In the rolling hills of East Tennessee
Where the whispers of the wind is gentle and free
A child emerged in the year ’45,
In Poland Hollow, where his dream came alive.
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Land named for his Grandfather, strong and worn,
In a five room home from the time he was born.
With four siblings close with laughter and strife,
No indoor plumbing, but blessed was their life.
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At age of four, school doors swung wide,
Lost from his Mother, fear in her stride.
Mother searched everywhere, her heart now at rest
She learned a teacher had found him, so blessed
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“Come now, little one, let’s find you a seat
In my class, you’ll have fun; it’ll be quite the treat!
For I know your sister from the year before
You’re part of her family, looking forward to you more.
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So here’s to the journeys that guide us by chance
To the leaps of the heart in this life’s wild dance
For even a misstep can lead to a way
Where adventures await at the dawn of a day
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Oh, the years raced along, a swift, fleeting breeze,
A Senior at fifteen, with honors to seize.
Twelve years of classes, no absence could mar,
An exemplary student, a bright shining star.
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But shadows did gather as triumphs would bloom,
When Father fell ill, and darkness brought gloom
The family shattered with financial despair,
Yet hope flickered on, through corporate care.
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Surrogate mentors from management came,
Financed the dreams, igniting the flame.
They chose his major, a path to fulfill,
Graduated with honors, at eighteen, young still.
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With first employment, a great future drew near,
At Redstone Arsenal Military, a vision so clear.
Responsible for indentured missile parts, first to last
Amidst chaos and outdated procedures of the past
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He glimpsed a spark, a thought that came to mind
A new procedure saving millions of dollars and time
For his suggestion, procedure and savings, he brilliantly defined.
Named ‘Employee Of The Month’ an honor so divine,
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The Army Base raised it’s voice to let history recount
The tale of a new employee and his everlasting mount
For the labor of a single mind, forged pathways wide and free
In every launched missile, his contribution will continue to be.
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In nineteen sixty-five, at love’s gate,
Two hearts entwined in a join of fate,
Amidst the stars and family pride,
They continue to walk, side by side.
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The years have danced like autumn leaves,
A tapestry of hopes and dreams.
Through every storm their hearts held fast,
Together they built a love to last.
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Sixty years have graced their wedding bands,
With laughter echoing through distant lands,
Two sons born of love, so strong, so free,
Their spirits a mirror of their family.
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Three Grandchildren, happiness fills their days
A family blessed in countless ways
Two Great Grandchildren, sparks love and glee
Most precious little souls as it was meant to be
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Adventures called from across the sea,
France’s charm and Germany’s glee,
Austria’s Alps in a sunset’s hue,
Hawaii deepened the love they knew.
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Through valleys and hills, their love still glows,
A tapestry woven in the life that they chose,
With every sunset, every dawn’s ray,
They celebrate love in a lasting display.
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So here’s to the RV journeys, paths they’ve roamed,
To the roots they’ve planted, the love that’s grown,
In the fabric of time, their story unfurls,
Two souls, one journey—together, in this world.
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The silver threads in hair and grace,
Reflect the warmth of a lifelong place.
In every heartbeat, memories align,
Together forever, two hearts so kind.
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Climbing the ladder, he held on tight,
From a developer’s desk to a director’s might,
In two Fortune 500 companies, he carved his name,
Weathering storms, with software he tamed.
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In the quartet ‘Sonlife,’ his bass voice rang true,
Fifty plus years of harmony, friendships he grew.
In the waters of our land, a different kind of thrill,
Taught scuba diving at Baylor and McCallie for real.
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With a vision, he built his own business in many days
A technology firm where success came his way
Received national recognition for brilliance in code
Supporting missions and churches on faith’s humble road
Others saw his success with their software needs
They purchased his company, he visioned from a seed
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Now a Director Technology / Security, a guardian’s role,
In the heart of the Convention Center, protecting the whole
Through the various business paths he’s roamed
Many roots he planted, many memories he’s grown.
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Retirement beckoned with new roads to find,
At Volkswagen, trained others, sharing his mind.
Vehicle distribution, processing with grace,
A lifetime of journeys, the sum of his space.
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Lost in school, a four year old started fast
To find a life rich in stories with journey so vast.
From Poland Hollow, with pride and with glee,
Born in ‘45, still today, adding to his legacy.
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