Tipper and Pap
Today is Pap’s birthday. He would have been 88 years old. Pap died in April of 2016. Although I still miss him terribly over the years he’s been gone I’ve worked through my grief and arrived at a place of thankfulness.
How blessed I am to have had a father such as him, and to have had him till I was grown with grown children of my own.
When he died I was so overcome with grief it took me a long time to get over that first raw emotion. Of course underlying my grief was the firm belief that I will see him again, but as a daddy’s girl I was still very sad even though I had that knowledge.
I stayed out of work for an entire week. The day I returned I learned a fellow coworker had also lost his daddy while I was gone. A few days later I learned his father died of heart problems too. He was only 54 years old.
That was my first realization that I had much more to be thankful for than to be sad about and over time that understanding grew to what it is today.
This evening I’ll be sharing a video of Paul and me talking about a song he wrote about Pap. It’s a wonderful song, but the story of how Paul wrote it is just as good.
Last night’s video: Matt’s First Tomato Sandwich.
Tipper
We are sorry for your loss. I know this is not recent, but it still brings the emotions. We miss them dearly.
My people come from these mountains, a son of Rays, Wilsons, Gibbs and Briggs. My mother and father moved west, where I was raised. But, we visited family in the mountains vacation after vacation. We ate the food you describe, every week. It was home. When I started to teach students, I asked the kids to tell me their weekly food and ‘soup beans’ or pintos were common to all of most of us. The food of the poor.
All the money in the world can’t change this, and I am glad.
Tipper, you sure did come from a fine family and place. It is evident that you have inherited some great genes of beauty and brain both! You are movie star beautiful in a modest and natural way. I enjoy hearing names of places. There are several Kentucky books written about the unique places here. Not all of them had post offices. In my hometown and in others, lots of communities had girl’s names such as Nancy, Susie, Zula, Rowena, Betsy, etc. Some lovely like Sunnybrook, Rolling Hills, and some quirky like Nobody’s Business and Stop!
Tipper, you were such a gorgeous girl! You still are a lovely woman! And your daddy looked so strong and confident. I miss my daddy too.
That is a beautiful picture of you two. Happy birthday to your wonderful dad! I know he loves you as much as you do him and what a day that will be when you see him again! Thank you for this beautiful post ❤️
I miss my Dad. My Mom and sister passed with 3 months of each other. In a span of 10 years I lost my Dad (2002),Mom (2008),sister (2009)and my husband (2012) That sent me into a tailspin. I was a widow at 59. No clue how to move forward but I did. Your picture with your Dad is priceless. Hold on to your memories. Love your posts.
Oh, Tipper! How well I understand your grief but joy in having had such a wonderful daddy. Mine passed suddenly at age 62 in 1990. Coming up on the anniversary of that day. That day and what would have been his birthday. My daddy was a wonderful, funny man who made me think. He actually made sure I learned to make my own decisions. To this day, I miss him terribly.
Love & prayers for you all , as you go through the mixed emotions of this special day ❤️ Such a beautiful blessing to have so many wonderful memories & such a firm foundation ❤️
Pap has Red Man in his shirt pocket. All I can see is a red D and a red N but from that I can recognize it. I’ve seen that logo a million times. I loved the smell of it but it was too stout for my taste.
I also noticed the Red Man in Pap’s shirt pocket. My neighbor chewed plug tobacco (Bloodhound) he said it took a man to chew it. I never tried chewing tobacco and but did try to smoke a few Chesterfield King cigarette butts my paternal granddaddy had threw off the porch in behind grandmother’s shrubby. The would take a 12 year old boy’s head off his shoulders. I decided there was nothing in smoking for me.
There is only one day in heaven. One endless day. Soon today will end here for us and we’ll prepare for tomorrow. Not so for Pap. His birthday will never end! Happy Birthday Jerry Marshall Wilson!
Hugs for you and your family today. I know you miss him, I miss my Daddy. You were so stinkin’ cute back then. You have become a beautiful woman/person. I know he and your Mama are so proud of you and all you do. I have loved being a part of your internet family. My family doesn’t get along, so finding Y’all has been a real blessing to me in my final yrs. I died of Cardiac arrest in 2023, The good LORD got me back up. I have kidney failure, partial blindness, liver disease, anemia, sleep apnea and some neurological problems now but I’m good and feel better every day. I put out a few tomatoes, squash, zucchini and peppers in my yard. I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to see such loving people. I pray for the folks of Wilson Hollow throughout the day as we are supposed to pray continually. Love Y’all -Barbara (schizoozy1 on youtube)
Looking forward to seeing the video tonight with you and Paul talking about Pap. I have no doubt Pap is playing music and singing in the great heavenly choir. Beautiful picture of you and your dad!
(((((Tipper)))))
It won’t be long before a joyous reunion is yours.
We never cease to miss our parents, no matter how many years they have been gone. What a joy it is to know that we will see them again. Tipper, you have done a wonderful job of sharing Pap with all of us so that we too can feel like we knew him. We can see the values and wisdom he shared with you, your brothers and your families.
