Grandpa
My Grandpa Zacharias died yesterday morning at the age of 98 - except he wasn't actually my Grandpa Zacharias. Grandpa Zacharias was Mama Judy's father, and Mama Judy and Joe are my alternate parents - my parents' best friends. I grew up a very short walk away from them, went to school with their kids, spent weeks at a time at their house, had chores when I was there (as their kids did at my house, whenever they were around). I fell into the middle of the family group: number 3 of 5. I sided with Z. against the baby sister, and with the baby sister against Z. In most ways, we have been as close as family, and we still think of each other as a family.
One side of grandparents lived in the little cottage attached to the house. We all loved them, but they died almost 20 years ago. Grandma and Grandpa Zacharias lived in Merced. Grandma died more than a decade ago, but Grandpa went on, continuing to be a convivial presence at family gatherings, traveling with grandkids and great-grandkids, until Monday morning. He was 98 years old. We will all miss him very much.
Ken Zacharias, August 14, 1913 - July 18, 2011. Memory eternal.
One side of grandparents lived in the little cottage attached to the house. We all loved them, but they died almost 20 years ago. Grandma and Grandpa Zacharias lived in Merced. Grandma died more than a decade ago, but Grandpa went on, continuing to be a convivial presence at family gatherings, traveling with grandkids and great-grandkids, until Monday morning. He was 98 years old. We will all miss him very much.
Ken Zacharias, August 14, 1913 - July 18, 2011. Memory eternal.