This is my Father.
Alra is the son of David S. Sullivan and Mary Eliza Fleetwood Sullivan. He is the Father of 7 children.
Dad was a United States Army Sergeant who served in World War II from May 22,1942 until Dec. 8, 1945.
I don't remember the full story about this because I was so young hearing it, but what I do recall is how he parachuted out of a plane and his chute got caught in a tree and he hung there for many hours throughout the night hoping to not be captured until finally he was rescued. In his shirt pocket he kept a piece from that parachute with him.
Another story he told was how he met and got to talk at great length with a member of the Our Gang comedy show who was on the same ship headed back home. Other than that my dad was quite about every thing else concerning the war.

Something he wasn't quite about though was winnning at Bingo! He really enjoyed that game and played it almost every night of the week. When I was old enough I went with him a few times and believe me, no one could holler out "BINGO" like him! Everyone in the hall would come alive at the sound of that, including myself! I think it must have been all that Army training he had :o)

But I would say that his true love had to be Sports.
I've seen him juggle the TV channels, a radio, plus the sports section of a newspaper just so he could get caught up on anything he couldn't see or hear and only him and God knows why he did that! :o)
In his 40's he began battling cancer, and then in his 60's began the heart attacks.
In 1982 Dad came to a Christmas Eve dinner at my Mom's and told us how he thought he had suffered a mild heart attack just a few weeks before.
He said the next one would be his last, because he didn't want to go through that pain anymore.
As he left he kissed us all good-bye, including my Mom, which he had not done in years and in turn she never stopped blushing about! :o)
And that January just like he said, Dad had his last heart attack.
At his funeral, looking down at his face I realized exactly what that meant for my life.
It has been over 20 years and I still miss seeing him and hearing his voice.

I love you so very much, Dad.

Cause of death: Heart attack

Dear Dad,
I was remembering back when I was about 4 years old, how you would come by the house every other Sunday and take me to the Drug Store that was just around the corner to buy some penny candy.
You'd hand me a quarter and the lady behind the counter, whose name was Bea, would help me pick out the pieces until I'd spent the money. Then I'd get back inside the car and we'd go have lunch together someplace, which was usually White Castle :o) then soon you'd take me home.

I remember as you kissed me good-bye, feeling very sad to see you go, but as I'd shut the car door, you'd always ask me, "Where's Daddy's sugar?" And I would pat my forehead and then you said, "That's where Daddy always is."

I am 46 years old at the time of this writing and to this day anytime someone kisses me on the forehead, I immediately think back on those times spent with you and you know what? They still make me sad.
But I hold onto the promise that someday, we're going to see each other again, only this time there will be no more sad good-bye's.
So until then I'm keeping all those sugars, not only on my forehead, but deep down within my heart where you placed them all those years ago, and I'll continue to do that until we meet again...
Thank you Dad, for that very special memory of you.


You can read a little more about my family in a story that I have added to the archives on my Mother's memorial (Audrey Worthington) on 10/05/2005 here at FAG. It is titled; "The True Road Home"
This true story was inspired by an oil painting that was done by my Mother, depicting the farm house where she was born and raised. This painting now hangs on the wall in front of my computer.

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A very special heartfelt Thank You to "Dennis Deel" for sponsoring both of my parents memorials.
God Bless you Dennis, and may He keep you tucked safely in the palm of His hand.
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