Marleigh's Great Grandpa Cline

My grandfather, William H. Cline was an amazing man. The past few years we watched him slip with Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. Last Tuesday morning he was taken to the hospital. Wednesday evening, with all of us around him, Grandpa went to be with the Lord.

My grandpa was the best grandfather that I could have asked for. Growing up, it seemed so normal to always have him around. To always have him at every concert or game. To go spend the night with grandma and grandpa and go swimming at the spa with them. Now that I'm an adult, I fully realize how lucky I was to have such loving, attentive grandparents.

Grandpa and grandma were so involved in everything we did. They doted on our every accomplishment. They would drive hundreds of miles to be at our softball or basketball games. If more than one grandkid was playing that day, they'd split their time, sometimes spending 4-5 hours driving just to make sure we knew they loved us and were proud of us.

My grandfather was a great role model. He had a very strong faith and tried to be Christ-like in his daily life. I honestly can not remember him every speaking badly of anyone. He was always in church and was a very giving man.

Grandpa was a great father. Of course I didn't know him when he was raising my dad and my uncle, but I look at the men they have become. Both my dad and uncle are two of the best guys I know. They are both very caring, hardworking, honest, and have a great faith. I'm sure that is due to the fact that my grandfather was a great father and mentor to them. I also got to see how proud my grandfather was of his boys. He loved and respected them very much. And I know the feeling was mutual.

Grandpa was a wonderful of example of what a husband or spouse should be. Any married couple will tell you that all marriages have their disagreements. My grandparents must have hid them very well. I NEVER heard him every say a cross word to her or about her. No matter what, he respected her. He was so protective of my grandmother. Always making sure she was taken care of. If it was important to her, it was important to him. I can remember when my grandmother's Alzheimer's was progressing. He loved her so much, that he didn't want anyone to realize how much she was slipping. It was yet another way he was trying to protect her.

I am so very thankful for all of my wonderful memories of my grandfather. The older I get the more and more I cherish those memories and realize how lucky I was. I regret that Marleigh will never know this amazing man, but his legacy will continue. Her grandpa is equally as great as mine was. I know he is now reunited with Grandma and they are both whole again. I look forward to seeing you both again someday. I love you so much.