Saturday, January 26, 2008

another death

More than three years ago, with Christmas approaching, I wrote in this entry about my favorite movie, "It's A Wonderful Life".  I mentioned that when I watch that movie, I always see our former banker, Larry Wims, in the role of George Bailey.

Never have we found any other compassionate, friendly person in the role of banker. 

We have excellent credit, but I swear that when we go to Lexington to see our present banker about a loan, I end up feeling like a small piece of manure on the bottom of his shiny black shoes; I return home from there with a bad taste in my mouth.

When Larry was our banker, he'd joke with us and let us know he had confidence in the fact that we'd pay what we owed.  He'd ask how our kids were doing (his two were the same age as ours).   He'd make small talk.

Back around 1978 I was riding to work with a recently widowed friend, Carol.  Her husband had died and left her in dire financial straits, and she didn't know where to turn.  I suggested she go see Larry.

That banker with a heart extended her the credit she needed at a time when I doubt if anyone on the face of this earth would have wasted two minutes on her.

Larry passed away this morning, and although I hadn't seen him in perhaps a couple of years, Cliff and I feel we've lost a member of the family.  We're in mourning, in every sense of the word.

Larry truly had "a wonderful life"; he helped make our lives more wonderful, too.

God rest his soul.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

He sounds like he was a good man. I am sorry for the loss of your friend.

Anonymous said...

I've never met a nice banker! Sorry you guys are so sad. I'm sure he's up in Heaven right now.
Pam

Anonymous said...

I am very sorry for your lost of a dear friend. Your friend is in heaven now . I will be praying for you and his family . God Bless You

Margaret

http://journals.aol.com/gracelandlady72/churchhouseprayers.com/

Anonymous said...

Oh no!  That's a shocker.

Anonymous said...

I'm sorry for your loss.  Some friends are closer than family.

Anonymous said...

That is sad...you get to trust someone and get to know them well and  then they are gone.  Very sad.  

Anonymous said...

We need more people like him in this world.  I sure hate to hear about his passing.

Hollie

Anonymous said...

Oh this is terribly sad.  I wish we had more men like him who got to know people and made good decisions.  Many prayers for his family.  He will be missed by all.  I so love that movie you mention and I didn't get to see it this year and it didn't feel quite right because of not seeing it.
Lisa

Anonymous said...

My sympathies to you and Cliff on the loss of your friend.  I'm afraid that as we get older we'll have more and more of these 'good byes' to make.  I watched it happen to my parents, now it seems to be my turn.  It is wonderful that you had such a good  man in your life, not all of us have that good fortune for sure.  
'On Ya' - ma

Anonymous said...

Too bad every banker can't emulate him.  Linda

Anonymous said...

I send my sympathy to you and Cliff.  There are people in our lives who make a difference, become friends of a sort, are the folks we hope we are most like and become the pillars holding up the backgrounds of our lives and memories.  

More people should be like your banker friend Larry.  

Anonymous said...

Sorry to hear about Larry. He helped a lot of people. Lindie

Anonymous said...

Sounds like he was a good man, sorry he is gone from this world. We need more like him.

Anonymous said...

I am so sorry Mosie...Seems like more and more are leaving this world doesn't it?
love ya,
carlene

Anonymous said...

I'm sorry for the loss of such and endearing figure in your lives. Beautiful telling, I could almost picture the man you were talking about. (Hugs) Indigo

Anonymous said...

I'm so very sorry about this.  A man with that kind of heart must be missed by a lot of people, and I would imagine it is very hard on his family right now.
Lori