Dad, you were always there when I needed you. I know you are with your loves ones in heaven now, but I’d like to still think a small part of you stayed behind to continue to watch over me and our family. You never complained when it came time to do the tough things in life, you went in first and led from the front to get things done. It didn’t matter if it was 8 hour car trips to Indiana to visit relatives, early morning phone calls from me to pick me up from school when I was faking being sick… I know you knew I was faking, but you never said no, you came and picked me up every time I asked and then we always made it a fun day after I quickly recovered. Fishing, going to the Hobet mine for your work and climbing on the heavy construction equipment, you driving me all over West Virginia to take me to all my friends homes so I could spend the night with them… never once did you tell me no, or complain about doing the things that made me happy.

You were always so supporting of me, even though I left everyone and everything behind when I joined the military and made a career out of it. Those 21 years away, I lost so much time with you, but you never let that affect how much you cared and loved me.

I would never change a thing, even through the tough times and the hardships we faced, those things built character, and you had more character than anyone else I knew in the entire world.

In peace I know you are with your family in heaven, probably playing songs on a Martin Guitar for the angelic choir and Jesus is smiling and singing away at your songs. We’ll see each other again once day Dad, but until then, I will keep living my life like you wanted me to do, and when we meet, I’ll have some crazy stories to match those tall tales you used to tell me.

Love, your Son,
Tommy