Alisyn Stuecher-Dulaney
When I think about Uncle Tom, I remember a loving & kind husband, father, & grandfather. A man of definite set patterns & habits who drank really strong coffee while eating breakfast and reading the paper...every morning. A leader of & provider for his family who went out into the world and went to work every day like clockwork. A gentle man who loved spending time with his dogs and looked forward to retirement so he could take long, leisurely walks with them on the greenway. A peaceful man who enjoyed doing yard work just so there would be grass in the yard where the grandkids could play on their swingset.
I remember that his sense of humor always caught me off guard because he seemed so reserved and quiet.
I wish I had been able to know him in his younger years, when he was the big brother looking out for his little sister in high school or when he was the frat boy falling in love with his soul mate in college. But, all I know of those years are the stories I've heard from Mom & Aunt Cheryl.
I know there are lots of stories from his life, from his friendships & his adventures with his loving wife. Stories from time spent with his boys, their wives & his grandchildren. Stories from trips and vacations. Stories of holidays and birthdays, major life events and milestones.
I know his family and friends will enjoy retelling those stories and cling to those memories of him. But for me, my favorite memories will be of quiet times, sitting on the back porch, talking about the simple happenings of life with a man who simply loved his life.
