In loving Memory of Uncle Ted

I just wanted to give you guys a quick heads up about something that has occurred in my life. My father’s brother has not been doing so well these last two years. I was informed just last week that he had slipped into a coma. This was not exactly unexpected but we had no idea he was doing that poorly. Last night around 23:30 my uncle passed from this world to the next. This Tuesday I will be leaving for the funeral. I’ve written a couple of articles for Epic Slant earlier this week so there will be some postings here while I’m gone. I’m not so certain I’ll feel up to writing anything else this week so please forgive me in the following week if nothing shows up.

I did not know my uncle Ted as well as and adult as I did as a child. When I was little we went to Ohio frequently to see my father’s family. Of all my family he was always the most fun. Much like my father and myself he didn’t believe that when you got older that you had to be less fun. Quite the contrary! He was a young man at heart and to a nephew that is great. He had models, trains and other things a kid would delight in seeing. He was always so kind to me. Unfortunately as we get older school, work and other things get in the way of seeing our loved ones and I did not spend as much time with him anymore.

Before my mother and I came into the picture (me after her) he was my father’s best friend in the world. My uncle Ted was about as good of an older brother as you can ask for. If someone picked on my father Ted would be at his side. When they were getting into trouble (and believe me when I say they have some crazy stories) Ted would share the blame instead of pushing it off on his younger sibling. Most importantly though he was my Dad’s friend and was so without any expectation of payment. He did it out of brotherly love.

Uncle Ted loved to work and did so up until the time when he was too sick to keep at it. He was a mechanical and electrical genius and I mean that honestly. If it was broken he could fix it with electrical tape, a rubber band and a bobby pin. The Army saw this trait in him and he was sent to Germany during Vietnam to repair the radios that returned from the field in less than serviceable condition. It was his way of answering our country’s call and he served honorably.

I appreciate you taking the time to read this little note about a man you’ve never met or heard of. He wasn’t a celebrity and he never made a huge mark on the world. He did on the life of my family though and I’ll always remember that. It was important to me that someone else knew that he lived and was a kind soul. My family and I would be grateful for your thoughts a prayers. I’ll see you all when I return.