Grandpa is gone

[L8 APEX]

I got the call about 11pm tonight from my brother. My grandpa passed away this weekend and the service is on Tuesday in Kansas. I feel bad for not stopping by to say hi on my way back from L Fest:( . At least I stopped and visited with them last year on the way home. I knew then it would likely be the last time I saw him alive. 400 miles apart can do that somtimes. He was 75 as best I remember. He served in the Army from 51-53 I think and left the service to work as an engineer for Santa Fe railroad for 44 years. His passion was his 1014 tree orchard with 5 different varieties of apples, some cherries, and peaches. He had a bad heart and went through 15 surgeries, 3 pace makers, and died on the operating table 6 times in the past 20 years. Recently my grandmother got too weak to take care of him and he got angry with her for it, lack of comprehension I guess. He just wanted to live out his days on his farm. But my mom and her mother decieded to put him in a home and sell the orchard to pay for their care. I knew he wouldn't live long away from his wife of 34 years or his orchard. I was right not that it makes me feel any better. He didn't make it 3 months and now he is gone. I spoke with my grandma for a half hour one day about respecting a man's wishes to live free and the right to die on his own land. Something along the lines of quality over quantity and how old folks die when they are seperated. Well there it is, I wish he could have died in his driveway or orchard with dignity instead of isolated and alone in an elderly institution with no family or belongings by his side...:(

[LS1 Eater]

Sorry to hear about that Terry. My condolences.

[PoorSvtman]

sorry to hear terry.

[David N]

Terry,
Neko and I wish to express our deepest regrets and sympathies to you and your family.

[Silver_2000]

Terry

MY condolences

Doug

[jcblack]

Sorry to hear about your loss.

[L-Fever]

Sorry for your loss.

Steve

[dboat]

Kim and I send our condolensces.. At least he is at peace and can be with the Lord now.

[my2002lightning]

Terry,

Your Grandad is with your Grandmother walking through his orchards with the sunshine on their faces.

Sorry to hear of your loss.:o

Ronald, Elaine and Baby.

[Sixpipes]

Terry,

Sorry to hear the news. This country is losing a generation of people that we will never see the likes of again. Perhaps the greatest generation of people this country has ever seen and your Grandpa was part of that group. My condolences. http://www.f150online.com/forums/images/smilies/angel2.gif

[wesman]

Condolences to you and yours Terry :(

--wes

[Mark #2]

Terry,

Sorry to hear the news. This country is losing a generation of people that we will never see the likes of again. Perhaps the greatest generation of people this country has ever seen and your Grandpa was part of that group. My condolences. http://www.f150online.com/forums/images/smilies/angel2.gif

Terry, sorry for your loss, and Sixpipes I totally agree as I have a relative being buried in Arlington National cemetary this week
Christmas T Parr. Uncle Chris to my wife.

My mother in law had 4 brothers in WW2 and they all made it home. You can't imagine some of the stories that they have told me, but 2 of them have died in the past year. Uncle Ray(that I was closest to) and Uncle Chris.

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/daily_schedule/10-18-05.htm

Terry, I agree with your other comments also.
Mark

[99WhiteBeast]

Sorry about your loss. I agree with your views about quality of life

[REXRENEGADE]

Terry,
We are very sorry for your loss.
C and L

[Moonshine]

I have a relative being buried in Arlington National cemetary this week


Are you going to the funeral?

[Mark #2]

Are you going to the funeral?
No, mom in law and the 2 remaining brothers went today and uncle Chris was flown out of Fort Hood today too.

[02BOLT]

Terry,
I'm sorry to hear of your loss. Our condolences to you and your family. Mary and I will keep you in our thoughts and prayers. Let me know if there's anything we can do.

Rob

[Moonshine]

Not wishing a loss on anyone, but if you ever get a chance to see a funeral at Arlington National, it is an awe-inspiring and humbling experience.

[Nuhklz]

Sorry to hear of your loss. May he rest in peace.

[Ivanhoe_Farms]

Terry,

Sorry to hear the news. This country is losing a generation of people that we will never see the likes of again. Perhaps the greatest generation of people this country has ever seen and your Grandpa was part of that group. My condolences. http://www.f150online.com/forums/images/smilies/angel2.gif

Terry, Dennis is so eloquent, I could not add a thing other than I share his thoughts.

I had the priveledge of spending several days in Arlington Cemetery while I was in DC. It is a solemn place!

[WA 2 FST]

My sincerest condolences, Terry. It sounds like he was a good man...and someone you obviously respected highly. That's a tribute to him, and I know you're proud of him.

[FRDRCING]

Sorry to hear of the loss in your family. I send out my condolences to you and the rest of your Family.

[jeff56]

Terry,

Sorry to hear the news. This country is losing a generation of people that we will never see the likes of again. Perhaps the greatest generation of people this country has ever seen and your Grandpa was part of that group. My condolences. http://www.f150online.com/forums/images/smilies/angel2.gif


I can't agree with that more. Terry, you have my condolences, brother. I'm awfully sorry for your loss.

