Grampy Lash

On the morning of December 5, 2016, my father, Ed Lash, peacefully passed away. It was time for me to execute a commitment that I had made to both Ed and myself a few years earlier: to deliver a eulogy for him when the time came. A few years ago, before he had slipped too deeply into dementia to understand, I discussed my willingness to do this. His acceptance was genuine, the commitment was made.

Ed Lash had endeared himself to many people during his ninety years of life; outlived many of those people as well. Among those who are still living, there were many who were unable to attend his funeral services, especially his kinfolk from Kentucky who had been such an important part of his life. I feel that I should extend my commitment to him by making his eulogy available to those who were not able to attend.

Ed Lash’s Route

December 10, 2016

Some of my most memorable childhood memories were the times we traveled to Kentucky. We were always well received by our Kentucky kinfolk. Often times there would be a large gathering complete with a meal of every kind of comfort food imaginable. After the meal was finished, the menfolk, my dad and my uncles, would retire outside. They usually inspected one another’s automobiles, kicked the tires, and bragged about things like horsepower and fuel mileage. They would eventually find a cool place, pull up whatever might be handy to sit on, and spin their yarns while sipping sweet tea, puffing their pipes or cigars, and blowing smoke rings that seemed to drift for acres.

One of the first items for discussion was usually initiated by my Uncle Punk (Henry Long).“Well Ed, tell us about your trip and the route you took to get here.” And my dad would tell them precisely which route he took, whether or not there had been detours, and about any stops that were made along the way. My uncles seemed to savor every detail of his narrative.

That is what I would like to tell you about today, Edward Lash’s route that brought him here. Some of what I have to tell will be in his own words.

Ed developed dementia several years ago, possibly caused by Alzheimer’s disease.

He accepted this condition and struggled valiantly to exercise his mind; working on crossword puzzles, playing bingo, reading, and writing poetry.

After his wife, Ressie, passed away, I found a few scraps of paper scattered about their room. On these scraps, he had written an account of the first few years of his life, the beginning of his route. This was another attempt, I believe, to exercise his mind.

My name is Edward L. Lash, born June 25, 1926. My father is Harry E. Lash, born January 4, 1904. My mother is Ethel May Parsons Lash, born April 11, 1904.

I was born at 1248 W. Eugene Street, Indianapolis Indiana. I went to kindergarten on W 26th St. at age 5. I went to first grade at the school on the corner of Franklin Street and Lynhurst Drive. We moved to 15 Spring St, Mount Sterling Kentucky [where I attended second grade]. We moved to West 56th Street in Pike Township in 1933 and I began third grade. My dad, Harry Lash, was a bricklayer.

I later came upon a diary that Ed had used to record some of the big events of his life when he was seventeen years old, written in 1944..

Age 17 – 1944

3-Jun: A very important day! I passed my exam of the Navy. It took six hours.

6-Jun: I borrowed my dad’s Hudson this evening. Ressie Parrott and I attended a wrestling match. Ressie works at the plant [Bridgeport Brass where they met]. I find it hard getting acquainted with her.

18-Jun: Spent my last day home with my folks. It is very hard saying goodbye to those whom I love

19-Jun: Today is the last day. I am due to leave for Great Lakes [Naval Station]. Due to war conditions, I will not be able to resume making [diary] entries until I return.

Age 18

27-Jun: This is the day I was discharged from the Navy; disappointed in a way, but glad to be coming home.

28-Jun: Arrived home from Great Lakes about 2:00 AM this morning.

30-Jun: Went out to visit Ressie Parrott tonight. She was the first person to answer my letters at Great Lakes. She leaves for Kentucky tomorrow.

4-Jul: Went to see a wrestling match with some friends.I was thinking of a girl in Old Kentucky; I’ll be glad when she gets back.

10-Jul: Got my job back at Bridgeport Brass today. Went out to see Ressie tonight. I sure like that little gal!

13-Jul: I went out to see Ressie tonight. We stayed home tonight. Starting today, we are going steady. I’ll never regret this! I know I won’t!

13-Aug: Ressie and I have gone steady for one month today.

22-Aug: Ressie received word that her brother, Essie, was wounded in France. She was very worried.

13-Sep: Ressie and I have been going together two months today.

13-Oct: I got the sweetest card from Ressie today. We have been going together for three months.

3-Nov: Ressie and I will become engaged tomorrow.

13-Nov: Ressie and I have been going together four months today.

1-Jan-1945 (Monday): Ressie Parrott and I have been going together for 5 months, 2 weeks and 3 days. She is very good to me and I love her very much. We have been officially engaged since November 4. We have been saving our money and at this time have over $700.00 together. June 10 is the date set for our marriage.

The past year has been one of many lessons and happy memories. The happiest time was when I found the one that will live in my life forever!

