First and foremost, on behalf of my entire family, I would like to thank all of the bike club members and other friends for all of their support and kindness during this very difficult time. Words cannot express how much what everyone has done and continues to do means to us. It was amazing the number of the people who showed up at the hospital ready to do anything that they could to help. Food was delivered to us each day along with caring smiles, tears and hugs. I am still awed by the love that was shown to my entire family. Sometime during the past week, I thought to myself that things just couldn’t be worse, but then I realized that they could. It was then that I realized that I could be in the same situation, feeling the same feelings, without all of the support from everyone and in spite of the pain, I felt lucky. I am honored to have met so many generous people that were important in his life. I hope to get the opportunity to thank each one of you personally. It is evident that Dad was loved be many and I know that he also loved each one of you.
It is very touching to read all of the wonderful comments about Dad from so many different people. To me, he was not only my dad, but he was also my hero. He was always there for me no matter what. He was very active in my life as well as my brother’s. During elementary school he was one of the only dads that was at school helping out. He would still go each year to lend a hand during field day. He coached little league for years, mostly for my brother’s teams because as he liked to say it, sometime during my third year of t-ball I regressed to “throwing like a girl”. Of course, he only told me that years later and with a smile on his face. He loved coaching and genuinely cared for each of the players.
As I grew older he continued to be there for me. He taught me how to drive and kept his cool even when I drove right into the neighbor’s mailbox. But that’s the kind of person he was. Very rarely did he ever lose his temper, especially with me because he knew that all it took was for me to even think I had disappointed him. Then there were my cars. He surprised me with my first car as a graduation present. I was so excited. For some reason I developed a bad habit of locking my keys inside it. And of course, each time I would call him and he would save me. I got that “not again” look from him a couple of times, but he never complained. Then there was my first new car. Dad was with me for the entire process of buying it. Unfortunately, from the beginning, it had problems, lots of problems. He was always there to pick me up when it would break down and take care of whatever was wrong. We just went car shopping this spring and I bought a new, more reliable car. It’s strange how things happen. He was also there for me when I bought my house. He helped me so much. He remodeled bathrooms, patched and painted walls, fixed the roof and so much more. I think he could fix almost anything. There are reminders of him all over my house, which is hard right now, but in time I’m sure I will see them as blessings.
He has done so much for me throughout my life, but more important than all that he has done for me is just the person that he was. I knew that I could always count on him and that he loved me unconditionally. He was there when I needed the oil changed in my car, but also when I had a broken heart or just needed a shoulder to cry on. I am so lucky to have had him in my life for the time that I did. Still there are so many things that I wanted him to be around for like walking me down the aisle or being there for the birth of his grandchildren, but what I must keep in mind is that he will always be with me in spirit, just like his spirit will still be with all who loved him. He will be along on every bike ride, at each dinner at the Mexican restaurant, at each WVU-Marshall game, every family get together and all other events that he enjoyed with each of us. He would want us all to keep living life and enjoying it to the fullest.
I have so many more memories of the man that everyone else called Wally, but luckily for me I called him Dad and no matter how old I get, I will forever be his little girl.
Kasey Rose