KIRK'S TRIBUTE TO DAD
Richard Carner was one of the most memorable people I have ever met.
I had the honor of him being one of my 2 fathers for 26 years.
He was an extremely caring person ... always there if you needed help.
I could call on him (and did) any time I needed help and he never refused.
He was also a humble person ... he never bragged about himself or tried to make others think he was something he wasn't.
The only thing I can ever remember him bragging about was his daughters and grandchildren ... and of course Thelma.
He was a very practical person .. he never felt there was any need to do anything that wasn't necessary.
He also loved a good joke and we love to hear him tell one. (sometimes we
would hear the punchline 10 times) ... I'll miss that.
He also loved his history and heritage ... we can all remember his story of his
grandfather Huddleston returning home to Bedford from the civil war with a
miniball in his elbow ... he was very proud of him.
He loved children and they loved him ... he knew how to hold their attention.
Recently while I was visiting him when he was in the hospital with bronchitis,
we talked about how close he came to dying from it.
The converstion turned to death in general and he told me ...
"If I die tommorrow ... I know I have lived a long good life and have been very loved by my friends and family and I will be with Jesus ... that makes me happy."
I told him if he went before me I would let people know that.
I heard him say many times that this world is just a "test" for our entry into
heaven ... I know that to be true and I know for sure that he received an A+ on his test.
I once heard that what seems like the end for the caterpiller is just the beginning for the butterfly ... so know that this is just the beginning for him...
the beginning of his life with Jesus.
I love you Dick and will see you again someday ....
Kirk
