Remembering....A Daughter's Love

My beloved father passed away on Tuesday.  And while he was 88 years old, it was quite unexpected.  He and we were blessed that he was active and enjoyed life right up until the end. He was often gathered to our table for celebrations and holidays.   

He was a most amazing man, and wonderful father and was loved by many.  He and our mother shared 50 years of marriage, raised four children and he showed what true commitment and love he had for her when he lovingly cared for her through Alzheimer's until her death almost 11 years ago.  He was one of eight children raised on a Virginia farm, a WWII veteran and a true southern gentleman.  He never met a stranger and had a great love of his family, his church, his fellowman and his beloved team the Chicago Cubs.

I will miss him greatly, but I cannot be sorrowful that he did not suffer any sort of long lingering illness.  Oh he had his health issues, but died suddenly at home rather than at the conclusion of a long decline.  Who can possibly regret that?  We were certainly blessed and for years I have spent Sunday afternoons with him discussing events and solving the world's problems.  Early next week our family will gather together and tell stories and laugh and cry remembering him and all he has meant to us and we will toast him with a bottle of "Sweet Walter" wine that he bought several years ago especially for that occasion.  While he often said that growing old was not for sissies....he did so with tremendous grace. Forever and always, I will love this man dearly.  He was greatly loved in this life and I am certain welcomed with great celebration into the next!