Date: Sunday, November 14, 1999
Reflections; Part One
Perhaps, Ron spoke it best when he shared that Dad was primarily a social person. That is very descriptive of this man whose education consisted mostly of has thousands of associations. He was keenly observant, not only of the natural world that he kept himself totally immersed in, and the animals that filled it, but also the social fabric of his public involvement and all the personalities that wandered alongside and through it. His mind carried an encyclopedic quantity of data. He knew something about almost everything, although he was seldom formally trained in any area. Especially in his earlier years, he was unafraid to tackle any task, and he was certainly unafraid to speak straight across to any man. In fact, if there was anything at all he feared, only Mom would know, I'm certain. Whatever knowledge he might or might not have on a particular subject, he always had an opinion for everything, and didn't mind sharing it with anyone who would listen, and he was quite persistent and persuasive with his views. A born leader, who was frequently the spokesperson at large gatherings. If he didn't know, he knew someone who did, or had a pretty fair idea of where he might find out.
I mentioned that he had a great deal of pride, when I spoke at the church. He was proud of his accomplishments, for he truly believed that anything he did was worth doing, and if he couldn't be proud of doing it, he wouldn't. Few of us can say that there is nothing we have done that we are ashamed of. I'm not making the claim that he was above reproach or shame, but his ethics were strong and he truly lived what he believed. Not to say that he didn't have some regrets, especially in the later years, he was wishing he had done this or that when he still had the body to facilitate it. Dave Claypool told me one time what really set him apart from his Dad and his brother Wes, was his total honesty. You could really believe he meant what he said. His word was his bond and he would abide by it.
My Dad was one of the few people I have ever known who was truly at ease with himself. Who can you name that has made a career decison at a rather early age and has followed that path and continued to do it right up until the very end of his life??
Rick L. Northup
Vyron Northup; In Memorium, Continued?? Frank's Dad
