Well, I guess I will have to Blog backwards for a few weeks / months, since I haven't updated this in a while. I had Collective Soul on my “to-see” list, and I was finally able to go see them. It was not a disappointment at all! Not only was I just a few feet from the stage, but there was a hot chick in front of me too. We saw them at the Hard Rock Casino in Biloxi MS, and I had a rockin’ time! I didn’t take the below photo, but it was at the concert I attended And I could've touched the photographers back that took it.
Thank you to Brother Lee & Brother Rick for all you have done and guiding my Father on his spiritual journey. Thank you to all the people who have visited, sent condolences, shared fond memories over the past week or have been a part of our Father & family’s life. My heart is filled with gratitude & appreciation. The measure of a man can be found by looking at his family and friends, and I am proud to be part of our Father’s legacy with you all.
Our Father, George Allen Partridge, was born on October 10th 1933; in the middle of the great depression. He was the youngest of three children. His Mother, Orpha crossed the country in a covered wagon as a child and lived to be 99, his Father William was a miner and property foreman who worked from sunup to sundown to provide for his family.
At the early age of 6 or 7, Dad was responsible for waking up several hours before school to milk cows, and then again after returning home. When he wanted to play high school football the only stipulation was that he was still responsible for his chores in the evening and had to run home at night to make sure they were completed on time. Despite the economic times and the struggle of living in that era, the family was tight knit and loved one another dearly.
George left his home at 17 and with the permission and signature of his parents, joined the USAF. Of the many locations he served, one of his first assignments was Turner Air Force Base in Albany GA. While stationed there he happened to attend a basketball game in Lee County that my Mother was playing in, and by all accounts it was love at 1st sight. They dated a short while and married on September 1st 1954 in this very church.
Through the years his family grew, 3 children were born, George Jr., Gia & me – Glenn. We all we taught at a very young age to respect our elders, treat all people as we would want to be treated, present ourselves with a pleasant attitude and if you did a job – do it the best you can – and do it right the first time.
Dad progresses in the service to become a Master Sergeant and served his country during the Vietnam conflict and Korean War, mainly working on the flight line with B52 bombers. If you had time he could tell you many stories about his years in the service, some funny, some exciting, but all were interesting and always a treat to hear.
After growing older I have since learned of the selfless things he did for us kids, like purchasing my brother Allen & I mini-bikes and snow-mobiles instead of the fishing boat he always wanted, or taking on night jobs to have a few extra dollars to take us out to dinner, to see a movie or put food on the table. My Mother told me he played a dollar on the lottery each week and when asked what he would do if he won; he said “take care of my kids”.
One thing not many people know about my Father is that he is a true hero. One summer day he saw a small girl floating in a camp ground swimming pool lifeless. I never will forget how he jumped over the fence and pulled her out of the pool and gave her CPR to revive her. All night the other campers in the park we were staying at stopped by to tell Dad what a special thing it was he had done.
Dad as we always called him or “Honey” to all the family and his closet friends, would do anything for you and if you didn’t allow him to do it would be concerned about you until he found out everything was OK. He was easy to please and shared his smile often. Many times when people learn that George is my Father, they will tell me either how proud of us he was, or how good of a man he was – which we already knew but it always brightened our day to hear.
Honey loved my wife Cathy, my sister-in-law Andrea, Brother-in-law Wayne and the Grandkids Tim, Kalynn, Austin & Aaron and all my cousins and Aunts & Uncles with all his heart. He treated all of us with compassion and we felt comfort knowing he was there to look out for us. Finally I would like to say, Dad we love and miss you with all our hearts. You did a good job and got it right the 1st time.
Glenn Adam Partridge - February 4th 2010
I Love you Dad…
I read this eulogy at my Fathers funeral. I think of him everyday still. I have learned not to take the ones you love for granted. Tell the people in your life that are special to you that you love them.
Well, I just installed the Microsoft Live Essentials beta release and one of the features is Windows Live Writer. Basically it looks like Word 2010 and you can update your Blog without logging on, etc. I haven't reviewed the other features of Essentials, so I don’t know if they really are “essential”, but a few of the programs included look promising. It just might help me be more proactive in updating. There are a few things I need to talk about. Talk soon…
