Whitehall Happiness Corner: Owen David Shank

OWEN DAVID SHANK

St. Patty's Day 2023 dawned bright and clear. For a change, the ever-present wind was fairly calm as well. This was also the day my dad, Owen David Shank (who went by David) decided to finally leave this present life. Some would say that he graduated to the heavenly realms.

Along with my mother, his wife of almost 60 years, Dad had recently moved to Winter Garden, Florida, roughly six months ago. One of my sisters and her husband converted one end of their house into a kind of mother-in-law's apartment for them. They had previously lived in Virginia, where I grew up.

My earlie...