Charles Amos Akers I 1908-2008

I just got an email from my Pop that his dad, my grandfather passed away last night. He was staying with my aunt in Illinois where he'd been battling heart issues.

I'm pretty broken up about it, mostly for my dad who lost his last parent yesterday - Grandma Akers passed a few years ago. I can't say I know exactly how he feels, but I've kind of got an idea, and I know if I could he'd like a big giant hug right now.

Grandpa Akers was really sweet. I remember when I lived in Martinsville we'd drive up to see Grandma and Grandpa in Parkersburg, West Virginia where he lived my entire life. My dad was named after him, Charles Akers II, and there were a lot of Charlies in the extended family - I remember all the plates Grandma hung on the wall with names and birth dates. They had these big recliners which were enormous to a 4 year old. Grandpa would sit in that chair and I'd sit in his lap and he'd do card tricks for me. I was mesmerized as he'd tap the deck and pull my card out every time. Later I'd take the deck of cards and hide behind the big chair and try to figure it out. I never could.

Grandpa never got to meet his great-granddaughters Lesley and Cassie, but I'm sure he's got Cassie on his knee right now showing her that same card trick.

I know she'll love it as much as I did.