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This is the story of Pa.
Pa was born in Ohio, one of thirteen kids. He had two sisters and ten brothers. He was a very adventurous man, even when he was young. He first left home when he was 13 years-old and rode railroad cars to see the country, sometimes ending up in Colorado, California, Florida, then back home before going out again.
When Pa was home, his friends signed him up for the Army National Guard. After that, he traveled again, winding up in Florida working the pineapple plantations, went back home and eventually met his wife, Bonnie “Granny” at Johnson’s Beach in Indiana. They had a whirlwind courtship and were married 5 months later. They loved each other until the day she passed, a total of 52 and ½ years together. They traveled from Indiana to Illinois to California to Florida (Pa loved Florida). He went to work for construction at Disney, and worked on the Contemporary Hotel, and then eventually went to work for the Mill workshop on site. In 1971, his daughter, Elizabeth was born in St. Cloud, Florida and in 1973, his son Samuel, Jr., was born.
Eventually, Pa opened his own business in woodworking. He made everything from grandfather clocks, reproduction clocks, canopy beds, and bus interiors for Willie Nelson, Silvestor Stallone and other artists, but the most notable was Willie’s bus. Pa also rode with the Satan’s Slaves and lived with the Hell’s Angels motorcycle clubs before meeting Granny. In 1997, on his birthday, he got his first grandchild, Dyllon. Then, a few years later, Samantha came, she was Pa’s blue-eyed bomber. Then came his granddaughter, Bonnie “2.0”, and Joseph, his mini-me.
He lived a very eventful life. The passing of his wife saddened him deeply, but he lived several more years because of the love of his family. This is only part of his story. There’s so much more to him than what can be put on paper.
We love you Pa and Daddy.
Arrangements are by Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home & Crematory, Vero Beach.
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