Floyd White is my brother-in-law. I have no memory of a time when Floyd was not there. I am the youngest of 4 children and am 17 years younger than my youngest sister. My oldest sister, Nola, was married to Floyd. Floyd passed away September 16, 2006. This poem gives some very brief impressions of my memories of Floyd. Keep in mind that these impressions were from the point of view of a very young child. Floyd was kind of a combination of a second father and an older brother but mostly of a very dear friend.

He was a wonderful man that I will always be grateful to have known and to have had as a part of my life. Children loved him and he was a friend to all who knew him.

This poem makes reference to 'the bread truck'. This needs a little explanation. The 'bread truck' was a 1956 Chevrolet Nomad station wagon. I have no idea of how many years they had this vehicle but I know that it was held to gather by prayers and the attention that Floyd gave to it.

Gale L. Wolfenbarger
September 11, 2007

Where Is Floyd?

 'Where is Floyd? Where has he gone?' his family asked one day.
He's gone to war to serve his country, many miles away.
He's gone to fight for those oppressed that cannot win alone.
He's gone to strike a blow for right and protect our rights at home.

'Now where is he? I cannot see?' A father he's become.
A wife and children by his side, he's built a happy home --
A home where all are welcome to come and tarry there
And share with him of all he has and feel his love and care.

Oft times we know it was Nola who asked 'now where is he?'
And when we found him, his feet and legs were all that we could see.
It seems 'the bread truck' was ill again. It needed constant care
And many Saturdays for several years, would fine him lying there.

And when the family met at holidays, no one needed ask,
'Where is Floyd?' for finding him was a very easy task.
You only needed find the children and their joyful sound
And somewhere in their midst was where Floyd was always found.

I never knew a child who could resist his easy ways
Or would miss a chance to sit with Floyd or play the games he played.
It didn't matter whose child it was, to him they were all the same,
The very young and not so young, the wild and the very tame.

When time had finally slowed his step and bent his back as well
You'd think that Nola's task of finding Floyd would not require a bell.
But that was not to be the case, for others needed care --
'Older' ladies needed help and Floyd was always there.

Now where is Floyd? He's gone away; I miss his happy smile.
His Father in Heaven has called him home and I'll miss him for a while.
I'll miss his happy stories and his warm and friendly ways.
I'll miss the brother I grew to love in my carefree childhood days.

His mission on this earth is done and he's gone to fill another.
He's gone to be with those now gone, his parents and his brothers.
He's gone away for a while to rest from this life of care.
He's gone to build a happy home and wait for Nola there.

Gale L. Wolfenbarger
17 September 2006