This is a recent picture of him with our kids just a few weeks before he passed away. My son Connor and I both have his name Thomas in our name.
He had a house you always looked forward to visiting as a child and as an adult. Everyone was always greeted with a smile and some funny wit. After my grandmother passed away he married Vennah who continued to always make everyone feel welcome.
As a child I enjoyed climbing his porch wall which seemed very high at the time. As a father, it was always fun to tell my kids we were going to his house. It was met with cheers like we were going to Disney (I can only assume this because I have never taken my kids to Disney). My kids enjoyed playing in the same creek I did as a child, which ran behind his house. It was a great place for family gatherings with cousins, aunts, and uncles.
At his funeral last weekend it really was a celebration of a great life. He was two months shy of being 99 years old! He had a blessed life and was a blessing to all of us as well.
His son-in-law, Rick, played several hymns on the piano. My nephew Seth played the guitar and sang "In Christ Alone" with his sister Erin. My daughter Lauren had been given his old violin a few years back and it had been a tradition the last couple of years for her to play "Happy Birthday" for him as we celebrated with him.
On this day, she played "Amazing Grace."
Robb
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