Clifford Dingle - 3/25/1928 to 5/31/2015
If someone tells you that their step grandfather passed away, you probably wouldn't give it another thought. After all that person wasn't a real relative. I would disagree. On May 30 "Pop" passed away. He was my grandmother's husband and the only man I'd prefer to ever call a grandfather to me. He wasn't perfect, not by a long shot, but he was a good Christ-loving man who had a big heart.Clifford married my MeMa when I was very little and moved in to her home which was my second-home as a youngster. As the first grand child, I spent many nights at MeMa's home. Her phone number was the first that I memorized, something that is practically forgotten in today's cyber age of mobile phones.
One day I might write about Clifford's misgivings, but not today. The family was always torn over Clifford. But he did his best by Mema and was known for his love of woodworking. When I was in college he built me a solid oak desk that was gorgeous. The only problem was that it was nearly immovable and for a young man in his twenties, that posed some major issues.
I'll always associate an old brown truck with Clifford. It was the one he drove the longest, while I was still a kid. Clifford also bought me my first wallet, a silver vinyl Battlestar Galactica wallet that was about 2 sizes too big, but it was my first!
I'm glad Clifford got a chance to meet Liam, and Guy, and his great grand daughter by blood, Brooklyn. The last time I saw him was at our family get-together at Christmas, but I did call him about 6 weeks ago when I found out he had cancer and wished him well. We weren't as close as some of my other cousins, but he knew I cared.
Pop treated me like his own. In fact, he treated me better than either one of my blood relative grand fathers. He may have not been wealthy, but he was a good soul. He was very active in their church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and maybe for that ole St. Pete was waiting for him at the pearly gates earlier this week. I will be a pall bearer at his funeral tomorrow and we will celebrate his life and be there to console my MeMa who loved him dearly. I knew him much differently than others, but he was loved by his congregation, a grandfather to everyone.
Thank you Pop and God rest your soul,
Brandon
One day I might write about Clifford's misgivings, but not today. The family was always torn over Clifford. But he did his best by Mema and was known for his love of woodworking. When I was in college he built me a solid oak desk that was gorgeous. The only problem was that it was nearly immovable and for a young man in his twenties, that posed some major issues.
I'll always associate an old brown truck with Clifford. It was the one he drove the longest, while I was still a kid. Clifford also bought me my first wallet, a silver vinyl Battlestar Galactica wallet that was about 2 sizes too big, but it was my first!
I'm glad Clifford got a chance to meet Liam, and Guy, and his great grand daughter by blood, Brooklyn. The last time I saw him was at our family get-together at Christmas, but I did call him about 6 weeks ago when I found out he had cancer and wished him well. We weren't as close as some of my other cousins, but he knew I cared.
Pop treated me like his own. In fact, he treated me better than either one of my blood relative grand fathers. He may have not been wealthy, but he was a good soul. He was very active in their church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and maybe for that ole St. Pete was waiting for him at the pearly gates earlier this week. I will be a pall bearer at his funeral tomorrow and we will celebrate his life and be there to console my MeMa who loved him dearly. I knew him much differently than others, but he was loved by his congregation, a grandfather to everyone.
Thank you Pop and God rest your soul,
Brandon