Many people have proposed that we have a Memorial Group to commemorate our DUers who have passed...

[ProdigalJunkMail]

186. Found my first post on this board... about William...

Hello. My name is David and while I am not a member of your board I am taking a moment to post some news about my great grandfather, William who most of you know as Junk.

On Monday, the 10th of March, at approximately 4:00PM, just 14 days shy of his 85th birthday, William suffered a massive stroke. He was found by his wife, Ruth about an hour later. He was taken to a local hospital where he lived for two days then had a heart attack that was his end. He never regained consciousness after the stroke and doctors assured us that he was unaware of what was happening to him. William died at 7:24PM, March 12, 2003.

He is survived by his wife (his and her second marriage) of 11 years, Ruth. He had eleven sons, all of whom are still alive and one daughter who died at the age of four. He had 42 grandchildren and 71 great grandchildren and my sister and her husband gave him his first great great grandchild in November of last year. He is preceded in death by his first wife, Elanor (1918-1989) and daughter Samantha (1942-1946). He lived in amazing times and brought insight and discerment to those of us who would learn from him.

Now a little personal note to those of you with whom he chatted. I am a rather staunch Republican and my great-grandfather was a fairly liberal Democrat. While we disagreed on many many things, he loved this board and so do I. I got him signed on for the first time a few months back and after showing him how to browse your site and post messages (thanks to all the admins for making this such an easily accessible website) he was off and running.

The discussions he had here and the people that he was getting to know gave him a new light that I had not seen in him for a long while. He worked literally to his last moments and enjoyed life, but this place seemed to fire him in a way that little else had in recent years. We had some wonderful discussions based on what he learned of and talked about here. I just want to thank all of you for allowing him a place to come and voice his opinions and listen to those who were like minded. Like I said, he loved this place.

Services will be held on Friday at 1:30PM. I would ask that those of you who are inclined to say a little prayer of remembrance for him, and those who are not inclined, if you just think of him, that would be greatly appreciated. Also, anything written in response to this thread (provided appropriate) will be sent along with him to his resting place; I think he would like that.

I will be checking back tonight and tomorrow. Thank you all for helping to so enrich the last few months of his life.

David

Everybody now bring your family down to the riverside
Look to the east to see where the fat stock hide
Behind four walls of stone the rich man sleeps
It's time we put the flame torch to their keep

Burn down the mission
If we're gonna stay alive
Watch the black smoke fly to heaven
See the red flame light the sky

-Elton John and Bernie Taupin