Gold Star Wives of America

As you know my Grandpa Odis Stump married 4 times.  His last wife was Melva M McClintic Lindsay Stump.  A new book is just out called “GOLD STAR WIVES OF AMERICA” and it lists Melva as the wife of a fallen hero. Her first husband died in the service of his country. Here is an excerpt from that book.

MELVA M LINDSAY STUMP was born Feb 23, 1910 in Middletown, OH.  She married Norman Lee Lindsay, born Feb 19, 1910. They met on a blind date June 1930 and were married June 24, 1938 at the 1st United Methodist Church.
Norman served the Navy as SF3/c entering May 31, 1943. He was on a flagship carrying Adm. Spruance. Served in the Pacific theatre of operations and was involved in all invasions.
He died during the sinking of the USS Indianapolis July 31, 1945. He was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star.
Melva had two years of junior college-business education. She married Odis Stump April 8, 1989. They met at Senior Citizens. Because of a complete knee replacement she is limited at present in doing very much.

Melva the daughter of John Edward McClintic and May Trautman McClintic of Middletown, died on December 20, 2002. Melva never had any children.

Melva aka Mel was a stern retired school teacher with a lovely home in Middletown. I should mention that she was a very short woman with extremely expensive tastes. She enjoyed painting and collecting antiques.  She bought my Grandpa a red leather chair for their family room so that he could fit in. LOL

She had wonderful chalk drawings that she had done over their kitchen table. I once admired an large old Whatnot Shelf that she had in the hallway and she said that it had come over here in from Ireland the 1700’s; it was in Mint Condition. It was among many antiques that she used everyday.  I guess, living alone for over 40 years you wouldn’t get to many scratches.

Melva passed away at the Mount Pleasant Nursing Home in Monroe, Ohio.

God Bless and Keep You always!

Love that lasts involves a real and genuine concern for others as persons, for their values as they feel them, for their development and growth.” ~ Evelyn Duvall

 

Love is…

I got this in my inbox…

‘It was a busy morning, about 8:30 a.m., when an elderly gentleman in his 80’s arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He said he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 a.m. I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would be able to see him. I saw him looking at his watch and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound.

On exam, it was well healed so I talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound. While taking care of his wound, I asked him if he had another doctor’s appointment this morning as he was in such a hurry. The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife.

I inquired as to her health. He told me that she had been there for awhile and that she was a victim of Alzheimer’s disease. As we talked, I asked if she would be upset if he were a bit late. He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now.

I was surprised and asked him, “And you still go every morning, even though she doesn’t know who you are?”

He smiled as he patted my hand and said, “She doesn’t know me, but I still know who she is.”

I had to hold back tears as he left, I had goose bumps on my arm, and thought, “That is the kind of love I want in my life.”

True love is neither physical nor romantic. True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be.’

‘Oh, by the way, peace is seeing a sunset and knowing who to thank.

The happiest people don’t necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Life isn’t about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain.’