Today would have been the 100th birthday for a wonderful man named Grover Edward Swinson. He was my father and he passed away almost 21 years ago…..I still miss him!!
I have the cancelled check that was written to pay the Doctor who brought him into the world…..
Yes, he was paid $25 for the privilege of giving my Dad his first spanking!!!
He met my mother (Lois Frances Langston) in 1938. When I was cleaning out the house I found this stone that my Dad had engraved….
They were married for almost 60 years.
He was a sports nut, especially when kids were involved. He coached Pony League Baseball before I was born and had photos of all of his teams. Many of those boys grew up to be men who were leaders in the area. I think that my Dad helped to push each of them forward.
When I was a kid, there weren’t a lot of opportunities for girls to be involved in sports, but he made sure that I knew how to catch and throw a softball and that I understood all of the rules to Football, Baseball and Basketball!!!Â
He taught me how to drive and I spent many weekends going with him to our farm (30 miles away) just so that I could drive. He laughingly said that he was going to enjoy the time while he could because he knew that I wouldn’t be going with him once I got my driver’s license. I remembered those words and enjoyed that time with my kids as well.
He encouraged me to be involved and active. When I got joined the pep-squad, he was always there in the parents section yelling for the team too. When I played in piano recitals he patiently sat and listened even though he would much rather have been listening to Porter Waggoner and Dolly Parton.
He insisted that we take vacations each summer and, although he said that I slept thru most of the car trips, I still have some wonderful memories of those times….
He ran a gas station on a prominent corner in Abilene, Texas and many of my friends and fellow students would go by and talk to him. Michael has always said that he could be a Crotchity old guy but he made Michael feel comfortable as a part of the family. Michael says that my Dad taught him how to be a good Father-In-Law!!
He was a handy-man deluxe and I spent many, many hours in the garage helping him with his various projects. I think of him every time I need to pry something apart (he had a wonderful lecture on using levers), spackle a hole in the wall, or fix a venetian blind. Most of these projects were performed while listening to the Houston Astro’s on the radio. He used to quiz me about what could happen on the next play and wouldn’t be happy until I worked thru ALL of the possible options.
He loved his farm and especially his cows which were basically just pets……
He loved his Grandkids and was so proud of them. He loved it when they got old enough to start playing baseball and softball. When Brian decided to switch to Soccer, Dad immediately started to watch it on TV and learn the rules to the game. Unfortunately, he never got to see Brian play in person, although he did enjoy a few videos.
His health deteriorated and he was seldom able to play with the kids, but he loved to watch them when they were visiting. He always talked about the day that he told Jenny to “choke up on the bat” and then she went out and hit a home run!!
Jenny continued to play Fastpitch and Dad’s service flag was hung at Warrior field during all of the home games of her Senior Year…..
She said that it felt like he was there too!!Â
He was affectionately known as “Uncle Buddy” to all of my cousins and I remember the fun that we had at the funeral home remembering all of his antics…..Â
…..that is what I am remembering now!!!
