!
My Father, who was born in Trenton, Florida to Charley C. and Lola Layfield Collins on March 18th, 1917.
My mother and father were classmates in Seminole High School in Sanford, Florida. Like my husband and I, they were high school sweethearts. Dad knew cuteness when he saw it, or at least that's what he always told my sisters and I.
When he graduated he started working at the Railway Express Agency in Sanford. At that time my grandfather was the Agent, or manager, at the station.
Mom and Dad were married March 23rd, 1940.
Their first home was a converted garage apartment in Sanford. I can remember it quite well because we lived there until I was in the second grade. Downstairs was a large garage and laundry area. It is still there and I take trips by there sometimes just to check it out. My grandparents lived a scant three blocks from there.
Dad was drafted into the Navy about eight months after he and Mom were married. I have a newspaper clipping announcing that he was in the top numbers drawn from Seminole County. He said he had just told a friend that he bet his number would be the first one called. He stated that he was more than willing to go and believes he is physically fit. Truthfully, Dad loved the Navy! He was a cook onboard ship and loved that too. He never gave up his love for cooking. Some mouth-watering meals were served up when Dad cooked.
I came along in 1942 and the little family of three were happy and content in the little apartment.
When I was around two Mom and I moved temporarily to San Diego to be near the base.
Dad was Honorably Discharged from the navy on my third birthday, December 19th, 1945.
In the coming years two more daughters were born to Mom and Dad. We had moved to a home that Daddy built on a lakefront property by the time the third daughter came along.
He loved planes and flying and in 1947 he earned his private pilot license at the Sanford School of Aviation. I remember him taking us on trips in the plane to visit his sister in Georgia. Also remember him flying a glider plane.
Mom and Dad were Baptists and we went to the First Baptist Church in Sanford.
Dad was a man of few words, but you always knew you were loved unconditionally. You also knew the look that signaled you were in trouble. Regardless, he was always there for us.
He had many health problems that started when I was in high school and had to have a brain operation when I was a junior in school. He was prone to seizures after that operation which was usually controlled by medication.
My mother worked in the Elections office in Sanford and on June 16th, 1978 my dad was supposed to pick her up for lunch. He was home when she left that morning. He didn't show up for lunch so she went home to check. Sadly, my dad had passed away in bed.
I lost a sweet, gentle father on that day, but I am assured of where he is and that I will see him again on the sweet day of redemption.
Dad's favorite hymn was "The Old Rugged Cross"
So Daddy, this is for you............
~~THE OLD RUGGED CROSS~~
Text and Music:George Bennard
On a hill far a-way stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suff'ring and shame,
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best,
For a world of lost sinners was slain,
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down,
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
My Father, who was born in Trenton, Florida to Charley C. and Lola Layfield Collins on March 18th, 1917.
My mother and father were classmates in Seminole High School in Sanford, Florida. Like my husband and I, they were high school sweethearts. Dad knew cuteness when he saw it, or at least that's what he always told my sisters and I.
When he graduated he started working at the Railway Express Agency in Sanford. At that time my grandfather was the Agent, or manager, at the station.
Mom and Dad were married March 23rd, 1940.
Their first home was a converted garage apartment in Sanford. I can remember it quite well because we lived there until I was in the second grade. Downstairs was a large garage and laundry area. It is still there and I take trips by there sometimes just to check it out. My grandparents lived a scant three blocks from there.
Dad was drafted into the Navy about eight months after he and Mom were married. I have a newspaper clipping announcing that he was in the top numbers drawn from Seminole County. He said he had just told a friend that he bet his number would be the first one called. He stated that he was more than willing to go and believes he is physically fit. Truthfully, Dad loved the Navy! He was a cook onboard ship and loved that too. He never gave up his love for cooking. Some mouth-watering meals were served up when Dad cooked.
I came along in 1942 and the little family of three were happy and content in the little apartment.
When I was around two Mom and I moved temporarily to San Diego to be near the base.
Dad was Honorably Discharged from the navy on my third birthday, December 19th, 1945.
In the coming years two more daughters were born to Mom and Dad. We had moved to a home that Daddy built on a lakefront property by the time the third daughter came along.
He loved planes and flying and in 1947 he earned his private pilot license at the Sanford School of Aviation. I remember him taking us on trips in the plane to visit his sister in Georgia. Also remember him flying a glider plane.
Mom and Dad were Baptists and we went to the First Baptist Church in Sanford.
Dad was a man of few words, but you always knew you were loved unconditionally. You also knew the look that signaled you were in trouble. Regardless, he was always there for us.
He had many health problems that started when I was in high school and had to have a brain operation when I was a junior in school. He was prone to seizures after that operation which was usually controlled by medication.
My mother worked in the Elections office in Sanford and on June 16th, 1978 my dad was supposed to pick her up for lunch. He was home when she left that morning. He didn't show up for lunch so she went home to check. Sadly, my dad had passed away in bed.
I lost a sweet, gentle father on that day, but I am assured of where he is and that I will see him again on the sweet day of redemption.
Dad's favorite hymn was "The Old Rugged Cross"
So Daddy, this is for you............
~~THE OLD RUGGED CROSS~~
Text and Music:George Bennard
On a hill far a-way stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suff'ring and shame,
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best,
For a world of lost sinners was slain,
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down,
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
!
