Another Old Soldier Fades Away

A great friend of mine just faded away.  He was a World War 2 Bombadier in B-24's, he was a former ball player for the minor league of the Yankees, he was an educator and school Superintendent, he was a fellow Lion's Club brother, a neighbor, a Sunday School teacher in his church and a brother in Christ. He was one of the most interesting man, I have ever met in my life. Whether he met adults or kids, he always had a smile and had a conversation with you.  He loved people.  He and I sat on his porch and visited many times.  He lived about 5 houses from me.  I went to visit him many times in the hospital over the past year.  He had cancer of the lung and congestive heart failure.  He had been taking Chemo for the past 8 months.  At Christmas time, I went to the assisted living complex he had moved to for the winter months, and I played the piano for the residents there for their Christmas Banquet.  I was honored to be his guest.  I went to see him last Sunday, in the hospital and his son was there with him.  I knew from what I saw that it wouldn't be long before he passed on into eternity.  I joined hands with my wife and his son and had a prayer together on behalf of his dad and what he had met to me and to all the other lives he had touched.  Jim passed the next evening. All of us Lion's Club members went to his visitation tonight and did a group walk through and gave our individual condolences to his son and daughter.  Jim was a wonderful man and was loved by everyone who knew him.  He is now with his Lord that he loved, his son who passed away with cancer about 5 years ago and his wife Silvia, whom he loved and talked about frequently.  She passed about 8 years ago.  I was so blessed to have known him and to have him as my friend.  James Smith was 88 years old.