***

Later that year on May 26,1945, Ed and Ressie married. And Ed was true to his word. They had been married for 71 years when his beloved Ressie died, but she continued to live in his life until his ended. He was never able to hold onto the memory that she had died. He always seemed to think that she was somewhere down the hallway.

In 1949, his family of two grew to three. I led the way of course, followed by my sister six years later, and my baby brother six years after that. In between my and Vickie’s arrival, Ed decided he wanted to establish a home in a place where he thought his family would be safe; where his children could receive good schooling and grow in a wholesome environment. His route continued to the little Town of Speedway.  He settled and remained there for over sixty years in the little house on Allison Avenue that he loved so much.

It was also about this time that he started another route – his coffee route. Ed Lash began working for Cook Coffee Company and soon became known as the Coffee Man. Few people nowadays remember such things as Cook Coffee, Jewel Tea or other such home delivery services that existed in those days. At that time, most homes were single income families, few had more than one car. There were no shopping centers, strip malls or quick marts. Ed brought a mini-department store right to their living rooms on the wheels of his orange and black truck, delivering non-perishable foods, small appliances, blankets, and his cornerstone product – coffee. Ed sold a lot of coffee over the years. He left his house each weekday before sunrise, seldom returned before sunset, and drove thousands of miles through every kind of weather to sell his goods. Up until just a few months ago, he could still recall some of his experiences on his coffee route.

Ed never really retired. When the home delivery service melted away, he sold Avon products for several years – one of the best Avon sales people in town. He drove a delivery truck for a local florist. He washed dishes at a nearby nursing home to be near his father when he was failing. He picked up litter in the local Dairy Queen parking lot for a few extra bucks a week. His last job was at Burger King. He was 86.

Ed always enjoyed his work, and he really didn’t care that much about what the job entailed, other than it be wholesome. He gave it his best effort, and he kept his family clothed, schooled and well fed. I think the thing he enjoyed most about his jobs was being with people. He was a likable man – a lovable man. He got along well with everyone. He never appeared to be shy about getting acquainted with someone he didn’t know. And he wasn’t afraid to share his faith.

Ed’s route included his travels to and from Fleming Garden Christian Church. He was baptized at the age of nineteen, and from that moment onward his faith in God became the foundation of his life. He seldom missed a Sunday worship service, and he did much more than simply attend on Sunday. There was: Sunday night worship, Wednesday prayer meetings, men’s fellowships, Thursday night choir practice. He served as a: deacon, elder, Sunday School teacher, Sunday school superintendent, bus driver – and sang in his famous gospel men’s quartet. One of his primary objectives was to see his faith perpetuated by his children, his grandchildren and his great-grandchildren.

Near the end of Ed’s journey, his route took him on a significant detour to a nursing home in Avon Indiana. He justifiably resented this at first, but seemed to adapt over time. He made new friends, told corny jokes, won many stuffed animals playing bingo, entertained others with his piano playing, and garnered the love of many people there. He often told me that he felt like a millionaire. He expressed his gratitude for the care he received. Several of the staff wept when he was carried away. Ed Lash was a peacemaker.

Ed’s faith in God never waned. Even when he had lost track of all worldly things: his surroundings, the year, the month, the day, his wife, his children – he would still raise his hands upward and pray: “Thank you Lord for blessing me!”

Perhaps the most important part of Ed’s route, was his roadmap – his Bible. Ed loved to read his Bible, and study those words of scripture. I asked him some time ago if he had a favorite passage, but I was too late in the asking. He was unable to recall. So, I have chosen the first scripture that came to mind, something that I feel is appropriate, and what I believe is one of the most powerful verses in the Bible – and the shortest.

John 11:35: Jesus wept.

Jesus was having a difficult time. He had been persecuted by his own people, accused of blasphemy and threatened with death by stoning. He had fled to a safe place, a place where many believed in him. Shortly after his arrival there, he received word from Mary and her sister Martha, that “the one you love is sick” – Lazarus. By the time Jesus arrived at Judea, Lazarus was dead and had been entombed.

Upon his arrival, Jesus consoled Martha. “Your brother will rise again.”

Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.”

Then “Jesus wept.”

Jesus wept tears of sorrow.

• he had been persecuted by his own people
• he knew that he would be tortured unmercifully, then experience an excruciating and painful death
• his friend Lazarus was dead

Jesus wept tears of joy.

• he knew that he would conquer death
• he knew that all of those who believed in him would receive life eternal
• his friend Lazarus was about to have his life restored

Jesus wept tears of love!

Then Jesus went to the tomb of Lazarus, and called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”

I believe that when the time is right, on that day of resurrection in which Ed Lash so strongly believed, Jesus will go to Ed’s tomb and call in a loud voice, “Ed Lash, come out!” And perhaps he might also say, “Let’s go have a seat under a shade tree, drink some sweet tea, and you can tell me about your trip, and about the route that you took to get here.”