Celebrating a Life

Hi my WA family.

Today is my dad's birthday. Won't you join me in celebrating his life?

Dixon Allen Waite

He was born March 16, 1917. He died March 2, 2016. Just 2 weeks short of his 99th birthday.

He was married to my mother Nadine (Holt) for almost 77 years. She died a month shy of their 77nd wedding anniversary.

My mother and dad had 4 children. 2 boys and 2 girls. And many grandchildren and great grandchildren, and a great great grandchild in the later years. My mother was always a stay at home mom. She worked hard,though, growing food in the garden, sewing our clothes, and canning for the winter months.

Center front: Mother & Dad

Center: 2 daughters, Jean and Barb Outside: 2 sons, Jim and Bob (and wives)

My dad and mother lived on my dad's aunt's potato farm and he worked as a farm hand for very little money. We lived in a log cabin until we moved from the farm when I was 11, to the house they lived in until their deaths.

My dad was a square dance caller in his free time in those early years. I remember going to the square dances as a little girl. When I got tired, they used to put to chairs together to make me a bed and I would sleep their until my dad would carry me to the car. When I got a little older, my sister and I sang for "round dances" at the square dance halls.

He worked for years for the PA Fish Commission until his retirement. He loved to play soft ball when he was younger and into his 50's. He liked to bowl, too. He was a good horse shoe pitcher. He loved taking care of his property. He loved mowing lawn, taking care of the garden, and even plowing the snow. He would be content with a job well done.

He was a mechanic and carpenter for the fish hatchery. He worked on their trucks and designed and built various things made of wood, metal, etc. He took a welding course to help with his work. After he retired, he sharpened saws, and worked on various wood working projects. I have several lamps, and some boxes, and stands made by him. He took care of the yard and snow plowing up into his 90's; when his sons took over. He didn't want to quit. He loved to mow the lawn, especially. He missed that even more than when we convinced him to quit driving his car.

My dad could be stubborn when he thought he was right. He had very strong ideas of right and wrong. He was a strict disciplinarian with us children; but we always knew he loved us. He taught us to never give up. When you get knocked down, get back up and get back in the fight. He was fun to be around. When people came to visit, they were always greeted with loud booming "Hiya....(fill in a name)" and a big grin. In the later years, the caretakers and I just loved him. He made us laugh and he laughed with us at our jokes. He played cards with one of his caretakers the night before he died.

Caretakers, July picnic

This picture was taken shortly before my mother's death.

Thank you to all the caretakers, who loved my parents, and helped me take good care of them in those last few years.

There is a birthday celebration going on in Heaven tonight.

Thank you for celebrating his life with me.

I miss my dad.

Jeannie