Our Guy

I can’t share my grandpa’s life with you, without telling you the impact that he had on mine. 

He took me to church every chance he could, encouraged me to pursue singing and acting in our church plays. He was best friends with a southern gospel group, that he always invited me to spend time with. He let me help with church deposits, when he was the treasurer, because he knew my love for numbers. He taught me how to fly and kite, and how to drive…although he didn’t have much luck with the stick shift (one of his favorite stories he liked to share about me). He let us help plant, and experience the blessing of the harvest. He brought us to Kings Island with him, whenever he was working, and allowed us make that amusement park our own personal playground. He educated me about business, by giving me access to his. He demonstrated how to serve others, by continually showing up to move my things, when I found myself in a mess . He gave love unconditionally, and forgiveness just as easy. He showed me who Christ was, by being His greatest example.

He was the hardest worker, I’ve ever witnessed. My aunt shared a story with me, of how during a blizzard and a few feet of snow, he drove from house to house working on peoples furnaces. He did this not just because he loved to work, he knew they were counting on him to stay warm. 

He once tried to donate his own eyes, to one of our cousins who was blind. And I know he would have done so, if he could.

He patiently restored a 57 Chevy, piece by piece. Exposing us to the beautiful result of patience.

He loved to play music. He loved to laugh. He even loved to cry. But most of all, he loved to love. 

He was my number one guy. And anyone who had the privilege of calling him family, would tell you the same. He was our guy. The guy, husband, dad, grandpa, and friend that God gave each and everyone of us.