Memorial Day

As I thought about what Memorial Day means I thought I should in some way honor someone in my life who as passed on. I thought about my Grandpa Wolfley. Grandpa died September 27, 1992, during my senior year of High School. Most of what I remember about grandpa is the big box of pills he and grandma would bring when they came to visit. Grandpa would use his cane to shuffle over to the recliner where he would spend most of his time during their visits. For as long as I can remember Grandpa Wolfley had Parkinson's disease. His hands would always shake and as I mentioned he shuffled ever where he went. Grandma would put a belt around his chest so she could lift him up out of the recliner. My whole life my grandpa was old. I never saw him out hard at work, or walking with a skip in his step, he never wrestled or played with me as some grandpa's do. But all my life I have had a profound respect for this wonderful man. He and my grandma were wonderful examples to us grandchildren. They loved each other, that was so evident. They loved the gospel, and they loved their family.

I recently attended the funeral of my Great Uncle Bob. He was the last of the Great Uncles. He was my grandmother's sister's husband. During the funeral I learned something about my grandpa Wolfley that I didn't know. This story was related by Uncle Bob's son. He explained that when Great Aunt Delsie married her husband, Bob, he was not a member of the church. Some years went by...I'm not sure how many but it was enough to have a few children. My Grandma and Grandpa went to visit Uncle Bob and Aunt Delsie. Uncle Bob and Grandpa were great friends, as Bob's son explains Uncle Bob was looking for an "outlaw" in-law to pal around with. One day on their visit Grandma and Aunt Delsie went out shopping leaving Uncle Bob and Grandpa at home. Uncle Bob made the comment that there wasn't really much to the church. My grandpa got up from the couch where he was laying and for some 5 minutes began to bear his testimony of the Gospel. I don't know what he said, but that next Sunday Uncle Bob went to the Bishop and asked to be baptized.

Until two weeks ago I never knew that Uncle Bob was a convert. I certainly didn't know that my grandpa had some part in his conversion. I was so glad to hear that little piece of my grandpa's life. So today on this Memorial Day I chose to remember Grandpa Wolfley. I look forward to the day I can meet him on the other side and know him in his perfect form, both mind and body, and thank him for who he was.