My Father, who was born in Trenton, Florida to Charley C. and Lola Layfield Collins on March 18th, 1917.
My mother and father were classmates in Seminole High School in Sanford, Florida. Like my husband and I, they were high school sweethearts. Dad knew cuteness when he saw it, or at least that's what he always told my sisters and I.
When he graduated he started working at the Railway Express Agency in Sanford. At that time my grandfather was the Agent, or manager, at the station.
Mom and Dad were married March 23rd, 1940.
Their first home was a converted garage apartment in Sanford. I can remember it quite well because we lived there until I was in the second grade. Downstairs was a large garage and laundry area. It is still there and I take trips by there sometimes just to check it out. My grandparents lived a scant three blocks from there.
Dad was drafted into the Navy about eight months after he and Mom were married. I have a newspaper clipping announcing that he was in the top numbers drawn from Seminole County. He said he had just told a friend that he bet his number would be the first one called. He stated that he was more than willing to go and believes he is physically fit. Truthfully, Dad loved the Navy! He was a cook onboard ship and loved that too. He never gave up his love for cooking. Some mouth-watering meals were served up when Dad cooked.
I came along in 1942 and the little family of three were happy and content in the little apartment.
When I was around two Mom and I moved temporarily to San Diego to be near the base.
Dad was Honorably Discharged from the navy on my third birthday, December 19th, 1945.
In the coming years two more daughters were born to Mom and Dad. We had moved to a home that Daddy built on a lakefront property by the time the third daughter came along.
He loved planes and flying and in 1947 he earned his private pilot license at the Sanford School of Aviation. I remember him taking us on trips in the plane to visit his sister in Georgia. Also remember him flying a glider plane.
Mom and Dad were Baptists and we went to the First Baptist Church in Sanford.
Dad was a man of few words, but you always knew you were loved unconditionally. You also knew the look that signaled you were in trouble. Regardless, he was always there for us.
He had many health problems that started when I was in high school and had to have a brain operation when I was a junior in school. He was prone to seizures after that operation which was usually controlled by medication.
My mother worked in the Elections office in Sanford and on June 16th, 1978 my dad was supposed to pick her up for lunch. He was home when she left that morning. He didn't show up for lunch so she went home to check. Sadly, my dad had passed away in bed.
I lost a sweet, gentle father on that day, but I am assured of where he is and that I will see him again on the sweet day of redemption.
Dad's favorite hymn was "The Old Rugged Cross"
So Daddy, this is for you............
~~THE OLD RUGGED CROSS~~
Text and Music:George Bennard
On a hill far a-way stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suff'ring and shame,
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best,
For a world of lost sinners was slain,
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down,
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
My Father, who was born in Trenton, Florida to Charley C. and Lola Layfield Collins on March 18th, 1917.
My mother and father were classmates in Seminole High School in Sanford, Florida. Like my husband and I, they were high school sweethearts. Dad knew cuteness when he saw it, or at least that's what he always told my sisters and I.
When he graduated he started working at the Railway Express Agency in Sanford. At that time my grandfather was the Agent, or manager, at the station.
Mom and Dad were married March 23rd, 1940.
Their first home was a converted garage apartment in Sanford. I can remember it quite well because we lived there until I was in the second grade. Downstairs was a large garage and laundry area. It is still there and I take trips by there sometimes just to check it out. My grandparents lived a scant three blocks from there.
Dad was drafted into the Navy about eight months after he and Mom were married. I have a newspaper clipping announcing that he was in the top numbers drawn from Seminole County. He said he had just told a friend that he bet his number would be the first one called. He stated that he was more than willing to go and believes he is physically fit. Truthfully, Dad loved the Navy! He was a cook onboard ship and loved that too. He never gave up his love for cooking. Some mouth-watering meals were served up when Dad cooked.
I came along in 1942 and the little family of three were happy and content in the little apartment.
When I was around two Mom and I moved temporarily to San Diego to be near the base.
Dad was Honorably Discharged from the navy on my third birthday, December 19th, 1945.
In the coming years two more daughters were born to Mom and Dad. We had moved to a home that Daddy built on a lakefront property by the time the third daughter came along.
He loved planes and flying and in 1947 he earned his private pilot license at the Sanford School of Aviation. I remember him taking us on trips in the plane to visit his sister in Georgia. Also remember him flying a glider plane.
Mom and Dad were Baptists and we went to the First Baptist Church in Sanford.
Dad was a man of few words, but you always knew you were loved unconditionally. You also knew the look that signaled you were in trouble. Regardless, he was always there for us.
He had many health problems that started when I was in high school and had to have a brain operation when I was a junior in school. He was prone to seizures after that operation which was usually controlled by medication.
My mother worked in the Elections office in Sanford and on June 16th, 1978 my dad was supposed to pick her up for lunch. He was home when she left that morning. He didn't show up for lunch so she went home to check. Sadly, my dad had passed away in bed.
I lost a sweet, gentle father on that day, but I am assured of where he is and that I will see him again on the sweet day of redemption.
Dad's favorite hymn was "The Old Rugged Cross"
So Daddy, this is for you............
~~THE OLD RUGGED CROSS~~
Text and Music:George Bennard
On a hill far a-way stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suff'ring and shame,
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best,
For a world of lost sinners was slain,
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down,
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Inscription
AMM3 US NAVY
World War ll
