My Granddad

First of all, I'd like to thank those than commented on my last post. They meant a lot to me at a hard time.

Granddad around 19 yrs old. Circa 1944.

My Granddad passed away on Thursday, June 9 around 5:30pm. All of his immediate family was with him. My dad, his brother, sister (who flew in the day before), his two granddaughters, and his wife of 65 years.

Granny & Granddad at a recent Christmas.

Throughout the entire week, a plethora of family and friends flooded his hospital room. Until Tuesday, he was able to recognize people and sometimes could speak to them. He blew me kisses and smiled at me. My parents spent several nights in the hospital, by his bedside. My aunt and uncle stayed with Granny, never leaving her alone. I would stay at my parents house, taking care of animals at night.

My parents took them to the coast recently.

He was a highly respected man; his grandchildren and nephews and nieces all gravitated toward him.  He was married to my Granny for 65 years. He worked hard every day of his life. He was literally a walking miracle - on June 10, 1949 Granddad was in a plane wreck that broke nearly every bone in his body. Two doctors walked away saying he'd never make it. He was pronounced dead three times. He lived. They said he'd never walk again. He did, with a wooden leg. With Granny, he raised three wonderful kids. And he was one of the greatest Granddad's his two granddaughters could have asked for.

With Granddad on my 28th birthday.

He fought so hard for so long to walk and work. Even as old age crept up on him, he never stopped trying. In the end, it was an infection that beat him.

I (and my cousin) was so blessed to have him as a Granddad. He gave me my nickname - Charlie Brown. It breaks my heart to know he's no longer with us. But I know he's in a better place. A place where he has two legs, no holes in his arm (from a gunshot wound), no phantom pains, no ailments whatsoever. But I'm a selfish girl who would still love to have him around.

Live it up, Granddad. You deserve it. ox