Another Tragedy for my 93 year old neighbor..LONG..

[MAD6Gun]

 I have a next door neighbor named Bill.  He has been my family's neighbor since before I was born. He and his family moved in next to my dad and mom in the early 60s. He had 4 kids. His older children were friends with my older brother and sister. His youngest Lori was a best friend to my sister Cheri.

 Here is a little history. He was a paratrooper in the Philippines during WWII. He saw combat no doubt. He has never talked about his service. Even with his own kids. He then went on to work for the railroad and retired. Years ago he lost his youngest daughter Lori to cancer then not long after he lost his wife as well. He has been alone since. His remaining children (another daughter Pam, and two sons Dave and Rick) would stop in and see him from time to time.

 When I met my wife Twila and she moved in with me in my family home Bill started having trouble getting around. Now he can't walk without a walker so getting around his home is difficult.  Twila took it upon herself to help his family take care of him. His daughter Pam stops in a couple of times a week to help him and even hired a nurse friend of hers to take care of him. Her friend Diane comes in every night during the week. My wife helps on the weekends and when Diane can't make it. He also gets some help from the VA and has meals on wheels.

Pam was there for her dad even while battling her third bout with cancer and losing her husband two years ago. Her brother Rick beat prostate cancer last year. They tell us that they appreciate what we do for them and their father. "What are neighbors for" i told them. Easter Sunday Pam gave my wife Twila a hug and thanked her again.

 On Tuesday around noon I answered a knock on the door. It was Rick. Through tears he told us that Pam had died that morning. She had a massive heart attack while visiting her boyfriend. Rick and his brother Dave were over there to tell their father that he has lost another daughter. Bill is devastated. Twila went over later and told me that he is very unsteady on his feet and crying. I'm not sure if he is going to make it through this. There is just so much one person can take.

 The funeral service is Sunday. Twila and I will be there for our neighbor.  if you're so inclined say a prayer for the family of Bill Bonta.

[signart]

Praying in Tennessee for your neighbor and family. God bless your family for your compassion for those who need & deserve it. 

[Gryphon Rider]

“Every time we make the decision to love someone, we open ourselves to great suffering, because those we most love cause us not only great joy but also great pain. The greatest pain comes from leaving. When the child leaves home, when the husband or wife leaves for a long period of time or for good, when the beloved friend departs to another country or dies … the pain of the leaving can tear us apart.
Still, if we want to avoid the suffering of leaving, we will never experience the joy of loving. And love is stronger than fear, life stronger than death, hope stronger than despair. We have to trust that the risk of loving is always worth taking.” - Henri Nouwen

I'll pray for Bill and his family.

[old2soon]

             Prayers up for Bill and his Family from the Missouri Ozarks.  Cuz I KNOW Prayer works.  Thanks Mark for letting us into a private corner of yer life. RIDE SAFE.

[Valkorado]

Prayers out to your friend Bill!

[Westernbiker]

Prayers sent from Phoenix!

[mbramley]

 Prayers from N.E. Ohio.

[solo1]

As Mark said, Billl and I were neighbors for a long time. When Bill went on the Honor Flight, he wanted me to go with him. A WWII combat vet asking a Korean War vet who saw no combat , I thought, was a great honor that Bill gave me.

Now, Bill is in a very bad time and I can't help him. except pray.

[cookiedough]

It may be worth mentioning to his sons to consider moving him into an assisted living facility for the remainder of his life now that her daughter Pam who helped out a lot weekly is gone.  Some are better than others and if he has his wits about him, he may find a few older folks who can ease the pain and talk to daily keeping him company.

I cannot imagine loosing a son/daughter but at over age 90,  the sons/daughters are not that young anymore either so anything can happen. 

[Pete]

Old age is a double edged sword.
The longer you live the more family and friends will proceed you.

Our best wishes to all who travel that path, may God grant them the coping skills to handle it with grace and good will and the understanding to know they serve a purpose in others lives. More so than they may ever realize.

[mojo]

Sorry to hear about Bill.  Neighbors can be as close as family in my experience. Sounds like your family basically grew up together.

I read this a while ago about WWII Veterans, “They are dying quickly—according to US Department of Veterans Affairs statistics, we are losing 372 veterans per day and only 620,000 of the 16 million Americans who served in World War II were alive in 2016.”

WWII ended in 1945 so the youngest Veteran may have been 17 and would be near 90+ today. Some younger if they lied about the age to get in the service.

Peace be with Bill, his family and good friends like you!

[3fan4life]

Prayers sent for Bill and his family.