Grandad would be 124 today!

How can it be my Paternal Grandad would be 124 years old today?

Born February 15, 1887

He lived a life like many Americans of his age.

The oldest of a family of 3 boys and 2 girls. A farm family.

He left home before graduating from HS to see the world. He got as far as both coast, seeing Geronimo on a Ferris wheel in Oklahoma. He was always telling stories of this adventures.

He served in WWI and started writing my Grandmother letters from Camp Gordon Georgia.

We still have the letters they wrote. When he got home, they were married.

He worked on the Nickel Plate RR before going in the service and after he returned until his retirement.

He loved his family more than life...standing in the living room of 1515, looking at the love of his life, my Grandma "Bessie" He would lose her too early, he would see his infant daughter die at 2 months and his dear son die before him. His words he would write in his journals about these events were so touching. His daughter died in 1922, but still on that date in 1957 would make a entry in his diary about his dear sweet daughter. Or finding that when I had won some awards in High School he had cut the article out of the newspaper and pasted in on a piece of cardboard to keep.

Here in the backyard of 1515 this is how I remember my Grandad. Frail in a wheelchair because of his leg being crushed on the RR in his younger years...but then that is how he met my Grandmother who was his nurse in 1914. He may of been weak of body but the voice, mind and heart were so strong.  He lived to be 91 and he remained at 1515 by himself until just a few months before his death, because he had lost his precious son that winter.

The importance of love and family are two of the sure reasons why I bought 1515 for our family. When we are there we feel his spirit. I can see him looking at his tomato plants in the garden, sitting in the dining room on the phone, or at the kitchen table surrounded by his family around a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken.

His lunch box, and RR lantern are waiting for him in his bedroom along with his pipe.

love you Grandad.