We wanted to post a place for Dad on our blog. Below are some photos and the Eulogy from the funeral. We miss him something terrible and wish he was still with us. It is so hard going to work, having birthdays and holidays without him. The kids all miss him something aweful and even little Phillips looks at his picture on our computer screen (the picture of Dad with Grandma, Grandpa and Phillip below is our background) and talks about him.
I wanted to say a few words about the life of my father but I don’t think that just a few words would be able to describe the impact my father had on this world.
This story of a wonderful caring man started in the small Missouri town of Maryville. Dad was the oldest of five children for Bob and Bea Hood. He grew up in a continually moving Coast Guard family but always returned to his roots in the summer to work on his Aunt and Uncle’s farm. His parent brought him to be a caring young man with a great work ethic. Always taking on challenges and striving to succeed. Dad showed this in a few ways as a young man. He earned scouting’s highest honor by becoming an Eagle Scout.
My father continued to try and work a full time job and attend college at the same time. As much as he wanted to complete college, it just was the right time for him. This brought him to the life he came to love. He joined the United States Coast Guard. My father was sworn in by his father and had a great 25 year career in the Coast Guard. Again, his hard work would pay off for him. He was able to see the world and bring back stories of these foreign lands to his young sons. As this young man progressed through the years, he continued to move through the ranks. He took the following path to his final destination: Chief, Warrant Officer, OCS graduate, and Lieutenant. He was an example of the working man’s officer. After 25 years, it was time to move on but I do believe he would have stayed 25 more years if they let him. Retirement from the Coast Guard would not hold this ambitious man back. It was just the beginning to the second half of his life.
After retiring, my father reignited his dream to complete his education. He moved back to Oklahoma and completed his Bachelors degree at the University of Central Oklahoma. He continued on in his education and looked to complete his Masters degree. While pursuing his Masters he looked for ways to help with Disabled Veterans and help in the transition of those recently getting out of the military. Again, circumstances put his education and dreams of helping others through training and guidance was put on hold.
Over the next years, he would move from Oklahoma to Georgia to Vermont and finally putting down roots in Elizabeth City, NC. He not only found a place to settle but also was to reconnect with his love by joining the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Again, he was able to do the things he loved. He could educate, train and be connected to the Coast Guard. You would think was the end of the story. Unfortunately, the Auxiliary did not pay the bills but there was a little green lizard in Virginia Beach that was willing to pay him to be a claims adjuster.
As my brother or son, as he was referred to on occasion, started his career at GEICO, it was going to be a transitional job. I too started at GEICO as transitional job but transition turned into 16 years. The same thing would happen to my father. During his career he progressed through the CSR department and was recently selected for his dream job as a coach. In this position, he felt he could make a difference and use his training skills and passion to educate others. I believe he would have been the best coach the CSR department had ever scene!!
Now it sounds like my father was all work and no play. Or that he loved only the Coast Guard but this far from the truth. My father’s true love was his family and living life to the fullest.
My father loved his family more than anything in this world. In a recent conversation, we were discussing our priorities and we both agreed our number priority in life was to take care of the beautiful women we called our wives. The love that my father had for Elizabeth was unwavering and withstood the test of time. His love didn’t just end with his wife but carried through to his parents, his brother and sisters, his sons and daughter and his eleven grandchildren.
He may not have showed it all of the time but he made sure each group knew they were loved. This love came in many different ways. It may have been a kind word just at the right time, some came as advice to a young man who was dealing with the emotions of a break up, it came in the form of making goofy faces underwater with a group of little girls and even in the long discussions about baseball and baseball cards with a little boy.
His support of his family didn’t stop with teaching, listening or playing around. He was the biggest supporter that any young athlete could ask for. He not only showed this support for his children, it carried over to his grandchildren. Even though it was embarrassing at times, we always knew that he loved us and loved to watch us play. My father’s love of sports didn’t end on the fields of the teams we played for, it carried over to his love of the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team and the Oklahoma Sooners in college football. He converted most of us to supporters of these teams because he made fun and exciting to watch the games with him. I know most of you are saying to yourself, “Really, baseball is exciting to watch?” You never watched a game with my father.
Those of you, who know my father, know his greatest attribute was his laughter. It has been said that you can hear my father’s laughter across the entire first floor, up the stairs to the second and even up through the elevator shafts in GEICO’s 250,000 square foot building. Not only is his laughter loud but it is contagious and always makes you smile.
If my father wasn’t making you laugh or cheering on a team, he always had a surprise up his sleeve. I know from personal experience. He always gave me a hard time about wanting to get an earring as a kid but showed up to my daughter’s christening with a diamond in his ear that was so large I thought it was from Elizabeth Taylor’s collection. He even had to show me is new tattoo. My father’s most recent surprise was his return to riding a motorcycle. He loved the open road and the freedom that his bike gave him. Even with his life coming to an end on his motorcycle, he was doing what he loved and had no regrets.
There was no shortage of love and excitement in my father’s life and it showed in the way he lived.
I believe that GOD said to my father as he entered heaven, “Your work is done. Come and rest my good and faithful servant.”
