Yesterday, we observed Scott’s birthday. Today is the anniversary of the birth of his paternal grandfather. My dad would be 91 if he were still with us. Unfortunately we lost him to cancer nearly 20 years ago.
Yesterday you saw Scott at age 1. So here’s dad at about the same age. (I don’t have a date on the photo.) He was born at home near McBain, Michigan. In 1939 he married his High School sweetheart. They were both living in the same small community near Leslie, Michigan.
In 1943 he moved his family (wife, son and daughter) from Lansing to Leslie. (By this time his parents and his in-laws had moved into the town.) The draft was taking married men and even fathers by this time. He had joined the Civil Air Patrol because he wanted to fly. In the fall of 1943 he entered the US Army Air Corp as an aviation cadet. The war ended less than two years later. Because of delays and illness, he had not finished his training and so he never saw combat.
He returned to civilian life in November 1945. I can remember when he returned home. The next year, we moved a couple blocks from the rental where we spent those war years. Dad lived out the rest of his days in that house, which he extensively reworked over the years. I loved the evenings that he spent reading to my sister and me. Later, we were joined by a couple more sisters.
Dad was a painter and interior decorator after High School. He followed that trade for several years, but by the 50s he took a job at the post office. He retired as a rural carrier.
He understood what it meant to be in need. He was known for painting the homes of widows in need at no cost to them. Yes he was a good example.
Grandpa was an awesome man. I don't remember ever hearing a negative word from him.
Many of my fondest childhood memories involve him: doing puzzles together, laying on the floor in the den reading his "funnies" from the bookshelf while he typed away at the computer, working in the gardens with him, grilling chicken in the back yard…
I miss him so much and think of him often. Thanks for the pictures and the happy thoughts for his birthday.
Shark, I'm sure it's a bit different for all of us, but I miss my dad too.
Pricilla, It's not a pretty way to go. We lost mom to Alzheimer's and that very difficult.
Lin, I thought he was a great guy and still do. Even his sisters say I look a lot like him. That makes me feel good!
Your dad sounded like a great guy, Chuck. And you look so much like him!
Nice memories that you have of your dad, I'm glad that you share them with us.
What a wonderful man.
goat hugs.
I lost both of my parents to cancer.
Horray for good dads! My dad was just the right age that he missed both world wars. He's been gone since 1976. I miss him. I was a daddy's girl, of course.