My Uncle...

[Pathfinder]

My mom just called..... One of my father's two remaining brothers and perhaps, my most favorite uncle, is in the hospital, having been taken there by ambulance. He's not moved, blinked, or responded in any way for some time...

Please pray for him --- this man who fought WWII w/Patton, came home, married and was unfortunately never blessed w/children, although I think he would have made a great dad. He farmed and raised dairy and beef cattle along w/a few pigs. The place was always full of life --- baby animals of all kinds. His eyes always twinkled, especially when he was up to some mischief he knew my aunt wouldn't like. It's hard to think of him, lying in the hospital, staring at the ceiling, totally unresponsive.

I can accept whatever God's will is, but I just don't want to think of his last moments being like this.....

[antonyh]

He will be in my prayers. How are you doing?

[Dash]

:pray: :dove:

Love to you and your family...and peace.

[Daniel]

:pray: :pray: :pray: :pray: :pray: :pray:

:love: :love: :love: :love: :love: :love:

:pray: :pray: :pray: :pray: :pray: :pray:

[kara speltz]

I'm keeping your entire family in my prayer circle. He sounds like a wonderful gentle human being. I know you all must be going through a difficult time. kara

[Jennifer5]

:pray: :pray: :pray: :pray: :pray:

:love: :love: :love: :love: :love: :love: :love:

:pray: :pray: :pray: :pray: :pray:

You always have use here, keep us updated... and your Uncle and your entire family will be in our prayers. :love:

[Zerbie]

Sounds like a lovely gentleman.

Love to your family.

:pray: :love: :pray: :love: :pray:

[Pathfinder]

Thank you for all your prayers. My parents just let me know that my Uncle Whit has gone home to God. He seemed to be at peace.

I can't believe he's gone, that I'll never hear him laugh, that he'll never pick w/me again as he always liked to do.....

I recently typed up an account of his WWII service for the local paper that's putting stories in from WWII vets in their Memorial Day edition and I got to know so much more about this farmer from Stanly County. He was at D-Day, the Battle of the Bulge. He served in North Africa and Sicily before all that. He became part of Patton's great army that set the record for distance and time traveled by an army that stood until the Gulf War of the 90s, when my brother's unit broke it.

My dad told me that he and mom would be going out to the country tomorrow to tell my Uncle Woodrow (in his 90s) and my Aunt Ruby (in her late 80s) about Uncle Whit. My dad's the baby at 81. My Uncle Whit was the most like my dad, similar sense of humor and smiling eyes.

I used to spend several days and sometimes a week at my aunt and uncle's farm, playing w/all the animals. There were so many! I learned how to milk a cow, feed a baby calf that had lost its mother, and adopted a piglet my uncle never slaughtered as a result. My uncle even kept a pony for me to ride when I visited, the only animal he claimed as a "luxury" because it really did not perform any farm tasks. I scared him quite badly one time, at the age of three when I decided to take a ride on one of prize Angus bulls. To this day, (as far as I know), he never told my dad (or for that matter my mom). I managed to stay on the bull, riding him until he got tired of trying to dislodge me. (Don't ask me how. I only know I couldn't do it now.) I remember walking back down the hill from the pasture with him and hearing him trying desperately not to let me hear him chuckling.....but I did, and I'll always remember that chuckle, a melody so sweet, it causes me to smile even tonight.....

I'm praying desperately the funeral will be scheduled for Thursday as I have three exams Wednesday and the death of an uncle, no mater how special, would not be considered an excuse for exemption.....

Again, thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers. I ask now that you will continue to keep our family in your prayers, especially my dad, my Uncle Woodrow and my Aunt Ruby who now are the only surviving siblings of a group of 12.

[u-dog]

If you need to postpone your exams to be at that funeral go and make your case with whatever authorities have the power to give you permission. Anyone as important as that in your life ... YOU NEED TO BE THERE!!!! Don't just tell them he was your uncle. Tell them that he had no children of his own and that he was a second father to you. Tell them the "bull story" and make sure they understand that it is NO "BULL" story! :D

LET THEM SAY "THE NO" don't do it for them.

I am SOOOO sorry for your loss, but it is clear that Uncle Will lived his life fully. He didn't just "die" ... he "completed his mission" and that is such a total blessing. It needs to be celebrated and you need to celebrate it with your family.

If you can't move your school administration then see if you can move your family to make sure the service is on Thursday.

God bless you Pathfinder!!:love:

[Vanessa White]

Hey Pathfinder: Your uncle sounds like such a gentle, loving, God like soul, and I am glad he is at peace, but our loved ones going to God brings loss to us mortals left behind, no matter how strong of a faith that we have. I agree, that you need to do what you need to do, and family comes first, even before the importance of exams. They pale in comparison. Take good care of you, and keep those you love the most close to you. I will be praying for your uncle, for you, for his siblings, and for your entire family. Wrap those memories around you like a comforting blankie....... Peace to you, Vanessa :love: :love: :love: :love: :love: :love: :love: :love: :love: :pray: :pray: :pray: :pray: :pray: :pray:

[Daniel]

If you need to postpone your exams to be at that funeral go and make your case with whatever authorities have the power to give you permission. Anyone as important as that in your life ... YOU NEED TO BE THERE!!!! Don't just tell them he was your uncle. Tell them that he had no children of his own and that he was a second father to you. Tell them the "bull story" and make sure they understand that it is NO "BULL" story! :D

LET THEM SAY "THE NO" don't do it for them.

I agree with Udog. This is great advice.

I lost my own uncle this past fall- he was my godfather. And I miss him.

My heart goes out to you!

Peace.

[Pathfinder]

I have truly been blessed to find such a wonderful group of people...

My uncle's funeral has been scheduled for Thursday so I'll be able to attend as well as my cousin from Ohio. The funeral home had initially scheduled it for tomorrow, but when my aunt learned that my cousin and I would not be able to be there, she asked for Thursday.....

I am so glad I'll be able to be there. It would not have been right not to have been. Again, thank you all so very much...

[Vanessa White]

So glad it worked out that way Pathfinder. I will keep you and your family in my prayers.......:pray: :love:

[tdogg]

Pathfinder,

How blessed to have an uncle so sweet and kind. How wonderful to have been in his life and he to have been in yours. There are always those special people, no matter how related (or not), that touch us in the most special way, deep in our hearts and souls, and we will never forget them.

I pray for you and your family to have comfort and joy in knowing this special person and in your memories. May the times you spent together be what gets you through the next days, weeks, months. May you remember that special chuckle, the smile, all that he taught you, and may it bring a soft joy to your heart and a smile to your eyes. :love: :love: :love:

[Pathfinder]

We laid my uncle to rest Thursday in the cemetery of his church with full military honors. As the last note of "Taps" drifted across the cemetery, four C-130 planes flew low, directly over his graveside. It had not been planned, but somehow, it reminded me of something my uncle would have loved. I was reminded how precious life is, how dear family should be, and just how often we take these things for granted.

Thank you for your prayers. As I spent time with both my immediate family and my extended family, I was reminded of my new-found family at SF and felt a great deal of comfort from all around. God Bless You All!

[tdogg]

Pathfinder,

No words just love:

:love: :love: :love: :love: :love: :love: :love: :love: :love: :love: :love: :love:

[Zerbie]

I was reminded how precious life is, how dear family should be, and just how often we take these things for granted.

Thank you for your prayers. As I spent time with both my immediate family and my extended family, I was reminded of my new-found family at SF and felt a great deal of comfort from all around. God Bless You All!

What a wonderful moment. Thank you for the reminder - how brief and how precious life is!

:love: :pray: