It’s hard to sum up in a paragraph what my dad means to me. He was such a great dad! His laugh was so contagious, everyone in the room would be laughing with him. His death was so sudden and devastating. I know he is with Jesus, so that gives me some comfort. I miss him so very much! He was so involved with our family. He loved to go to competitions, volleyball games, sporting events, and showing our animals at the fair. He would go to the fair and make sure our animals were fed and taken care of. We also had a big garden in the backyard. Every summer we would get up early to pick okra and other vegetables in the heat. He and my mom would let us sell the produce. We went camping on vacation every year after school let out for the summer which usually was about the time of my birthday. He and my mom always made sure that I had a fun birthday while traveling. They would find a pizza place or nice restaurant to make sure I felt special. I thank God that my dad was such a good man. He taught me about Jesus at a young age. He and my mom took us to church every Sunday, and made sure we were involved in the youth group. My dad taught me how to ride a bike, ride a horse, and drive a car. He taught me how to drive a stick shift on the tractor! He showed me what being a great parent is all about. He was also a great grandpa. The kids called him Pop. He went to all my daughter’s cheer competitions. It was so much fun to visit Gram and Pop’s house. They always took her to the park and on outings. Anytime Gram and Pop went on vacation, they took the grandkids with them. We have so many memories of all the places they visited. Thank you dad for loving me and raising me right.
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Nothing can quite prepare you for the pain of losing a parent, especially when that loss is so sudden and unexpected. Words cannot express how much I truly love and miss my dad. He was an amazing man! I could always count on him for anything, and he always let me know how much I was loved and how proud he was of me. He always called me his “beloved third born.” I was named after my dad. (Surprise! It’s another girl!). I have so many wonderful memories with my dad. His smile and his laugh were so contagious and he gave the best hugs. He went to every activity and gave so much of his time to us. I remember so many great family camping trips and road trips to visit relatives, but the best times were just spent together as a family. I remember how fun it was when my dad “helped” me build an electric motor for my science fair project. He more than helped us with raising our fair animals, for the many years we were in 4-H. When it was time for the fair, Dad would always get up so early to go down to the fair to make sure our animals were fed before he went to work and we went to school. We always had a large garden growing up. That meant picking okra in the summer heat, but we also grew pumpkins in the fall. Dad and mom would haul a big load of them for us to sell after church on Sunday nights. That was always so much fun. My dad taught me how to ride a bike, a horse, and a dirt bike, but he and mom also taught me to love Jesus. We were in church every Sunday morning, and mom always got up early to put a pot roast in the oven for Sunday lunch. We had many home-cooked meals around the dinner table. My dad was always a proud veteran and had a great love for his county. He encouraged me to join the military and beamed with pride when I enlisted in the Army National Guard. It wasn’t until after my dad’s passing that mom told me about a “My daughter’s in the Army” t-shirt my dad wore every Friday while I was away at training – a t-shirt he kept all this time (30 years later), that I will treasure. He was the absolute best dad, and he was a role model on how to be a great parent! He was also an awesome grandpa. Jacob and Sydney have always known him as “Pop.” Dad and mom have always been hands-on grandparents and were always there to love on and spend time with their grandkids. They were there for every school performance, sporting event, and competition, cheering on Jacob and Sydney, from preschool through high school. When my kids were younger, my dad would call to see if Jim and I needed a date night, so he and mom could spend more time with Jacob and Sydney. My kids always looked forward to spending time with Gram and Pop, as well as the many camping trips and adventures with them. My dad left such a legacy. I miss him so incredibly much, but I am comforted to know that he didn’t suffer and that he is celebrating in heaven with his maker. I love and miss you so much, dad! Your beloved third born.
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I always remember Uncle Don as easy going gentle spirit and caring man. I remember growing up visiting and traveling with aunt Linda and uncle Don some very special memories I still talk about. I always felt special that when they would make their trips across country they put my home on their map of stops. But one memory I will always hold special is when aunt Linda and uncle Don came to visit us here in Texas and uncle Don’s brothers were able to come and visit a few days too. We had great fellowship, good times around the table, and gospel jams. One of his brothers found my daughter’s guitar. That was a special time to me. I will miss Uncle Don.
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This is from my mom Tracey Whitney - Donald’s oldest daughter …
DAD, POP, AND GREAT GRANDPOP WAS A GREAT MAN!
I have close friends and loved ones that have lost one or both of their parents. I genuinely loved and prayed for them while they were hurting. I knew someday we will all lose our parents, but nothing can prepare you for the pain when you must go through it yourself. My dad was the best dad, pop, and great grandpop! He always made time for his family. We did so many fun things growing up, camping was a family favorite. Even as we got older and had families of our own, we camped often as a family. My parents loved traveling in their RV and took their grandkids and great grandkids camping all over the country. My dad loved being a dad and never missed one sports or dance event that I was in as a little girl, and all the way up through high school. He was my biggest fan and always made me feel like I could fly and do anything! I have so many happy memories, and even conversations in my head since my dad’s death that comfort me. I miss my dad’s laugh the most. My dad had such a sweet and tender heart and was always there for me. I remember one time, my dad running along side of me on the home stretch in a cross-country running meet after hurting my knee. He was cheering and encouraging me all the way to the finish line. Another good memory was when my dad and mom were sitting in the front row on the bleachers at a high school football game. I was on the drill team, and my dad was waving at me at my first performance. It made me laugh because obviously I couldn’t wave back. He was so proud of me. Some memories weren’t as funny at the time. As a kid I loved climbing trees, and I remember one time we were in Florida, and I was climbing a palm tree to the top. Only problem was trying to climb down because it scratched and poked my skin. My dad had to climb up the tree to get me and carry me down on his shoulders, lol. My mom is a great cook and made dinner every night. But my dad’s favorite food was probably chocolate, even though he loved most sweets. I remember one time when I was little, and when I heard my dad’s motorcycle come down the street after work, I would flag him down. We lived in a small town and on a quiet street. I would get on the back of his motorcycle and ride the short distance home. I remember smelling chocolate on his breathe. I told him I could smell it and he gave me a piece of chocolate out of his jacket pocket. But he said, don’t tell mom I gave you chocolate before dinner, lol. Even as an adult my dad always made time for me. Working for myself, allows me to set my own hours. Whenever I asked my dad and mom if they had a few hours during a weekday to do something fun with me and the grandkids, they always said yes. I have been looking at a lot of those recent photos and videos to see my dad’s smile and hear him laugh. My dad always gave me everything I needed growing up. But the best gift my dad ever gave me was my Christian faith. As soon as us girls were born, my parents took us to church. Even though I was a little rebellious as a teenager, and even sometimes later in life, I could never run from God’s love. God’s love and his word has helped me get through difficult times in my life. Missing my dad so much is a difficult time. I am thankful for so many happy memories with my dad. I am also thankful that he died instantly and didn’t suffer in pain, and he was doing what he loved, talking Ham radios that he has built with his friends and camping with my mom. I know my dad is with Jesus in heaven, which is our home for all eternity. We are only here on earth for a little while, and until I get to go home and be with my dad, I will miss him a lot! My dad is always concerned about me here on earth, even in my 50’s. He wants to make sure I am ok, and am I happy? I was over at my parents visiting the week before their camping trip where he died. I didn’t know then that it would be our last conversation and hug, had I known, I would have hugged longer. For me, music can heal, encourage, and make me smile when dancing. Praise and worship music can get me through anything because I can feel God’s love for me. Recently a song by Ryan Stevenson has been helping me. It talks about how sometimes the only way to heal a broken heart is to fall apart. So, its ok when I break down and cry hard, its part of the healing process. I am missing a great man that I loved very much!
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Thank you all who have shared a memory of Pop. I can’t begin to describe how much me and my boys will miss Pop. He was truly the best grandpa I could have ever asked for. I don’t remember an event or soccer game that he wasn’t at. Even this last summer when it was 100 degrees he and gram came to every football game the boys had with their umbrellas and spray bottle fans to keep cool. He would pick up the boys from school and take them to the park for 2 hours or take them for rides on his Minnie bike. Those are just a few of the many things he did. I’m so glad we have so many memories with him and gram he will live on in our hearts. Miss you Pop ❤️
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