Our Gentle Giant, Charles T. Young
We all know the man we are celebrating today as a brother, husband, father, grandpa, great grandpa, father-in-law, uncle, cousin or friend. We titled this story from a paper my late sister Joyce once wrote about our Dad. Several examples came from her. She referred to him as the Gentle Giant.
As children we remember climbing on our Daddy’s knee when he got home to tell him about our day. He always appeared to be 10 feet tall. We were sure he could touch the clouds if he just stretched high enough. He knew so much about so many things.
Dad had three sisters, Dorothy and Mary Alice who are here today and Betty who went to heaven before him. It just so happens there is a story about the two sisters with us today. Dad and his sisters usually walked to school but occasionally they rode their blind horse Dexter. Dad says quote, “one time Mary Alice and Dorothy were on him, you know, and was headed for the clothesline. I slapped his rump and he took off like lightning toward it. Well, they were so mad! But you know, they were riding, they could have steered him away from it”. Sounds like a brother doesn’t it!
When our Dad was growing up times were really tough. Jobs were scarce and after the 8th grade Dad dropped out of school. His father bought two one-way tickets to Colorado and they worked there in a pickle factory. When the work was done there they hitchhiked home. At age 16 Dad was lucky enough to get a job at a local brick factory. At age 19 he joined the Air Force and was for awhile stationed in Alaska. Everyone laughs that he left with straight hair and came back with curly hair. Mom says it was those Eskimo girls who caused it!
Dad now decided to take up courting…which is where our Mom comes into the story. She was an identical twin. One night Dad went to pick her up for a date. Neither sister let him know which was his date. He finally stood up and said, “Well, I guess we’d better go” he decided he was taking out whomever got up and went with him.
Dad always used many folk expressions. One we all seem to remember down to the grandkids is “that’s no hill for a stepper”. Whenever we felt a task was too hard, this was his encouragement. In knowing my Dad you know he was to the point with his comments. One expression that he used when we had company that usually embarrassed all of us was. If the visitors stayed beyond 9:30pm, Dad would say, “Well, I’d better get to bed so these people can go home.” Only Dad could say something so bold and yet not offend anyone.
Here are a few others:
If you started to gossip he would say, “are you writing a book? Leave that chapter out”
When surprised, “I’ll be a monkey’s pigeon-toed uncle”
When hungry, “keep your cotton pickin paws off my food”
When asked if something would work he would say, “might will, might won’t”
He loved to tell the little kids, “I’m gonna cut your ears off”
How about, “see that spider on the wall and then he grabs your food”
My kids especially liked, “see my finger, see my thumb, here’s my fist you better run”.
Dad had special names for all his children. Michael was usually, John Henry”; Sharon was called “string bean” or “slim pickins” because she was so skinny. He usually called Joyce “Jauce” rhyming with sauce. Charlotte being the baby of the family, was most often called “punkin tator”.
Dad often used his height, size and dark complexion as a scare tactic. It usually worked when we were kids, later on our boyfriends, and with barking dogs of course.
Dad was a good man of compassion and integrity. I haven't mentioned his John Deere tractor. It wasn't just a tractor it was a tool he used to help others. He was so proud to strut down the street and plow snow from the neighbors in need, especially the elderly. He plowed many, many neighbor's gardens. My proudest example of integrity from our Dad was something he did when I was in college. We were at the hardware store in need of a bolt, which we bought. When we got back home he realized there was a washer on the bolt. (Worth maybe 5cents) he made us drive all the way across town to return it because we had not paid for it. A very sincere form of integrity and a compelling life lesson.
Dad inspired us. How can you not be inspired by a man who with an 8th grade education joined the Air Force at a young age. How can you not be inspired by a man who worked over 40 years in a labor job at the same company to support his family. How can you not be inspired by a man who came from poverty and raised 4 children with college educations. How can you not be inspired by a man who went to the Veterans Home with pride…determined not to burden his family.
Our Dad loved being a Grandpa, they melted his heart. Sharon’s children Stephanie, Dallas, Katie Jo, Joyce’s children Amanda, Jonathan, and my children Leigha, and Chase; and then his 6 Great Grandchildren.
Michael, you didn’t have any children but his grand children pride from you was your music. He was so proud of you for that! And you just happened to pick the music he appreciated! Not only did you play the music but you became one of the most respected musicians in the world. Just two weeks ago he asked me to bring an old fiddle he had given me to keep for him. He felt like touching it, picking on it and thought maybe he could learn to play. I think that was his connection to his only son in his final days.
Sharon, Dad always told me you were his guardian angel…. and Sharon, that you have been. When the rest of us could not be here, you have always been here.
Joyce….she got to heaven ahead of him…he wasn’t happy with her for that. Dad loved to play practical jokes on Joyce and she would play back on him. Watch out Joyce cause here he comes…I bet he has been planning a good one for you for awhile.
Me, well I got lucky enough to be the baby, his youngest, most independent, stubborn child. Lets just say I kept him young all these years.
The son-in-laws, well if he didn’t have you to harass I don’t know what he would have done. He loved you all so much but he sure liked to make you pay for it!
Lastly his bride of over 50 years, our Mom. I think of my parents and they haven’t always been rosy times. They were not always the ones you saw holding hands walking down the road. But what my parents had was commitment to each other and love that is much deeper and unconditional than the things we might all see on the surface. I am proud that our family is very independent but our family is also a unit. A committed unit to be there for each other in times of need, happiness or sorrow.
If you ask anyone who was close to Dad you’ll hear he was really a Gentle Giant. This Gentle Giant has given all of us many wonderful memories and many treasures to pass on to generations to come. This is just a small sample of the richness and goodness of our father. His essence cannot be fully captured, and we don’t want to capture too much today lest it minimize his vastness.
Thanks for everything Daddy, thanks for being our “Gentle Giant”.
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