Dateline Dayton – I will delay the final installment if our Florida trip for a sad reason.
Last Friday, a good friend died, a fellow church member, a high school classmate, a neighbor while we were growing up in Piqua, and here in Kettering for the past 35 years.
Dick Jacob and his family lived, for many years, just six houses down and one street over on Boone Street, in Piqua. Our family lived on North Street. All I had to do was walk east down the alley, and I was at Dick’s back door.
His dad and brothers taught me how to play poker. I really don’t know if they were honest because I always lost. The most important lesson I learned from them was, don’t play cards for money,
Dick’s sister Midge arranged my first date. She arranged dates for a few of us in our freshman year of high school, Dick included. I’m not certain of all the circumstances. I just remember my mother drove Linda home. Yes, I went along. I probably was the only one who saw that the girl got home since we met then at the dance.
Many times I was the driver, or more accurately the chauffer, for Dick and for Dave, another neighbor and classmate, when they had girls with them. Dick would get his dad’s car, and I would drive while the four of them were in the back seat. I enjoyed the opportunity to drive. Well, they enjoyed, too!
When we were older, there were occasions that they would be able to get some beer. Since I didn’t drink, not even soda at that time, again I was the driver. If Dick’s dad had found out what was going on, all would have been in trouble. And I would have been in serious trouble with my parents.
After Pauline and I were married and moved to Dayton, we knew no one. So on weekends we normally went back to Piqua. A little over a year later Darlene and Ray got married, and we saw them occasionally. However, by that time, we had opur first child, Darlene.
After Dick got out of the Army, he married Ruth and they moved to Dayton so he could attend the University of Dayton. They lived in the U.D. ghetto, and we would visit often. It was really nice, having someone living so close whom we knew.
After Dick graduated, he and his wife moved to Kettering. We didn’t see them as often, until we moved to Kettering. The four of us were a team in the Ascension Bowling League. A few times, we even finished first, to the amazement of the better bowlers.
For the past several years, Dick was a regular at our class breakfasts. He only missed the last couple. Yesterday was the date for our semi-monthly get-to-gathers. We did, but we did not have our usual good time with Dick’s funeral so close.
Dick had a rare form of cancer. It had started on his big toe. He would joke that he got it from playing with the x-ray machine at the shoe store. Doctors weren’t sure how to treat the cancer. They tried various programs in hope of arresting its growth. All of that took a heavy toll on Dick. Now he is at peace, not suffering any longer.
His viewing on Wednesday started with a hail of a rain. Although the weather yesterday was threatening, by the time we left for the cemetery, the sun was shining. His service was well attended, and he was buried with military honors.
Going to miss you, friend.
Mr. Hennessey may be contacted at pmhenn@sbcglobal.net
