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Picture of the day -
January 4, 2006
Grandma And Granddaddy Rouse
(L-R) Grandma Rouse - Granddaddy Rouse - Uncle Bill - Dad
I grew up in the rural community of Widener Valley near
Damascus, Va, a place
where there were no strangers - everyone knew their neighbors on a first-name
basis. And many of those neighbors were also kin since in those days the valley
was more or less inhabited by several large extended families. Names like
Widener, Barr, DeBusk, Thomas, Cook, Rouse and a few others were commonplace, and
everyone who lived "up the valley" felt like they really belonged there.
I was still a small child when my Grandma Rouse passed away, and the only memory
I have of her is seeing her lying in the casket at her funeral. Grandma was a
wonderful woman according to everyone who has ever spoken to me about her,
including my mom who talks about grandma with a
kind of respect and love that is
rarely held for a mother-in-law. I sure wish I had had more time with Grandma
Rouse, but I'll see her again some day and we'll have forever to "catch up".
Granddaddy was just an older version of
my dad in many ways. For example, they
looked so much alike that they could have easily passed for twin brothers except
for the age difference. They shared many other traits as well. They both deeply
loved their families and never missed an opportunity to worry about a brother,
sister, child or grandchild.
Also like dad, granddaddy loved working in his vegetable garden, and he did so
long after most people usually give it up and retire to the easy chair. He also
grafted fruit trees - cutting small twigs from one tree and grafting it
onto another. His yard and the yards of many of his neighbors were filled with
apple trees that grew 3 or 4 different varieties of apples at the same time!
Granddaddy also
enjoyed working with his hands, especially making things in his blacksmith shop
- the only working blacksmith shop that I ever remember seeing. And then there
were his mules...granddaddy's version of the farm tractor. He used them for many
years to pull a plow or disc...and occasionally give us kids a ride!
Like everyone else of his day, granddaddy worked at whatever job he could find
to earn money to feed and clothe his family. At various times in his life he was
a coal miner, a lumberjack, a sawmill hand, a blacksmith, a farmer...and who
knows what else. A true jack-of-all-trades, Granddaddy Rouse could do just about
anything that necessity required of him!
As his health began to fail in his later years, he was reluctant to give up his
usual routine. He loved staying busy and it was very difficult for him when he
could no longer get out of the house and do the things he so enjoyed. Granddaddy
Rouse passed away in July 1985. He was a good man and I miss him very much.
In memory of my paternal grandparents.
Raymond Napoleon Rouse
1897 - 1985
Lura Leona Bare Rouse
1899 - 1965
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