The apple of my eye. My dad was an amazing man. A man that was truly blessed by God. I remember sitting on the porch waiting for him to come home from work just so I could go out fishing with him. There wasn't anything that he could not do. He had a brilliant inventive mind. He loved to tinker, especially at family dinners. He would always be looking for something to fix before and after dinner. He loved to bake and would give his goods away. He was proud to be a veteran Navy Seabee, where their motto was "Can Do" and boy could dad do. You'd break it, he'd fix it. The Lord blessed him with many gifts and talents, which he would use to bless others. I have been privileged to share my father with so many. Especially my sister Maria. I always wanted a sister and now my dad would become father to Maria as well. As he was honored to walk her down the aisle at her wedding.
The day that dad passed was not to be a day that I would be with him. God knowing this, had his Dr. call to set an appointment with a bone clinic. Since I would always take him, the Lord gave to me that special last day with my dad. We would go to the Dr.'s have lunch and go to the thrift store. And everywhere we went, he wanted others to know about various free dinners that would be in honor of the veterans. Every year, he and Bob Chandler would make the rounds. Instead, this year the Lord would honor my dad with a military funeral on Veteran's Day. How precious. That evening I would get a call from my mother. Dad was in pain, but it would not last but seconds. I met the ambulance at the hospital and was able to spend his last couple of hours holding his hand. I praise God for what he gave me that day. My father will be greatly missed, but will live on in the memories of so many. In his later years, he would lose a lot of his hearing and his knees were wore right out. He has now been healed from all of his earthly afflictions. Death has been swallowed up in Victory. I will be joining him some day, as my mansion waits for me. To be absent in the body , is to be present with the Lord. I love you, Dad.
Your loving daughter, Connee
