Poppa

Since the passing of my father-in-law, William F. Johnson, I just can't seem to get back into a rhythm. I must be suffering from "Car Lag" which is a form of "Jet Lag" caused by automobile travel. I feel like my head is in a cloud most of the time, just when I have a lot of loose ends to clean up. As if that was not enough, every time I look through his papers it brings the memories flooding back and I have to take a break.

At the services in Oklahoma, we did a pictorial presentation of his life set to the tune of "Oh my PaPa" that was very touching. His cousin, Chaplain Richard Betts was one of those officiating, and delivered an equally touching eulogy. We all went to Ward's Chapel Cemetery where he was laid to rest next to his wife Anna Bell Betts. The cemetery is small, probably containing less than 800 gravesites, and is in a remote country location near the intersection of Ward's Chapel Road and Oklahoma State Highway 7. The sun was shining at the graveside services and all his family from California and friends from in an around Atoka were there.

Since we returned home, I'm learning that Poppa was a very active person right to the end. His affairs are in pretty good order, but he was so involved I'll probably be the next several months notifying his associates and closing accounts. Poppa never threw away anything, and the hard part is just separating what is important from that which is not! The good part is that I have another trove of documented family history to add to my files. Among his papers, I found WWII ration books for gasoline and tires that were issued to his father William Henry Johnson!

I think the habit of saving everything is something born of the depression era when flour sacks were turned into clothing and tableware came in cereal boxes.