Just a word of thanks for all the kind cards and messages from my cemetery
friends after my father's sudden death on Sunday. You really are the
sweetest people in the world.
Though not unexpected, his death was quite a surprise but he was relatively
content until the end and death came quickly. He did not suffer and he did
not linger.
He watched a baseball game on Saturday night, got upset because he didn't
like the scoring, went to bed, got up Sunday morning, had breakfast, sat in
his chair on the mini-home's enclosed porch where he spent most of his days
and shortly had an epileptic seizure. (My father had been epileptic since
the Battle of the Bulge, where he was wounded.) He was unable to come out
of the seizure, which apparently triggered a massive heart attack. He died
in a matter of minutes and, because of the seizure, was unaware of any pain.
He was 75 years old and a retired minister of several Clark Co. area
independent Christian churches. Following a brief service at our
203-year-old church in its sanctuary built in 1858, he was buried about Noon
on Wednesday in a military service with a 21-gun-salute in Union Cemetery
near Charlestown where 5 generations of my family are buried.
A good number of our family and friends returned with us to the church for a
sumptious bereavement dinner provided by the ladies of the congregation.
The meal covered a 16-foot-long, 3-foot-wide serving area and gave new
meaning to the term "spread" as there were copious amounts of all manner of
homemade goodies! I joked that we were going to have to HIRE people off the
streets to come in and eat all that food. When I offered the ladies my
thanks, I told those gathered that no one was allowed to leave without at
least one plate of food to carry home.
I especially want to thank my very dear friends Jack and Betty Briles.
Though they did not know many of the people at Tuesday night's visitation or
at today's funeral, they were there throughout. I regret I did not have
much opportunity to sit and talk with them as my brother and I were quite
busy greeting and talking with so many thoughtful visitors, but I want them
to know that their presence was GREATLY appreciated. They truly are special
people.
Because of all your kind and caring messages, I felt all of you were there
with me too and it warms my heart to know so many of you were thinking of us
and carrying us in your prayers.
My father is at rest now. He had been ill since before I was born, but he
has finished the course, run the race and kept the faith.
Again, thank you for your kind thoughts, cards, messages and prayers.
Lois