One less candle in the world

This refers to the shootings on the Florida Turnpike during the night (2 adults and 2 children were shot multiple times each), but it also refers to the death of a gentle, sweet man.

My great-uncle Wellford died on Wednesday. He would have been 93 next week. He was active in his church, travelling overseas many times with mission groups. He was one of those men whose pants got bigger as he got smaller, till the waistband reached almost to his armpits, which just made him more appealing.

He was dedicated to his church, singing in the choir earlier, but in later years just attending the practices and not singing as his voice became less than melodic. He taught Sunday School for many, many years.

His wife was my Nana's oldest sister. She died a number of years ago. They had two children, the youngest of whom died in her thirties of leukemia (in only 6 weeks after the diagnosis). The older sister is a sweet, gentle woman who married a pastor. Wellford often travelled overseas with her husband.

Wellford lived alone after his wife died but continued to stay in close touch with her remaining family. They often ate out together once a week, they went to church together, they visited frequently. A couple of months ago he went to live with his daughter and her family until he moved into a nursing home.

Wellford was well-known for his love of travel, photography, and rock collecting. He enjoyed sharing his photos and collections with family and friends.

From his obituary:

Luther Wellford Swift, age 92, of Hopewell, Va., moved to his mansion in heaven on Tuesday, October 10, 2006 from Manor Care Nursing Center, Wilmington, Del. He was graduated from Hopewell High School in the Class of 1931, along with his brother, Robert. He enjoyed reunions with his classmates, even writing and reciting a poem about their school years together. He also received a broad education from his lifelong love of reading. Mr. Swift served in the postal service in the U.S. Navy during WWII. He was a money order clerk and eventually postmaster of the Hopewell Post Office, retiring in 1976. His life was busy with church involvement, serving at various times as treasurer, adult Sunday School teacher, missions committee chairman, Singing Saints choir member and trustee of First Baptist Church, Hopewell. He participated on mission teams for many years, starting with church construction in Endicott, N.Y. and in several European, South and Central American countries and in later years with evangelism teams, notably eight trips to Brazil and three to Moldova in Eastern Europe - 27 trips in all, the last one to the Bahamas in the summer of 2005. Mr. Swift was predeceased by his wife of 54 years, Beulah Alma ONeill; a daughter, Judy Anne Sawyer and his brothers, Robert N. and Frank T. and their wives. Among the survivors are a daughter and her husband; a sister-in-law; six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Your family will miss you, Wellford.