My paternal grandfather
By Wendy
@jerzgirl (9384)
United States
June 4, 2023 11:08pm CST
Today (June 4) is the 123rd anniversary of my dad's father's birth. We didn't really have much of a relationship. I would help him read dates on coins he was cataloguing in his collection, sometimes ride with him on errands and occasionally walk to little league games at the end of the 100 block of Oak Ave. in Pitman. After owning his own service station on Simpson Ave. during the depression, he began working for Delaware Ordnance Depot in Salem County on Rt. 130 where he retired in the mid to late 60s. After that, he got a job in the machine and gun shop owned by his sister-in-law's brother, Bob's Little Sport Shop. The machine shop was upstairs in the building behind it. That's how he became eligible for Social Security in addition to his government pension. My dad worked at Delaware Ordnance briefly before being hired by the local bus company as a driver. Poppop and Nana drive across the country to tour the southwesst, including seeing the Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest and Meteor Crater National Landmark in Arizona. I wish I'd known then that his half brother was living in Phoenix at that time. No one knew where he went when he left New Jersey. No one ever heard from him again. I can visualize Poppop arguing with Maggie, his half-sister, and Al, his half-brother, about why they pulled up stakes and left town and never contacted family again. I know why Maggie left and have suspicions on why Al left, but to never contact family seems a bit much. Anyway, Happy Birthday, Poppop. I still think about you. Here he is with Dad and Nana around 1932 in Williamsport, PA.
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