Onward Christian Soldier

R.L. "Dick" Stogsdill born January 18, 1920 in Cabool, Missouri

Predeceased by Mary Jean Gentry

A Charismatic and Interesting Navy Man, Chicken Farmer, Boeing Worker, Twin, Brother, Father, Grandfather and Christian Soldier

It is with relief and sadness that I say goodbye to Richard Lynn Stogsdill.  “Dick” a.k.a. Grandpaw was my husband’s grandfather on his mother’s side.  Today, it was an honour and a privilege to be with Aunt Sally as we comforted him on his journey to the ‘other side’.

A few weeks ago Grandpaw was experiencing shortness of breath.  He ignored it as best as possible but inevitably called himself an ambulance which took him to the hospital.  We discovered he was in Swedish Edmonds hospital in the Seattle area.  Kevin phoned to find out how he was doing, but in true fashion, Grandpaw didn't want to talk and wanted to go home.

It was found by the doctors that at some point unknown, he’d suffered a heart attack.  This might have been the ‘terrible indigestion’ he experience a few months ago.  The shortness of breath then indicated an issue with his heart and they also found function problems with his liver.

After five days in hospital he was released in Aunt Sally’s care and went back to his little senior’s apartment at Merrill Gardens.  This was on Thursday April 11^th.  On Sunday, Sally was growing weary from the round-the-clock care he required and I offered to come to and assist her.  She quickly accepted and the next day (Monday) I was on a plane to Seattle.

When I first arrived, Grandpaw was in his bed but still mobile.  He was sleepy but had enough spunk to talk and have a little humour.  He had a rattle in his throat and coughed a little.

To give Sally some relief, I booked a hotel and she went to have a full nights rest while I stayed with Grandpaw that night.

You know, there are so many details but I realize now I don’t want to share them, the details of his slipping away.  I might share them with you individually, but not now, not this way.

The things I do want to share with you are this:

Aunt Sally Bowers is the most gracious person I’ve had the pleasure being in the company of.  She is kind, gentle, considerate, smart, quick and just gracious.  When you speak to her she is TRULY listening.  Her eyes are connected to you in a way that makes you BELIEVE you are all that matters to her in that moment.  I wish to have a fraction of this!  I was able to be with her at the passing of her father and I was so honoured to be.

Sally took “Grandpaw duty” last night.  Kevin and I got to his apartment around 8:00 this morning.  She explained she had had a bad night with him and he seemed to really take a turn for the worse around 1:30am (his condition had been declining quickly since Monday).  Just a note here, he had become unresponsive as of about Tuesday evening—today is Thursday.  Hospice had been phoned in the night and the suggestion of re-positioning had helped.

Around 9:00 a friend had stopped by to see him and then his pastor.  Together we prayed and discussion with the pastor about a service was had.  Again it was just the three of us.  Uncle Steve and Aunt Kathy were to arrive around 11:00am and I thought to myself, I don’t think they’ll get here in time.  I figured it was just a fleeting thought. 

Grandpaw’s rattle began to get louder and with more gurgles.  By about 10am Kevin decided it was time for a coffee and left for Starbucks.  I was playing hymns on my phone for him by the bed and Sally decided to get the oil “Release” and put it on his body.  I sat on the side of the bed with him and she smoothed it over his beautiful bald scalp so delicately.  The song “Onward Christian Solider” played and he stopped breathing.  I held his hand and watched.  I said, “Sally, he’s gone.”  We looked for a pulse and watched closely.  She put her hand on him and we looked at each other and cried.

I texted for Kevin to come back.  He had only made it to the car.

What an amazing and beautiful experience.  At the last moments, it happened with such ease.

So now a vision sits in my head of a 93 year old, physically fit, bald with a bit of white hair, flannel-shirted, crooked hatted, Conservative Christian, toothpick toting man hanging out on a cloud with a special spot close to God.

…Onward Christian Soldier…