A Modest Post for Granddaddy
My grandfather died recently. He was 93. He’s already missed. Here’s a shot of my father and I with Granddaddy shortly after I was born.
Granddaddy was many things and this short post couldn’t begin to do justice. I’ve struggled to put it into words internally. Forget about how to mark his passing here on my blog (as insignificant as it is)!
There is one accomplishment of Granddaddy’s that I’ve always admired. He kept a journal from age 16 until his death. During 2002 he kept this journal online as a blog. When he became ill he switched back to pen, paper, or typewriter. It was his daily commitment to create, think, and craft that I admire.
He was a very funny man, an extremely well-read historian, and a cornerstone to my personal and professional development. He lived a rich life, so, I’m happy for that. Like my great aunt, he was a well-loved member of our family.
Since the local paper doesn’t store obituaries very long I’m copying the entire thing below.
—
Andrew L. McCaskey Sr.
WEYERS CAVE — Andrew L. McCaskey Sr., 93, of 83 Brendan Lane, Weyers Cave, died Tuesday, July 28, 2009, at his home. He was born Feb. 25, 1916, in Norfolk, to Alpheus Eli and Margaret Leoffert McCaskey.
He was predeceased by his first wife, Irma Driver McCaskey, and his brother, Alpheus E. McCaskey Jr.
He is survived by his wife, Vivian Arndt McCaskey; his two sons, Andrew L. McCaskey of Elkhart, Ind., and his wife, Teresa Houff McCaskey, and David I. McCaskey of Staunton and his wife, Janet A. Doerr; his stepdaughters, Evelyn Shirkey of Mount Crawford and her husband, Michael, Barbara Howe of Weyers Cave, Elizabeth Crawford of Hampton and her husband, Alan, and Mary Wingfield of Montpelier and her husband, John; 13 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; his brother, Robert C. McCaskey of Greensboro, N.C.; and his sisters, Dorothy M. Parks of Florence, S.C., and Margaret M. Merritt of Signal Mountain, Tenn.
Mr. McCaskey, an Air Corps veteran of World War II and an avid musician, was an advertising and copy writer and announcer at WSVA Radio in Harrisonburg for most of his life. He also was employed at Dunham-Bush Inc. in Harrisonburg as a technical writer. Mr. McCaskey produced a daily newspaper column from the age of 19; he was published in “The National Observer” and “The Shenandoah Herald.” Between 2002 and 2007, he posted 1,589 columns on his blog site at http://ttopicanize.blogspot.com. A member and elder of Augusta Stone Presbyterian Church, he also was a longtime member of Weyers Cave Ruritan Club and an amateur radio operator.
Visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday evening, July 30, at the Lindsey Weyers Cave Funeral Home at 982 Keezletown Road in Weyers Cave.
The funeral service, conducted by the Rev. Beth McCrary, will be at 10 a.m. Friday, July 31, at Augusta Stone Presbyterian Church at 28 Old Stone Church Lane in Fort Defiance.
In lieu of flowers, it is suggested that donations be made to Hospice of the Shenandoah, P.O. Box 215, Fishersville, VA 22939 or to the Matching Gift Fund of Augusta Stone Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 118, Fort Defiance, VA 24437.
Online condolences may be sent to the McCaskey family at www.lindseyfuneralhomes.com
.
katie @ August 12, 2009