Today is Father's Day - I miss trying to find something to buy for my Dad. I remember the aftershave, ties, wallets and whatnot I'd come up with. Dad has been gone for 12 Father's Days now - sometimes I just sit and think and the tears come to my eyes. I lost my mother, grandmother (Granny of quilt fame), one uncle, my father and one aunt in the course of about two years (1998-2000).
My dad was born in 1931, in Odd, WV. He did not finish high school, but joined the army in 1947. He served at Fort Knox in Company D, 7th Tank Battalion, 3rd Armored Division.
He left the Army in about 1951, I believe, and moved to Chicago. His brothers and sisters all followed. He married my mom on April 13, 1957. He worked for Teletype Corporation in Skokie for over 35 years. Mom died in 1998 - they were married 41 years. He died December 4, 1999.
Here's a picture he took in one of those photo booths. I think it was the early '70's. Maybe for his FOID card? Or for his Teletype ID.
Photo of Toxey Wallace Bolen taken in the late 1930's or early 1940's. The tooth that is missing was kicked out by a mule, rather than being a photo taken when the primary teeth of childhood is being lost. Inscription on back says "Toxey Wallace Bolen - Odd, WV". Possibly a school picture?
The last one is him at Fort Knox. Note the missing tooth????
Sure, my dad had his faults. No one is perfect. But he was there for us kids, and treated the neighborhood kids like his own. At his funeral, my next door neighbor, Brian and his children cried like I have never seen anyone cry at a funeral. They really loved him. Brian (next door neighbor) reminded me that it was my dad who took him to the ER when he got a bad cut and needed stitches. Brian's dad was not in any condition to drive. I remember when he'd go to Sonny's drive-in and buy ALL the kids a cone. This was the 60's though, and people were true neighbors and watched out for each other.
I miss you.
I Love You, Dad!
My dad was born in 1931, in Odd, WV. He did not finish high school, but joined the army in 1947. He served at Fort Knox in Company D, 7th Tank Battalion, 3rd Armored Division.
He left the Army in about 1951, I believe, and moved to Chicago. His brothers and sisters all followed. He married my mom on April 13, 1957. He worked for Teletype Corporation in Skokie for over 35 years. Mom died in 1998 - they were married 41 years. He died December 4, 1999.
Here's a picture he took in one of those photo booths. I think it was the early '70's. Maybe for his FOID card? Or for his Teletype ID.
Photo of Toxey Wallace Bolen taken in the late 1930's or early 1940's. The tooth that is missing was kicked out by a mule, rather than being a photo taken when the primary teeth of childhood is being lost. Inscription on back says "Toxey Wallace Bolen - Odd, WV". Possibly a school picture?
The last one is him at Fort Knox. Note the missing tooth????
Sure, my dad had his faults. No one is perfect. But he was there for us kids, and treated the neighborhood kids like his own. At his funeral, my next door neighbor, Brian and his children cried like I have never seen anyone cry at a funeral. They really loved him. Brian (next door neighbor) reminded me that it was my dad who took him to the ER when he got a bad cut and needed stitches. Brian's dad was not in any condition to drive. I remember when he'd go to Sonny's drive-in and buy ALL the kids a cone. This was the 60's though, and people were true neighbors and watched out for each other.
I miss you.
I Love You, Dad!
