Remembering Grandpa

Frank Brown Tinsley

August 7, 1924- January 23, 2009

My grandfather, Frank Tinsley, passed away at the age of 84 on Friday, January 23, after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer's disease. We celebrated his life yesterday, and the love he shared with my grandma for 62 years. I am comforted by the knowledge that he is walking with Jesus today, pain-free, and singing "I'll Fly Away" (his favorite song). In his younger years he was a big guy who was never afraid to show his emotions... definitely a little sentimental at times. Even in his last week of life, he was still telling everyone "I love you." He loved to brag about his kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids, often met with the rolling of eyes I am certain. Like any of us, he had his faults. However, he remained committed to those things that matter most in life: his faith, his family, and his friends.

I am greatly saddened that I will never again hear him singing or playing his guitar. I will never get another phone call from him on my birthday describing how on the day of my birth he jumped from his bed at 5:36 am and shouted, "She's here!" Minutes later my father would call and report that I had, indeed, been born at exactly that time. My heart is also made heavy by the fact that I can no longer question him about the Great Depression, World War II, and a wealth of historical and familial knowledge and experiences. I must cling to what I have of him, and hug the rest of my family a little tighter... a little longer. This event has made it even clearer to me what the Bible says about coming to Jesus "with faith like a child." My own child, Gracie, seemed to understand better than any of us that Papa Frank was skipping around and happy in heaven with the biggest Papa of them all, God. He's waited a long time for this moment, and I know he will enjoy every minute of eternity... he deserves it.

We love you, Grandpa.