A Gentle Soul

I attended a rosary recently for a 95 year old man that was carried home when the sweet chariot swung low. It was held at the church where the man had been a founding member 50 years ago. In between each rosary the comforting words of the gospels assured us of the promise of redemption and the hope of heaven.

After the rosary one of the son’s spoke about the man. He spoke of the conversations around the table growing up with the man. Conversations about sports, family matters and the politics of the day. Conversations that encouraged him to have goals and to work hard. An influence that encouraged him to strive to be a good man. A man like his father.

He told of the time when 18 boys showed up to play baseball and didn’t have a coach. He said it was his dad that said he would coach, even though he had never coached before. He went on to say how his dad got a book and learned the game and those boys had a team and a season because his dad said he would coach them.

The man’s son in law spoke next. He read words written by a daughter paying tribute to her father. Heartfelt words that chronicled the life of the man from his birth at the start of WWI to the settling down and raising of a family in a slice of America called Tulsa. In between there was service to his country, his community and his family. A member of the greatest generation, he was remembered as a kind, polite, gentle soul who always said “thank you” and “please.”

The man’s other son was also there. I have the privilege of working with him. His style is to let his life speak more than his words. It occurred to me that was how he paid tribute to his father. A 10th grade friend of the son who was there confirmed this in a few brief moments of conversation. The friend said the man’s son had a “squeaky clean” reputation and was “quite the pitcher” in his day. He now has a son who is also “quite the young pitcher” for the high school team he plays on. It seemed the step of faith into coaching years ago was still bearing fruit. I also think those kitchen table conversations about goals, and hard work and honor bore fruit as well. They are all evident in the character of the departed man’s sons and daughter.

As the service ended I was touched by the deep love this family had for their father. The gentle soul departed but his influence lived on.