On July 13, 2010 my father passed away from a heart attack. Almost 8 yrs prior he had a stroke that left him bedridden and completely dependent on caregivers. Mom took him home to care for him instead of putting him in a nursing home. Over the years we helped her care for him and aids came in to assist during the weekdays but Mom always had the lions share of the work. She was absolutely dedicated to him.
I will be writing a series of short stories or memories of my father and posting them as I go. I will have some pictures to share as well. For now, I don't have the photos I want yet so I'll share with you the eulogy I wrote for my father's funeral.
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Eulogy for Arthur Lockwood:
How do you sum up a mans life in a few short paragraphs? It's a near impossible task but I hope this will do.
Art Lockwood wore many hats and he represented many things to many people. Husband, father, friend, grandfather...he wore all these hats and more. He was a friend to many who didn't have anyone to call friend...always willing to help out or give quiet counsel to those that needed it. He was a steady rudder that helped steer you through rough waters when you needed a helping hand. He didn't preach to anyone yet he always managed to help you understand the best way to handle a problem. He was a capable man; strong and honest, and often took on burdens not his own. The entire fire department and most of the town knew him and liked him...many considered him a good friend.
Art Lockwood was also a husband to Flo (Mom) for nearly 62 yrs and that relationship was quite a love story in itself. Mom often likes to tell people how she fell in love with Dad's voice the first time she heard him speak and set her cap for him immediately. They were a loving couple throughout the years as most of the neighborhood kids can confirm. It was a common sight to see Dad hugging Mom or pulling her onto his lap whenever you walked into the house. They loved each other and it showed. All the kids in the neighborhood were in and out of their house growing up and they were all welcome to share a meal, sleep overnight or swim in the brook. They were part of the family and Dad would always buy ice cream for every kid around when the ice cream truck came by the house. Dad and Mom together created a feeling of Home for many kids that didn't have that in their own homes.
Art Lockwood was a father..no, better than that...he was a DAD. He was the type of Dad that didn't let you get away with much of anything. Which means it took a little extra thought and sometimes a LOT of planning to get one past him! Without even knowing it he instilled in his children a sense of honor and fair play...to look out for the little guy and show compassion...to be like him...because that's what he was all about. He was a soft man with a tough shell as of course you'd have to be with 6 kids in the family. We knew if we screwed up we were going to get it, but also if we were in real trouble he was our rock...the one you went to for help. He was our safety net through everything from divorces or the death of a friend, to financial trouble and heartache, and he always welcomed us back home no matter how grown up and self sufficient we were supposed to be. He never stopped being a Dad to us and to our children when they came along. He even fell in love with our dogs and more than one dog stayed with him when we moved out. They became Dad's dogs because he refused to part with them.
Art Lockwood's passing has left a hole in our hearts and a void in our lives. We will fill that hole as best we can with shared stories and loving memories of the man who was so many things to so many people....a husband; a father; a grandfather and a friend to all. Rest in Peace Dad and take care of our dogs until we meet again.
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