humor, he loved history (the Civil War in particular), karate, his work, his country, and his family. He attended college for one week before dropping out, but he was no slouch. He worked his way up from the bottom to become a top-level manager--he managed malls from Indiana to Miami to Atlanta. He was extremely well-liked by his co-workers and treated everyone who worked for him with the utmost respect, no matter if they worked in his office or if they swept floors. He was a Catholic who always wore his St. Christopher medal around his neck. It's been over 14 years, and we miss him still. His parents have buried both their sons already, but they have the legacy of 5 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren from my dad and his brother to comfort them.

I wish I had my dad still, because I know he would be spoiling his grandkids rotten right now, and they would love being around him. I am hopeful though that I am able to give them a little piece of him through my actions and through sharing memories of him.

RIP, Dad, we will see you again someday.