Dynabeat Tim
05-02-2008, 07:50 AM
My Dad, Richard was born on this day back in 1923. He always talked about how it had snowed on that day. His Grandparents were born in Germany, and they were both large people. They rode in an old Model T and one sat in the front, and one in the back. His father's name was Robert and his Mother was Rose. He was 1 of 15 children.
He had 3 siblings die before age of 3. He had a brother (Bud) who died in France on D-day. He went to school, but only through the 6th grade as he had to go to work. His family was very poor, and sometimes they could only afford to eat Lard sandwiches. He also was in WW II. He served in the Pacific where he was a medic. He never talked much about the war, but did say that once he had to put a man's eye back in the socket, and put tape over it. He recalled being in a fox hole and water was pouring in the color of blood cause so many men had gotten killed. He had an army book that had his picture in it at age 19/20 giving new recruits a shot !! He married my mother, Ruth, and had my brother, Larry, in 1946. I came along 9 years later !!
He decided after the war that he had, had enough of being a medic, and although he could have pursued the medical field he became a carpenter. His work was seasonal, winters were always rough when I was a child. He loved my mother, and I never did hear them argue, even a little bit. He smoked cigarettes and liked black label beer, but never was a drunkard, although I did see him drunk once. He told a lot of jokes and people say my brother and I got our humor from him. He loved country music like Hank Williams and Roy Acuff. He didn't care for my "beatle" hair but accepted it and was proud that I was a musician. He bought me equipment, and loaned me money when I was broke on the road. He was exposed to asbestos, and had emphysema.
He retired at age 51, due to health issues, and had a mini stroke at age 56. He never slept a complete night after that. He stood by me through thick and thin, never really yelled at me when I would make big mistakes, just always told me to do better next time. He allowed me to move back in after my divorce and allowed me to live there when I got custody of my 2 daughters. He loaned me money even though he knew I wouldn't be able to pay it back. When he got sick he always pulled through. Except the last time, he had loss alot of weight and was very thin, and when I visited him in the hospital I knew it wouldn't be long. He was telling his room partner that I was in a musician and was playing in a local band at clubs. I knew he was as proud of me as I was of him.
He never came home from that stay....the doctor said he had multiple things going wrong, plus they found a small spot of cancer. When he passed away the whole family was there. He closed his eyes and did not respond.....then he sat up and said where am I ? We said you're at the hospital.....he said I must've made a wrong turn....the light was so bright.....he closed his eyes again.....and I never heard his voice again ! I knew he was going to heaven...........I had to leave with my young daughters.....(they had been waiting in the waiting room) ...when I got home my brother called to say he was gone.
He was 66. That was in April of 1990....and not a day goes by that I don't think of my father. I named my first son after him, and my second son is named after my grandfather. I try to be as good as a father to my children as he was to me. So far, I don't think I'm quite where I want to be. I know someday I will see him again and hear that voice. I am now older than what he was when he retired, although, I don't feel as old as I thought he was at the time. I loved my Dad, and I wanted to share this with you. Happy birthday Dad !!
He had 3 siblings die before age of 3. He had a brother (Bud) who died in France on D-day. He went to school, but only through the 6th grade as he had to go to work. His family was very poor, and sometimes they could only afford to eat Lard sandwiches. He also was in WW II. He served in the Pacific where he was a medic. He never talked much about the war, but did say that once he had to put a man's eye back in the socket, and put tape over it. He recalled being in a fox hole and water was pouring in the color of blood cause so many men had gotten killed. He had an army book that had his picture in it at age 19/20 giving new recruits a shot !! He married my mother, Ruth, and had my brother, Larry, in 1946. I came along 9 years later !!
He decided after the war that he had, had enough of being a medic, and although he could have pursued the medical field he became a carpenter. His work was seasonal, winters were always rough when I was a child. He loved my mother, and I never did hear them argue, even a little bit. He smoked cigarettes and liked black label beer, but never was a drunkard, although I did see him drunk once. He told a lot of jokes and people say my brother and I got our humor from him. He loved country music like Hank Williams and Roy Acuff. He didn't care for my "beatle" hair but accepted it and was proud that I was a musician. He bought me equipment, and loaned me money when I was broke on the road. He was exposed to asbestos, and had emphysema.
He retired at age 51, due to health issues, and had a mini stroke at age 56. He never slept a complete night after that. He stood by me through thick and thin, never really yelled at me when I would make big mistakes, just always told me to do better next time. He allowed me to move back in after my divorce and allowed me to live there when I got custody of my 2 daughters. He loaned me money even though he knew I wouldn't be able to pay it back. When he got sick he always pulled through. Except the last time, he had loss alot of weight and was very thin, and when I visited him in the hospital I knew it wouldn't be long. He was telling his room partner that I was in a musician and was playing in a local band at clubs. I knew he was as proud of me as I was of him.
He never came home from that stay....the doctor said he had multiple things going wrong, plus they found a small spot of cancer. When he passed away the whole family was there. He closed his eyes and did not respond.....then he sat up and said where am I ? We said you're at the hospital.....he said I must've made a wrong turn....the light was so bright.....he closed his eyes again.....and I never heard his voice again ! I knew he was going to heaven...........I had to leave with my young daughters.....(they had been waiting in the waiting room) ...when I got home my brother called to say he was gone.
He was 66. That was in April of 1990....and not a day goes by that I don't think of my father. I named my first son after him, and my second son is named after my grandfather. I try to be as good as a father to my children as he was to me. So far, I don't think I'm quite where I want to be. I know someday I will see him again and hear that voice. I am now older than what he was when he retired, although, I don't feel as old as I thought he was at the time. I loved my Dad, and I wanted to share this with you. Happy birthday Dad !!