Light/Breezes

Light/Breezes
SUNRISE AT DEATH VALLEY-Photo by Tom Cochrun

Tuesday, July 2, 2019

The Last Of The Old Boys...

    Calvin Coolidge was President when John Angel was born and though he had reached into his advanced years he never lost a sparkle in his eye, or zest for a good joke. That long and good run has come to an end.
     John was the surviving founder of a group that gathered each Wednesday and Sunday at 4PM for a cigar, coffee and friendship.
Phil Allen and Reg Perkins were the other founders. John, Reg, and Phil cultivated the friendship and grew the group for some 30 years.

    Phil invited me into the group when I showed up in Cambria in 2007, a recent retiree and knowing no one in the village.
     It was the place to learn the local lore and ways, find the best plumber, electrician or repairman, hear great stories and  hilarious jokes. But mostly it was about friendship.
  A WW II vet, John had been in sales, he called himself a peddler. Also a vet, Reg had been a battalion chief on the LA Fire Department. Phil had been in sales and one of the smartest investors anywhere. 
   But these old boys were active. John and Reg served on the local government board. They were officers in a benevolence society that did charitable giving, the Odd Fellows. Reg and his wife founded the annual Easter Egg hunt, and Cambria's Anonymous Neighbors, a group that delivers medical supplies, operates a community bus, drives people to medical appointments and more. Phil was  active in his church and a significant philanthropist. Up to just a few of months ago, John still hosted a community forum, was secretary of the Odd Fellows and drove errands for people, as he approached his mid 90's.  
    Phil called it the "prayer meeting" though his wife Nan called it "smoke and joke!" Eventually it became a Sunday afternoon only gathering and some of the younger recruits introduced wine. 
    These guys were role models for we boomers. They filled their years with meaning and never lost the joy of being with the boys or enjoying life despite losses, illness and setbacks.
     Phil was the first to go. About a year ago Reg just went to sleep in his favorite recliner. Ray, Dick and I went to visit John last week and were shocked by his decline. We had seen him just 4-5 weeks earlier and though slowing down, he was still full of sparkle and good wit.
     These men were my first friends as I entered a new chapter of my life. 
      After John lost his beloved Sally several years ago he was over at house for dinner. Lana asked him if he could cook. 
      Not at all he said. 
      She asked if Sally had a crock pot.
      Yes he said and she had a freezer full of meat as well.
      Lana gave him instructions and for years when he hosted our Sunday gathering, his house was fragrant with his latest crockpot "creation."  
      John had a way of making his presence know, did not suffer fools easily, spoke his mind, volunteered most of his days and loved a good story, and especially the time with "the guys."
      We saw pictures of John when he worked for Westinghouse and was a pitchman for one of their divisions. He looked like a David Niven marquee idol. He was always nicely turned out, though the guys kidded him about his white bucks, that may have been as old as some of us. His WWII uniform still fit. He was proud of eating broccoli everyday. And he missed Sally something terrible. 
Ray, part of the youth movement
Dick also a boomer.
Reg, Glen and Griff
Paul-the class of the group

      Bill, Dick, Ray, Paul, Griff, Gary, Glen and I should gather one of these summer Sunday afternoons and pay tribute to our "three Musketeers" and we should keep going "the prayer meeting" smoking, joking and all. Friendships never end.
    Letting you in on a little secret here-John was frequently  kidded about always smoking his cigar in an uneven and precarious manner. He's caught here looking at yet another uneven smoke, for which he was again unapologetic!
     Rest in peace old friend.  


      See you down the trail.

14 comments:

  1. Sorry to hear this. Still, it's an interesting batch of folks who live to such an age and he was able to live life and share what he'd learned with multiple generations of people. Plus he was active and interesting until an age when most of his contemporaries had passed on. Any of us should be so fortunate.

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    1. Harry, it is so very good to hear from you. Thanks for the note. Wishing you strength and resilience in your fight.

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  2. I had the honor of being included in one of those prayer meetings when I visited a few years ago and found a seat next to John. I had my back to the ocean view and was offered a different seat. But I said "No, if I'm going to a prayer meeting I want to sit next to an angel." John got a kick out of that. Great guy. Sorry for the loss but he lived a long and good life. RIP.

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    1. 95 Years is indeed a long and good life. He was a spark plug to be sure.

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  3. A nice reminder that there are those out there, our father's ages sometimes, who led lives that future generations, us, our kids and grands, could use as an example. Shoulders to stand upon. Thanks Tom.

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    1. That "great" generation provides great shoulders to stand on. You know Mike, as they pass, we move into those senior roles. I hope we are up to it. Best to you.

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  4. Good piece of work Tom. John was a good man... now he's back with Sally... Thanks Tom!

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    1. During our last good visit, he talked about how much harder it was to be without her. I think he knew the curtain was falling.

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  5. Just a little more about John. He was a very proud Army Air Force veteran and did not like it when people called it the Air Corps. He joined the American Legion here and was the elected Chaplain for about 15 years. He was an Honor Flight veteran also. He was a hard working volunteer for the Legion and rarely missed a meeting. Dale and I enjoyed dinner with him in our home many times after Sally passed. He was also the Cambria Citizen of the Year in 2003. Of course Reggie was also very active in the Legion and Oddfellows until he had a stoke. He was our finance officer. They are all wonderful souls and I am sure they are in the hands of our Lord now.

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    1. We were so pleased John was in good health and spirits when He took the Honor Flight. In the pictures from that trip you can see how proud and beaming he was. He enjoyed his association with the Legion in Cambria.

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  6. Great content my friend!! Thanks Phil Allen Jr

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    1. Thanks Phil. As you know they were special guys. Your Mom and Dad were our mentors here. Your Dad got me started playing tennis for which I am forever grateful. Of course he said when you get to 70 your game just goes downhill! He was an indelible character and great friend.

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  7. Thank you Tom for this lovely tribute not only to my dad, but also to Reg and Phil. Touching and brought tears at reading. Laura(Angel) Williams

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    1. He was an original and beloved. Our thoughts are with you and the family.

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