I could not get to Ohio in time for this b/c of a disability.
However If I could be there right now I would.
I would like to thank all of you here for coming to honor my father.
He would be humbled to see all of his friends.
He loved each and every one of you. In one way or another.
Of my father My mother always said that he did not know how to show his love but had so, so much of it.
I would like to give great thanks to his "angle" (And she has been a "God sent to our family) My father always said this of his best friend
Julie Chappell.
And to my Cousin Judy Herman for standing by him and my mother forever.
He loved you both Very much.
I can speak for my mother when I say "He was her Knight in shining armor"
She had always said he was "Her Clark Gable"
For 52 years he loved her like no other and she has told me in the past she could not
of asked for a better man. That he saved her life to make it loving.
Yes, At time yes they fought like crazy. .
He never raised a hand to her. And never would think to do so.
Some fights yes. In 52 years of course. But, at the end of the day they were still in love.
I learned how to love someone and be Loyal From my father (and mother)
Some people have tried to tell me that love does not last and people break
up and life goes on.
I do not understand this when you can look at people like my father and mother.
My mother was the love of his life. She was the last person he saw before his sudden death.
And he would of had it no other way. That is how much he loved her.
From my father I learned "Details" are important. Sometime too important.
Most people do not know b/c he was too humble to let people know But, in the 1950's he was invited to join "the Mensa club."
As his IQ tested at 147
I always knew if I wanted someone that knew something about everything he would.. Be the one to talk to.
He studied almost every subject there is.
He taught me to play chess when I was 6 years old. He taught me a Gaelic pray to say before eating. When I was 5 years old A Pray that I still say to this day before eating.
He worked hard all of his life and made a good home for all of us.
He became a Butcher at about age 18 and could dress out a deer, cow or anything until the day he died.
(some people thought he was dumb. But he was far from it.
At times he was too trusting and kind hearted even to the wrong people.)
When I moved to St. Louis he came to love the city of St. Louis.
But, when he came to see me in New Orleans. He fell in love with the city. Saying "It has gotten into his soul"
I am glad I was able to give him that.
He spent many good days here and had much fun over the years in New Orleans with my mother. When he was in New Orleans with my mother they felt like they were on another Honeymoon. That is how much they loved each other.
He loved the olive garden on Lorain road so much because it use to be a bar. The one my mother was working at when he met her. It was love for him at first sight. He said he knew she was going to be an up coming New Years eve party so he got a friend of him to get him into the party just so he could ask her for another date.
He knew she was his forever one. That is why he wanted to go on a "Honeymoon" with her every year.
Yet, it breaks all of our hearts we were not the last one to see him or him us.
He had to have the sight of my mother in his mind as he left. He would of had it no other way.
I miss him so and always will. I could call him anytime to talk and he would call me just to chat. Talking about history, world news, anything and "Just to say I love you"
He always said if he had to pick a last meal it would have a Twice baked potato in it.
I myself would like to say yet we has your differs and fights.
Just as with my mother we still loved each other at the end of the day.
I could not of asked for a better father.
You gave me life and at times saved my life.
Daddy you asked me not to long ago: "Phoebe how do you make it in life? After everything you have been through?"
I did not know the answer at the time. But, the answer is:
