Today is the anniversary of the birth of, what I feel, is one of the greatest men to ever populate this green earth. George W. Stone was born on April 17, 1919, in Byars, Oklahoma, where he lived until he got married in 1937 and moved to Oklahoma City. The third youngest of eight children (five girls and three boys) he now is one of only two still living. He spent his younger years working the farm in Byars where the family lived.
Anyone who knows me very well also knows that my Dad has pretty much been my hero all my life. He also functioned as a mentor over the years, especially in regards to decisions I made in business and all of my working life. He set an example for his family and pretty much expected us to follow that example. He has always been there when one of us faltered along the way, there to pick us up and dust us off and help us get back on the right track. I feel very fortunate to have had the parents that God blessed me with. (Like every other occasion now this is his first birthday without my Mom since it has been less than a year since she passed away at age 92.)
Birthdays are not something that was celebrated in our family. There were four boys in the family and three of us had birthdays fairly close to Christmas. In the early years, especially when Dad was in the ministry or when he was starting out with his work for Farmers Union, there was not always enough money for birthday and Christmas presents. Christmas always won out. As a family this was just an accepted fact and birthdays really were not seen as that important. (My attitude has been pretty much that I did not do anything special to get born. If anything, my Mother should be the one celebrated on my birthday since she did all the work.) Of course, the family attitude towards birthdays did not always sit well with the daughters-in-law that came along later. Each of us four boys had to adjust our attitude as was needed to keep peace in our own houses.
Although today is Pop's actual birthday we chose to celebrate it this past Sunday. Oldest brother, Bill, and his wife Nancy provided the cake and ice cream. My youngest son and his lady, Cathy, along with their five year old daughter, Cadence, went with me to the assisted living center in Purcell where Pop now lives. We were set up to serve the cake and ice cream as soon as the center residents finished their noon meal. There was plenty of cake to go around and everyone enjoyed the treat.
So, Happy 93rd Birthday to one of my favorite people and hope to spend many more over the years.
1 comment:
I'm so pleased to hear that you marked the occasion of your Dad's BD. I think that was definitely a good idea!
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