A Noble Journey: June 2015

Everyone has a Dad. Not everyone has a Dad from the Greatest Generation, serving in World War II and surviving German prison camp for 7 months. Not everyone has a Dad who worked hard to provide for his family. Not everyone has a Dad who loved God and served Him faithfully through the last years of his life. I can claim all of these for my Dad.

Charles Daniel Dugger was born in February 1923 in north Florida, the youngest son of Charlie and Addie. Dan was one of 9 children who moved from Macclenny to Hawthorne in 1929 and remained on that property until his death in April 2015. With his passing, is the end of that generation. My Dad loved to work, it's all he knew. He farmed, chickens, cows and a pig or two. He had pecans, pears, and planted the most wonderful garden full of vegetables every summer and fall. I was fortunate to learn how to work hard through his example. I'm sure I didn't understand the importance of what I was learning when I was feeding chickens, picking up pecans, picking peas, shucking corn and many other chores that were in my required of me.

My Dad taught Sunday School from 1960 until 2012. He taught junior boys, preschoolers and worked in VBS. He was a deacon in the First Baptist Church. He visited the sick, and took vegetables to them from his garden. He sang in the church choir for as long as I can remember. He gave me a love for music as he made "a joyful noise unto the Lord" - walking to milk the cows. He was a man of few words, but when he spoke "he didn't stutter"...which meant get busy!

He was married to my Mom for 62 years, and loved her to the very end. He missed her so much, that 5 months after she passed away he went to join her. He lived a long, full life that makes me realize how fortunate I was to have such a Godly example. My life was shaped by him in so many ways...thanks Dad for everything!