This is the euology I gave at my 75-year-old father's funeral. He was a very special man and I want to share that with the Internet community that so intrigued him.
Transcript of the Eulogy for Loyd V. Williamson
Given by his daughter, Rana K. Williamson
At Services Held November 19, 1996
First United Methodist Church, Junction, Texas
As you all know, there were certain things Loyd liked -- dogs, and poker games, football, and airplanes -- and there were certain things he didn’t like -- carrots, political speeches, telephone solicitations (especially those made by insurance men), and long-winded eulogies. I won’t do that because for every story that I could tell today about Loyd, his friends here today could tell fifty more. I am very secure in the knowledge that Loyd lived every day of his life to the fullest and I feel that Mother and Delia Ruth are secure in that knowledge as well. And we are very grateful to you all to be here today with us to honor his life.
As Brother Sam said, Papa was born in Norfolk County, Virginia, the son of Ovie Buster and Ruth Owen Buster. One of his earliest memories was of crossing the Mississippi River on his way back home to Texas where he lived, except for his time in the Army Air Corps, until his death this past Saturday.
He graduated from Junction High School in 1938 and he very much enjoyed his memories of playing football for the Eagles, a game that he continued to love throughout his life, second only to poker, and most recently, the lottery.
He enlisted in the Air Force on July 30, 1940 and was given the opportunity to become an enlisted pilot with the rank of Staff Sergeant Pilot . His membership in the Army Air Corps Enlisted Pilots Association gave him great pleasure and just last month in Austin he and his buddies refought the war at their bi-annual reunion. You’ll be very pleased to know we won again.
He was a graduate of the class of 42-H from Kelly Field and flew fifty-one bombing missions in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy. He married Dortha Waddell of Menard the same day he received his wings, September 6, 1942. He liked to say he got his wings that morning and had them clipped that afternoon.
For more than 50 years he has owned and operated Buster’s Laundry and Cleaners, first with his parents and then as sole proprietor. He was very proud of his business and once we were together at a social gathering in Kerrville and he had been sitting there with that look on his face you all know so well listening to self-important oil men and bankers talk about their work. One of them turned to him and said, Williamson, what are you in? Papa looked at him and said, “Dirty drawers.
He was a member of this church and of the Masonic Lodge , a three-time Worthy Patron of the Eastern Star, a former city councilman (the last time he ran Mother told him it would be the last time unless he wanted a divorce) and he was a retired volunteer fireman. He is survived by his wife, Dortha, two daughters, Delia Ruth and myself, four sisters-in-law , numerous nieces and nephews, and someone who hasn’t been mentioned yet but who meant a great deal to him, his Yorkshire terrier, Scooter; and by all of you, his friends, and his neighbors.
He had a real bad habit that all the preachers in this church knew very well. Toward the end of a Sunday sermon, especially on days when the Cowboys were playing he used to remove his watch and hold it out and peer at it and then reach forward and tap on the pew in front of him to make sure that it was still running. Never let it be said that my father could not get his point across. Thank you very much.
You can send email to Rana at: [email protected]
mail welcome
anniversary date 11-96
date of post 12-03-96
