Born: December 31, 1911

Died: October 9, 2000

Children: 3 Girls
 

My Daddy and I shared a love for baseball. I have sat and watched many games with him. He was my rock, but he was so sick and now he is at peace with my Mother.

May the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace, and may light perpetual shine upon them."

The following was written by his daughters and read at his Burial Service and reflects the reason
we three girls became the women we are today.

"Daddy's Hands"

There is a country western song that talks about "Daddy's Hands". This song very much relates to R.V. He was a man who always worked with his hands. He made a living for his family with his hands and he made special momentos for his wife and children with his hands. He was a man who always thought he could somehow, if he thought about it long enough, figure out how to fix or make most anything from a bicycle for a grandchild, security bars on doors and windows to cabinetry work. All his life this good man worked with his hands. When he had a project, he "tackeled with his hands, they were always completed, not only with material things, but completed with an abundance of caring and love.

Even after retirement, his greatest pleasure was working in the soil with his hands in his garden bringing back memories of his days as a young man when he cleared pasture land with, as he would say, "an ax and hand saw" and then take that land and farm it to provide not only for his family, but for friends as well.

This man loved the outdoors. If he wasn't working, he was on the banks of a creek fishing and got such pleasure out of this hobby that he even made, again with his hands, his first fishing boat. When time was available, you could find this man either on a lake or creek fishing. He was, in later life, to have other boats, but this was the only one he built. This boat lasted long after he stopped fishing due to his wife Clemys' health.

He was also what his family called "the backbone of the family". Whenever anyone in his family needed anything, he was there for them whether it was his mother, an aunt who needed to be driven to a doctor or to sit at night with a loved one who was sick and in the hospital. His entire family always leaned on him and he made time for all of them even though he might not have felt like helping out, he never said no. He took his responsibility and love of family very seriously. Not only did his family depend on R. V., but so did numerous friends and he was always there for anyone that needed him.

There are many happy times his three girl's recall that was either a little funny or a little on the disciplinary side. Whatever it was he did, he always did his best. He loved them and he loved people and was a friendly, kind and caring person.

R. V. was a quite, good natured man, very fair minded and even tempered. He never raised his voice to his girls. He very calmly said, "don't do that or whatever was needed to be said at the time" or perhaps no words were needed. Just one of his looks and the girls knew what he meant. R. V. has left behind him on this earth many "sweet memories" for his family and friends. Too many to elaborate on.

I know this "Tribute to my Daddy" probably will not be read by many and I will take it down one day when my heart heals. It helps to write it down on paper to heal my broken heart.

Daddy and I were so much alike. It is not our nature to show a lot of affection even though it was there. Less than 2 hours before my Daddy died I said to him, "Daddy, I am here. I am not going to leave you. I love you Daddy." And, with those sweet blue eyes of his, he looked up at me and smiled and said, "I love you too." These were to be my Daddy's last words and I shall treasure them forever. Rest in peace, Daddy.