Not much sleep last night. I was eventually able to talk to mom. She was sad, but coping.

Dad was 89. He was the son of a Methodist minister, living an itinerant life in West Texas. Methodist ministers moved from church to church annually in those years, and my dad attended lots of schools. He served in the Army during WW II, and was stationed in Japan for a short time at the end of hostilities. After the war, he was an engineering major at Texas Tech where he met and married my mom in 1950. They lived several years in Tahoka, TX, where he worked for a telephone coop, and farmed cotton. Mom taught school until I was born in 1953. In 1954, they moved to Fort Worth, where he worked in the Test Lab for General Dynamics for over 30 years.

He enjoyed building and wood-working, designing and building his own camping trailer. He built lots of things around the house, and did most of his own car repair and maintenance. My parents began to square-dance and it became a big part of their lives. They both played an active role in activities at their church in Lake Worth, including singing in the choir.

When my parents retired, they began trailering across the country, square-dancing as they went. They traveled extensively, and had a great time. They participated and held national offices in the Avion Trailer organization. The big truck and trailer finally became too much, and they settled back into their home. They enjoyed their quiet neighborhood and watching wildlife in the backyard. Health issues ultimately led to a need for assisted-living and they moved to Baton Rouge, where my brother Robert, and sister-in-law Susan (both doctors) could play a role in their health care.

I spent time today working on how and when to get back to Texas. Scheduling a memorial service involves so many people and schedules. My sister’s family is centered in Houston. The brunt of the scheduling and planning fall to Robert & Susan, because of their proximity to mom in Baton Rouge. Only after the date and site is settled can final travel plans be made. Judy begins planning for her absence from school, not sure how many days to plan for or when. By the end of the day, we’re pretty sure the service will be Sunday, Feb. 8, in Fort Worth.