We lost a couple of the good guys...

Pam and I have been on the road quite a bit the last few weeks.  Her sister, Doy, passed away October 4th and her husband, Hank, passed on October 25th.  That was two trips to Georgia, but they were really good people and we really feel an emptiness with their passings.

Hank, (born Francis W. Barks) was a retired LTC in the Air Force.  He was an electronics warfare officer on B-52s and very good at his job.  He was a Vietnam veteran, a dedicated husband and father, and tremendous volunteer in the Lions International organization.  He and his wife dedicated many hours and dollars to the Georgia Lions Camp for the Blind in Waycross, Georgia. After his family and his career in the Air Force, this was his life.

Doy was a mirror image of Hank.  She supported him in the Air Force, was a loving mother and great sister to my wife, and totally dedicated to the Lions Club mission of helping the blind kids of Georgia.

When you hear stories about grandparents spoiling their grand kids rotten, they were probably written about Doy and Hank.  I suspect that if you look up doting in the dictionary you would likely see a picture of the two of them and the story would be one of pride, giving, and love. The four of them are fortunate indeed to have had Doy and Hank in their lives as grand parents, role models, and heroes.  I know they weren't always easy to live with, but nobody is.  But even if you scratch more than a few inches off the top, you'll still find that they loved their kids and grand kids, would do anything for them (even at great personal expense), and could hardly wait to tell people about them and their accomplishments.

Hank and Doy -- Doy and Hank-- however you say it, they will both be missed -- by their family, by their friends, by the kids who benefited from their generosity at the Lions Camp.  I counted Hank as one of my heroes.  I know I will miss him, talking to him about how bad the Reds and Braves are, and about how superior the Army is to the Air Force (does this count as getting in the last word, Hank?).  And I know Pam will miss the weekly/daily phone calls, the cards, the Christmas "Sister" ornaments, and those "sister" talks that I cannot even begin to understand.  She will miss her in a way only sisters can understand.

I am reminded of this old Irish saying,  "Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, a memory no one can steal."

Take care you two -- until we meet again.

While we are mourning the loss of our two friends, angels are rejoicing to meet them behind the veil.

Hooah