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General Site Info => General Discussion => Topic started by: 78 Chevyrado on September 23, 2015, 09:08:08 pm
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Grandad Died on July 4th this year. been hard to even come on here since then, or even drive the truck until a couple a weeks ago. the truck just reminded me too much of him, it hurt a lot to even sit in it.
Figured I'd put this up for you guys, yall would appreciate this, this was my grandad that special ordered new and gave me my 78 C20 and helped me fix it up to how it is now. Wanted to do this for a couple a months but it's been too hard. I'm okay enough to do it now.
"Roger Wesley Miller, 2-8-1919 to 7-4-2015"
Here's the thread all about the truck and building it.
http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=9090.0 (http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=9090.0)
Well Grandad's gone now, he was 96, and had been in a home for 2 years, the only reason he wasn't at home was he had gotten pneumonia, and it weakened his lungs so much he couldnt be where there wasn't a 24hr doc in the building. Before he went to the home, I quit my job and moved in with him and was his full time caregiver for 2.5 years. He was awnery and hard to take care of sometimes, as he still wanted to be chopping wood and such and never did take no you can't well... but i loved n miss the old guy.
Whenever I visited him in the home, the very first thing he asked me every time I saw him was "So, you still got that old truck?" I always said, "yes sir I do." He had a picture of my dogs in the back of it framed on his wall and loved to show it off to people. He was proud of that truck when he had it, and proud of it after I made it like it is now. Some people don't like the big wheels and tires, but he told me he wished he'd have gotten big tires for it sooner.
If you've been a caregiver, you know what thats like and how close ya get, even if ya don't get along all the time...
Well I figured I'd tell ya about the day of his funeral.
My parents and some of the family took one car and myself and my dad's cousin reed drove the old truck down there for the funeral.
I met people I havent seen in 20+ years that are old family friends, and grandads old hunting trip buddies, and they all asked, "Is that that old truck of Roger's?" i said yep and the preceded to tell me stories of them hunting in it in Wyoming, camping in the back of it, fishing trips, etc etc. stuff I never heard of before. they all said they were happy to see that old truck down there to see him off. they all loved that.
We had a guest preacher at our family church, he's an old family friend and used to goto to our church, and used to work for grandad when he was a contractor building houses. he's now over 90 churches in North Georgia, and had a meeting with the bishop and was gonna blow him off to officiate grandad's funeral. Before he even knew I'd driven that old truck down there, he mentioned that old truck and a couple of grandad's old chevies in the church at the pulpit when he was remembering grandad... he didnt see the old truck till we were at the cemetary, but he knew it was that truck when he saw it. he didn't ask if it was that old truck, he said thats roger's old truck. i remember camping out in the back of that thing all over the country...
There's probably a lot i can't remember about that day, but i remember that stuff. Grandad's old truck saw him off, and brought back a lot of fond memories for his old friends at a bad time. they were all tickled to death i brought that old truck down there.
Just thought I'd share that with you guys, I know you will appreciate it.
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Another thing I noticed, kinda wierd, got my first rust spot bubbling the paint inside the drivers door at the bottom edge, a month after he died. kinda wierd. hope it's not all about to goto pot! :o
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Awesome Kenny, thanks for sharing your story. Sorry for your loss, I feel the same way about my white 85 that was my uncles until I bought it when they were settling his estate. I just wish I could get it into the same shape is your 78. Someday it will happen but it is just sitting in the garage.
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nice touching story. its the history behind these trucks that keep most of them on the road.
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Kenny, sorry for your loss.
You did the honorable thing by taking car of your Granddad like you did.
I remember a while back you were thinking of selling the truck to buy a Camaro SS. I'm glad you kept it.
I'm sure driving that truck now means more to you than it ever did before.
Fitz.
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Touching, honoring and a great story. You did good for your grandpa man, really good.
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My condolences, Kenny. The private memories and shared stories of your granddad, his prized truck and your adventures together will remain treasures for the rest of your life. It's good that you enjoyed such a close relationship with him and satisfying to hear that so many others did, as well. Best wishes to you and yours.
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Sorry for your loss. I can completely relate. When I drive my truck, I feel my Gpa is proud. My truck was his pride and joy since he bought new. He took his truck on MANY MANY hunting/fishing trips, and I plan to do the same in his honor. Yea is may take a little time to get over the emotional feelings when driving the truck after the loss (as it did me). Some people don't get that the chunk of metal is more than "just a truck". I get that and sounds like you do also. My truck will always be Gpa's truck. Remembering the good times, may help you heal.
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Sorry for your loss, I lost my Dad in June. I feel for you. I can't get near "our" truck without holding a thought about Dad. Great story!
Sent from my Galaxy S4
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Thanks, fellas! I knew you guys get it.
Love the Old school pic 74K20. I got several pics like that of my truck back in the old days.