Our dads are special men in our lives. They gave us life, nurtured, provided for, taught, and disciplined us. In this blog I want to pay special tribute to Gene’s and my dad, two godly men, who taught us God’s Word, took us to church and Sunday School, prayed for us and lived the Christian life as an example. It was not religion that they modeled but a real, living faith in a personal God.
Gene’s dad: Oliver W. Hertzler was born on September 26, 1918. He has a twin sister, Osie Ziegler, who is also still living. Daddy had nine siblings and they lived on a dairy farm in Denbigh, VA. Tragedy struck their family when he was 16 years old. An older brother drown in a tragic accident on the Warwick River. On September 30, 1939 he married Anna Mae Keffer who is also still living. Daddy and Mama will be married 74 years and had 3 children. They were dairy farmers and when the boys left home, moving the dairy operation to Powhatan, they turned the barns and land into a horse boarding stable. At 95, he is still boarding horses!
Daddy enjoyed hand-craving wooden ducks, collecting antiques and rooting plants and trees.
Daddy loves studying the Word and has written notebooks full of his spiritual ponderings, his life journey and prayers. In his younger years he taught a Sunday School class of sixth grade boys and then later turned his shop into a “men’s den” for weekly Bible Studies.
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Pat’s dad: Dwight S. Heatwole was born on June 24, 1930. He has 12 siblings. When he was 17 tragedy struck his family. His parents took a trip to Florida which was a very special and rare opportunity. While they were gone his one-year old brother died from a heart disease. There was no way to contact his folks and they didn’t call home. They didn’t know their little son had died until they arrived home three days later.
Daddy grew up on a dairy farm. On December 6, 1950 he married Fannie Showalter, his mate of 63 years. Daddy and Mother were also dairy farmers and had 4 children.
In his retirement years, daddy blessed his family and friends through his skillful woodworking; making grandfather clocks, footstools, plant stands, high chairs, and other beautiful pieces of furniture.
Daddy loved teaching and preaching the Word and was very active in church as Sunday School teacher, superintendent, youth leader, and later as pastor.
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Here is a fitting tribute to our dads…..lyrics to the song
Daddy’s Hands
By Holly Dunn
Dad Hertzler’s hands
Dad Heatwole’s hands
I remember Daddy´s hands, folded silently in prayer.
And reaching out to hold me, when I had a nightmare.
You could read quite a story, in the callouses and lines.
Years of work and worry had left their mark behind.
I remember Daddy´s hands, how they held my Mama tight,
And patted my back, for something done right.
There are things that I´ve forgotten, that I loved about the man,
But I´ll always remember the love in Daddy´s hands.
Daddy’s hands were soft and kind when I was cryin´.
Daddy´s hands, were hard as steel when I´d done wrong.
Daddy´s hands, weren´t always gentle
But I´ve come to understand.
There was always love in Daddy´s hands.
I remember Daddy´s hands, working ’til they bled.
Sacrificed unselfishly, just to keep us all fed.
If I could do things over, I´d live my life again.
And never take for granted the love in Daddy´s hands.
Daddy’s hands were soft and kind when I was cryin´.
Daddy´s hands, were hard as steel when I´d done wrong.
Daddy´s hands, weren´t always gentle
But I´ve come to understand.
There was always love in Daddy´s hands.
Daddy’s hands were soft and kind when I was cryin´.
Daddy´s hands, were hard as steel when I´d done wrong.
Daddy´s hands, weren´t always gentle
But I´ve come to understand.
There was always love …..
In Daddy´s hands.
