Sunday, February 16, 2014
When I first met Jim Peabody, he was the father of my best friend, Shirley Johnson. My two daughters, Erin and Amy were best friends with Jim's granddaughter Robin. That was almost twenty years ago. Jim was a "fun" grandpa who had a boat and loved to entertain the girls when they all came to visit. He was especially dedicated to his granddaughter, Robin, and he always called her "Rosebud." I never had the pleasure of knowing my grandfathers and I always thought how fun it must be to have a grandfather like Jim. As the years passed I began to know him better and learned what a patriot he was and much more about "the man." He truly was a very social person who enjoyed helping people. He was involved with many volunteer organizations. Jim had a great sense of humor and was a lot of fun to have a beer with. I saw him on sad family occasions and happy family occasions. He was a generous, good hearted man who intensely loved his family. In the last couple of years, while he could still be active he drew even closer to his family, taking several vacations with them and sharing his love of the ocean and SanDiego. When illness overtook him, he did not feel sorry for himself and he did not want to burden his family. His requests were few. He wanted to buried in Arlington National Cemetery and had already taken care of all of the arrangements, financial and otherwise. Jim lived life on his own terms and he left this world on his own terms. He died peacefully at home with dignity, his beloved daughter Shirley, and his Rosebud at his side. We will all miss this remarkable man, each in our own way and the world is a better place having him in it. Few people really got to know "the man, Jim Peabody." I felt like someone should be playing the Frank Sinatra song at his memorial, " I Did It My Way." When he is laid to rest in Arlington among his peers he will have "come home." There will be a military honors funeral that he so deserved. He may be physically gone but his spirt remains with us and his legacy is alive in the faces of Shirley, all of his grandchildren. and generations to come. You are in a better place Jim, and where ever that might be I have a feeling you will continue to guide your family and smile as the great grand children hear about their great grandpa. It is my personal belief that at some point people's paths cross again. Therefore, I am not saying goodbye…..So long Jim, until we meet again.
Your Friend Cindy