Happy Birthday to Pap! And yes, you were abundantly blessed with two great parents and I love hearing about them. Thank you. Reading your posts and watching your videos (and your girls’ videos) has become a part of my day–kind of like watching the “stories” back in the day with my grandmother!
While reading your comments, I was quickly reminded of the verse in I Thess 4:13 which tells us that we should not grieve as others who have no hope. For believers partings are temporary.
A beautiful picture of you and your Pap, Tipper. Aren’t memories just wonderful! I am so thankful for memories of loved ones past. They bring such comfort as we ‘remember when.’ Have a wonderful ‘memory’ day. Hugs to you all and an extra one to Granny.
Happy Birthday to Pap! I hope you bake his favorite white cake with homemade chocolate frosting and relive happy memories all day. I know you still miss him, but time truly does heal the way we grieve.
Tipper, I know you miss your daddy, and you never get over that, but memories are there to remember him by. My daddy died within a couple of days on June 26, 2000. He had just celebrated his 75th birthday on the 22 and that was the last time I spoke with him on the phone. It was such a shock to the family. He had a bad reaction to diabetic meds and it killed his liver. Before I could get to Ohio Mom put him on a ventilator. I was shocked when I saw him, bloated twice his size and unconscious. I worked as a nurse for a long time and was able to care for critically ill patients, but I grieved so much when I saw my daddy in that awful condition. When we knew there was no hope he was disconnected from the machine and died a few hours later. It’s been 25 years and daddy would be 100 years old if he had lived. I’m the oldest of five children and was daddy’s girl and we were so much alike. I didn’t know if I could get through the viewing and funeral and especially when we sang, “How Great Thou Art.” But I did and without crying sang the song. My mother will be 96 August 10 and still feisty and in fair health. Both of my parents were and are saved for many years. I know I will see my daddy again, but sometimes I tear up.
When I think of my dad I remember what all he went through and wonder how he survived as well as he did. I’m like you Miss Tipper, I truly mourned our loss of him but knowing how he had suffered I thank God he had finally found peace, knew his Savior by that time, it did comfort me. He would have been 100 years old, last April, and he’s been gone since he was 79. I have found my peace. And thank God we had him all that time. Happy Birthday Mr. Wilson, I know you are rejoicing with the angels and maybe my dad is celebrating with you too.
We are looking forward to hearing you two together and how the song came about . Caught a glimpse of what might be the song earlier.
Tipper today is my Daddy’s birthday as well! He would have been 99 years old. We were lucky enough to have him to the ripe age of 97 1/2 years. (he also made sure we added the 1/2) lol. I still miss him. He worked public work (part-time) until he was 96. Like Pap, he was a an of strong faith. He was one of 12 children; his position in the line-up was next to the youngest. He grew up in hard times on a rocky field farm. He would say that he and his brothers would get one new pair of overalls a year whether they needed them or not. Daddy never met a stranger and was well known in and around Alexander and Iredell Counties (NC). So Happy Birthday in Heaven to “Tab” (Arthur Lee) and “Pap” (Jerry). Hopefully they have met and are swapping stories.
Through you, so many people have learned from and been touched by his simple life and wisdom. You’ve done such a good job of spreading his legacy. Praying for you as you miss him a little extra today.
Happy Heavenly Birthday to Pap and hugs to you today. It is a true blessing to be able to look back on the years you had with a loved one but more of a blessing to know exactly where they are now & that you will someday be seeing them & back in their arms in heaven. God bless you, Tipper!
Happy Heavenly Birthday Pap! That’s a sweet photo of you and Pap. You look so happy. This Friday will be the 30th anniversary of my dad’s passing. While I still miss him terribly I take comfort knowing I will see him again along with the rest of my family. Yes, it takes time, but grief is the price we pay for loving someone. Hugs to you and the family.
I lost my father when he was 55 from a heart attack in early May of 1974. Three or four months later we found out our mother had gall bladder cancer. She died about 18 months after him at the age of 51. They left behind 6 children, one daughter in law, and only one grandchild. That’s been almost half a century ago but memories of them are still fresh in my mind today.
Tipper, in that lovely photograph of you (several moons ago) you and your daddy look so happy together and you look so pretty and youthful! Your dad was a handsome man and I think you favor him quite a bit! I am sorrier than I can say about you losing your daddy-be it however long or shortly ago-the hurt and missing them awful never goes away! There’s always a pining in the heart I can testify to and I guess we just learn to live with it as best we can with the Lord’s help every day… I hope today is a day you can reflect on the wonderful times you had with an absolute TREASURE of a daddy!!! Here’s to you PAP WILSON-always and forever! God bless you all and granny. Hello Randy and Chester. Hoping and praying yall are well. Btw young folks under 40 or so-we moms and dads don’t want fancy gifts-we want a hug, a holding of the hands, looking at us face to face, touching and laughing and most of all just loving and spending time together. There’s a lot in this life that’s so precious we don’t have to buy…let’s make the most of it, shall we????
What a beautiful comment, Sadie! Thank you for expressing your feelings so eloquently! God Bless You!
