Walt Dawkins
Filed under: Off Topic on Monday, March 24th, 2008 by Nan DawkinsMy father, Walter Dawkins, passed away today. He left this world on Easter Sunday, surrounded by family, music, and fragrant cuttings of the first spring blooms from a garden he nurtured for many, many seasons.
My father was not an easy man, but he had, as we say in the South, *texture*. I will always remember him (as I daresay my high school boyfriend will) sitting on the front porch of our house with an over and under shotgun bent across his knee, waiting for me to return home from a date. Ever the sentry, my dad made sure that there was absolutely no possibility of a long goodbye in that driveway.
Among other things, Walt Dawkins was a fine baseball player. He had a brief run as a pitcher in the major leagues but thanks to the Korean conflict, he spent most of his baseball career on a military farm team. That suited him just fine since he got to play baseball for many years longer than he would have as a pro.
He once told me that the only sound sweeter than the crack of a ball on a bat was the roar of a flight line. My dad loved everything about the Air Force – the discipline, the mission, the ceremony, but most of all, the people. The friends he made in the Air Force were friends he kept for life.
As I flipped through his address book tonight to make the inevitable phone calls, I was reminded of the incredible life my father led. Tucked into the “C” section, there was the home phone number for Claire Chenault of The Flying Tigers (who passed away in 1958).
Safe passage, Dad. Wherever you journey, I hope you find a field of dreams and a good garden, and that you keep the blue at your feet.
Thanks for the memory! I think we can safely say that Claire Chennault was also a man with texture. For more about him, see http://www.FlyingTigersBook.com or the Annals of the Flying Tigers at http://www.WarbirdForum.com/avg.htm
Blue skies! — Dan Ford
↓ Quote | Posted March 24, 2008, 10:51 amJudith Nan
Thanks for the beautiful sentiments. I’m Anna Maria, Bobbie’s daughter, and I heard about your dad often through my mom.
She loved him very much and will miss him. Your family is in our prayers.
Maria
↓ Quote | Posted March 25, 2008, 7:20 pmJudith Nan, your dad will be missed greatly. I spoke with him a few months ago, we talked baseball, football, and more baseball! His voice cracked when he talked about that which he loved, and we talked about you, too! Would love to hear from you!
↓ Quote | Posted March 26, 2008, 8:40 amNan
I’m so sorry for your loss. I’ve known you since college and what has always been apparent is the love and support of your dad. Although I never met him, through you, we all knew you had a Dad who cared enough to guide you…invited or not. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
↓ Quote | Posted March 27, 2008, 9:36 am