My Own Father - A Respectful Man

103 14
Growing up in the 1920's, my Father, Mr.
Robert Ogle Winters, went to work in a family tombstone business as a very young man in a small Texas town.
He did sandblasting and rock polishing.
This business was started and owned by his adoptive father, Claude Winters.
Dad had one older brother, Kermit who had a family.
The business would not support two families, so he and my Mother moved to a large city.
He went to work at the General Dynamics Factory.
My brother was born and then during a war, they moved to a middle sized city.
Robert, my father, went to work in a furniture store while mother went to a four year University to become an elementary school teacher.
Times were hard for my family.
Shortly after my brother was born, Mother was expecting me.
I was born in the town where my faternal grandparents lived.
Dad had a nervous breakdown because he could not support his family and his boss would not raise his salary.
After some time in a sanitarium in Oklahoma City( in the 1950's), he was placed on one medication that is still in use today.
This medication was discovered and produced by my Father's psychiatrist.
There were other tragedies in his childhood that also contributed to his mental problems.
These were considered shameful in the 1950's.
His life became much better.
he was appointed the city and school tax collector.
Mr Winters was instrumental in installing sirens to warn of tornadoes which saved so many lives in 1979 in my "hometown".
He took us to church and was the spiritual head of the family.
My Father became a city leader with a good salary and much responsibility.
He always loved all of his family and let us know it.
He was faithful to my Mother as was she to him.
He supported her in just about anything she needed or wanted without spoiling her.
They were and still ( after 59 years of marriage), a true couple.
He is quiet, kind and very intelligent even though he has no University degree.
Dad was never abusive to my older brother or I.
His favorite book in the Bible is Proverbs.
He never hesitated to make me think.
One example is, he would ask me," What would it be like to be that other person?" Today, He has Alzheimer's.
Robert Ogle Winters deserves respect.
Today, I spoke with my cousin who worked in a State run Institution for many years.
There was an article in the newspaper about abuse of Alzheimer's patients.
How heart breaking.
The employees were young and I suppose very untrained.
When in Nursing School many years ago, we had to role play the patient's part as we were tied down and helpless.
This was not any fun for the suffering person.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Sign up here to get the latest news, updates and special offers delivered directly to your inbox.
You can unsubscribe at any time

Leave A Reply

Your email address will not be published.