A SAD FAREWELL

This morning my dad received a call that his brother, Gilbert, had passed away--the brother we flew down to see last month to celebrate his 90th birthday. His health was failing so it did not come as a shock. Although Dad says he’s doing fine, he tends to hide his feelings, but does realize that Gilbert is in a better place. Dad lost his sister, Lois, a year ago, his 92-year-old sister is not in top-notch shape, and Dad was questioning his own mortality not that long ago.

Dad won’t be going back for the funeral, but I’m sure it must be of some comfort to have been able to see his only brother before it was too late. Actually, I’m glad I was able to do the same.

To give you a little glimpse of this man’s life, the following is the poem I wrote for Uncle Gilbert’s 90th birthday.

THE YEAR WAS 1918,
THE BIRTH OF HOWARD COSELL,
AND THE FIRST FEMALE SHERIFF,
DOUBT THAT WENT OVER TOO WELL.

INVENTION OF THE FORTUNE COOKIE,
THE BIRTH OF PAUL HARVEY,
THE RED SOX BEAT THE CUBS,
WASN’T THAT JUST MARVEY.

MISSOURI TO CALIFORNIA,
FROM FARM BOY TO MARINE,
THEN YOU MET ELEANOR,
THE PRETTIEST GIRL YOU’D EVER SEEN.

RETURNED TO MISSOURI,
NOW FOUR KIDS TO RAISE,
STEVE, MARY, JOHN, AND PAUL,
THEM THER’ WERE THE DAYS.

SO HAPPY 90TH BIRTHDAY,
TO MY DAD’S FAVORITE BROTHER,
WHOSE NOT ONLY NUTS ABOUT CARS,
BUT METICULOUS LIKE NO OTHER.

Please keep the family in your prayers, especially Uncle Gilbert’s four children and his wife, Eleanor. They were married for over 63 years.