[Lyfisin]

Sorry to hear of your loss Terry.

[L8 APEX]

Thanks, I am loading up and headed up there in a little while the service isn't until 2pm tomorrow. I am very upset at the way they are handling this issue. In my opinion it is a blatant disrespect for the man period. I am damn sure going to air out my greivances over the matter. I wish I had the money to give him the service any respectable elder deserves:flaming: .

[gbgary]

(moment of silence)
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:(

[Moonshine]

Drive safe. We'll be thinking about you.

[Silver_2000]

Terry

My thoughts are with you ... However - I have to tell you I have seen families torn apart by the kinds of issues you are describing. During these times everyones very emotional and "air out my grievances " may end up in a lasting or permanent rif in the family.

My family went thru that. I understand your need to make your preferences known - I would likely do the same - But just be careful that it doesn't escalate out of control as can happen in sensitive times...

Doug

[Mika]

Terry, I send my condolensces. Sorry to hear that you're having problems with your family. The lack of respect is the worst. Don't be afraid to speak your mind.



Mika

[dboat]

Terry

My thoughts are with you ... However - I have to tell you I have seen families torn apart by the kinds of issues you are describing. During these times everyones very emotional and "air out my grievances " may end up in a lasting or permanent rif in the family.

My family went thru that. I understand your need to make your preferences known - I would likely do the same - But just be careful that it doesn't escalate out of control as can happen in sensitive times...

Doug

Doug, well said.. I couldnt agree with you more.. sometimes its best to set your personal feelings aside.

[L8 APEX]

Well I made it back at 2am Wed. There were consessions made by both sides. He was cremated which most of us say we prefer but when you see it you think a little differently. Fitting a 6'1" man into a fancy box the size of a lunch pail makes for a different ceremony than I am use to. I think they should have a viewing and cremate after that. My beef was that my mother never liked the guy and she was up there infuencing her mother (grandma) to go the cheapest route on everything in this funeral. Grandpa bought their plots 50 years ago so there was already a hole to throw him in. But my mom talked grandma out of a traditional casket and service and just cremate and enture (sp?) the ashes at the gravesite at a much lower cost. The VA is sending a marker for it since he served his country. His family plot showed his older brother's WW2 service markers. Other than the cheap out on the service and cremation all went well. He had a lot of friends and family say good things about him and pay their respects.
Here is a pic of my brother and I
http://www.svtgalleries.net/gallery/data/500/medium/CIMG4797.JPG
Him in the Army.
http://www.svtgalleries.net/gallery/data/500/medium/CIMG4800.JPG

[Shiner1]

Terry,
Very sorry about your loss. Keep your chin up.

[StormShadow]

I'm sorry to hear this bro.

[Tony2000]

sorry to hear that

[dboat]

Terry,
glad to hear that it all turned out ok in the end.

plus,
you havent changed much in your looks in 30 years..
Dana

[L8 APEX]

Well it has been a year already. I thank those who went out of their way so I could stop by and visit the Granparents this year from L Fest. Grandpa died three weeks after last year's L Fest and I was too busy with the convoy to stop by and see him one last time. Oh well, I apologized for that this year. Grandma is still kicking and apreciated my visit. An hour passed before I knew it and it was time to get back on the road. I got to see his stone and Army marker the US govt was nice enough to send. I formed a few new thoughts about grave sites this time around. You spend all that money and there are only a handful of people that will ever visit you. Then after the spouse dies you rarely get a visitor. Not a good return on investment IMO.
http://www.svtgalleries.net/gallery/data/6072/medium/CIMG6731.JPG
http://www.svtgalleries.net/gallery/data/6072/medium/CIMG6727.JPG

[Sixpipes]

Got some good friends here in Denton by the last name of Staggs. Got any geniology information? :cool:

[dboat]

Well it has been a year already. I thank those who went out of their way so I could stop by and visit the Granparents this year from L Fest. Grandpa died three weeks after last year's L Fest and I was too busy with the convoy to stop by and see him one last time. Oh well, I apologized for that this year. Grandma is still kicking and apreciated my visit. An hour passed before I knew it and it was time to get back on the road. I got to see his stone and Army marker the US govt was nice enough to send. I formed a few new thoughts about grave sites this time around. You spend all that money and there are only a handful of people that will ever visit you. Then after the spouse dies you rarely get a visitor. Not a good return on investment IMO.
http://www.svtgalleries.net/gallery/data/6072/medium/CIMG6731.JPG
http://www.svtgalleries.net/gallery/data/6072/medium/CIMG6727.JPG

true on the ROI.. but its the last good thing we can do for our loved ones that shows we cared about them in their life here. I figure its the least we can do.

[Tex Arcana]

Our heartfelt condolences go out to you and your family...

[gbgary]

:(