Sadie, I can’t stress enough to my 3 boys (1 son and 2 grandsons) I don’t want gifts. The only “gift” I want from them is for them to spend time with me. Any amount of time with them doing “whatever” is priceless. Truth to be told, I feel the same way when I am with other family or friends, I enjoy my wife’s family just as much as my own. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t call or text my boys and tell them I love them, if that seems like something men don’t do with one another, so be it. Now at my age, I couldn’t care less about what others think about me as long as I am not hurting anyone, being sinful or illegal. I encourage anyone that has had troubles in their families to try to “patch it up if they can,” the time will come when you no longer have the opportunity. I am very thankful I never experienced any of that.
You are so right, Tipper. There is a gradual reconciliation to absence by a growing sense of meeting again overtaking and overpowering the sense of loss. In the early days it can feel like it could never be. But for those with the blessed hope, the assurance that the parting is brief and the reunion will be glorious slowly takes the pain away and replaces it with anticipation. As the hymn has it, “What a happy time ‘twil be when we all get home!” My thoughts turn more and more toward that home. I know it is a grace but how, I wonder, can I leave it with those I will be parted from?
happy heavenly birthday Pap, my son was born on my daddy’s birthday, July 31st, God bless the Wilson family, may you find peace and comfort in our Lord Jesus Christ, Daddy was born July 31st 1916, he passed away on August 21st 1999, my son was born on July 31st 1983, God bless everybody
Hugs to you Tipper and your family, it’s hard to lose those we love, but to be in the place you are now is a blessing. The picture you posted of you and your dad is a really good one!
I lost my dad in 2008. He was 86. Mom had passed seven years before him. I felt like an orphan.
Growing up, my mom always said my dad and I were two peas in a pod. I went everywhere with him.
As hard as it was to lose my parents, the day will come when I will see them again.
Tipper, I am sorry your Pap died so young. I lost my Dad when he was 92. But at any age it is so hard. Thankful for all the years I had my Dad.
Happy Heavenly Birthday to your Daddy!
You were so blessed to have a loving dad. I am so glad for the hope of heaven where we will be reunited with our loved ones.
Oh Tipper, I know you miss him so. What a beautiful picture of you two. Thank you for sharing all you did. It brings solace and comfort to my heart as my parents are in the “winter” of their lives and I try to begin to wrap my head around the reality that someday they will no longer be here. It feels so painful to even think about. I, too, am comforted knowing that born again Believers don’t actually die, they go on living somewhere else. ❤️
I typed Pap, but spell checked changed it.
Happy Heavenly Birthday to Papa! My Mom passed away in April 2016 too. Our relationship was tumultuous, but we were good at the time of her passing. Like you, I’m thankful and at a place of peace.
My father was 63 when he passed from heart problems. I did not have a relationship with mine as you did yours, but i know he was a good man who worked hard to provide for his family. So bery young to have passed away, since i just turned 60 i really think it was young….thank you for sharing.
Kelly Shook
Easy to see where the girls get their beauty!
And I just love that picture of you and Pap! Precious and priceless!
Grief is a funny thing, when I think I’ve mastered it it sneaks up and rolls down my cheeks. My daddy died in 2014, Momma in 2021, and my oldest brother in 2023 and so many aunts, uncles, and cousins in between. I’m so grateful it’s not goodbye forever.
We are attending my uncle’s funeral today. He and Daddy were close brothers in law. Our uncle was from Letcher KY. He was such a a kind man and always had a smile and story. He will be missed. Someone asked me if he was my blood uncle and I said, “no, but he’s been in the family longer than me so he feels like it.”
Debbie, I loved all of my aunts and uncles. I loved my Mother’s first cousin and her husband as much, maybe at times a little more than my true blood aunts and uncles. Throughout my lifetime I have called them Aunt Mattie and Uncle Jack. Even though both are now dead, I still refer to them by those names.
Tipper, I don’t think you ever truly get over losing the ones you loved, you just learn to live with it. My Daddy died on Jan. 21, 1991 at the age of 68, his birthday was July 5th, 1922, I still miss him being in my life. An older man at my church told me this after my wife died, “we know that our love ones that were saved are in a better place, it’s the ones left behind the are grieving and suffering.” After the deaths of so many I loved in both mine and my wife’s family I know this is to be true, at least it is for me. All have been hard, but none as hard as the death of my daughter and wife. Without my wife, my partner, my companion, I now tell people I am alive but no longer living. Through the things you have wrote, I know Pap was a good Christian family man, many of the things remind me of both my Daddy and father in law.
My Daddy was 65 when he passed Christmas Day 1976 at the age of 65. Although it’s been a long time, sometimes it feels like yesterday.
My two adult children lost their dad in April this year. They’re still in the grieving process especially my daughter Lori. Like you Tipper she was definitely a daddy’s girl. Last week she said, “mom I miss daddy so bad I can hardly stand it”. Of course it breaks my heart to see hers breaking. I’m thankful we have the assurance we’ll all be together soon.
Happy Heavenly Birthday to your daddy! What sweet memories to remember and know that he is still with his family. When our parents are with us we listen with our ears, when they’re gone we listen with our heart. Those girls sure look like you! ❤️. GOD bless