I was awakened by a phone call at 12:45 am this morning to the sad news of my Grandpa John Loden passing. He was 92 years old, and up until 2 years ago he was able to enjoy his favorite pass time of hunting. Although this is hard to bare, I am very fortunate, because not too many men have had the opportunity to spend 40 years of their life with their grandfather.

I have a wonderful family, and he has been such a big part of it. My mind has been racing all morning, and all of my thoughts are of the good times we shared together. It is times like these when you realize how much of an inspiration and influence a person has been to you. I know he would take pride in the fact that he played a large part in forming the man I am today.

He would read me the Bible in my youth, and taught me about God. He was a Sunday School Teacher, and the song leader in our small country Church for many years until his failing eyesight and hearing prevented it.

He inspired me to work hard for what I wanted, with stories such as how he and my grandmother, shortly after marrying, worked 5 acres of tomatoes by hand without a tractor. He then used the money from the tomato crop to build his home where he raised his four children, and has resided ever since.

I hunt today on the same old home place where he was born and raised. When he was growing up there were no whitetail deer in our part of the country, but when he returned from Germany after WWII he began to see deer. This resulted in a lifelong passion for deer hunting which we were able to share together. Most of our earlier deer hunts were spent sitting on a tree limb in a bull pine watching a scrape or oak tree dropping acorns, or dragging a deer for miles before we "graduated" to box blinds, corn feeders, four wheelers, and game cameras. Grandpa was a "meat hunter", and nothing went to waste. There is no telling how many times I've seen him just shake his head if someone was not keeping the ribs or neck roast off of a deer. That's just how he was. What I wouldn't give to sit in an old pine tree, and drag one more deer with him.

We coon hunted with dogs 3-4 nights a week while I was in high school, ran trap lines during fur season, squirrel hunted in October, and ran trot lines and bank hooks on the river while drinking boiled coffee made with river water. I wouldn't take those times for anything.

Nobody could tell a story like Grandpa. Many hours were spent sitting around the living room wood stove or in the front porch swing listening to tales of how the old days were when he was growing up, past hunting and fishing trips with his sons, stories from the war, or building wood crafts in his wood shop. My friends and I would sit for hours talking with him on the front porch swing, and they all referred to him as Grandpa. My son is 15, and I have been able to watch him on that front porch with a gleam in his eye listening to the same stories I have heard dozens of times, along with some new ones that involved me. Its funny how the stories never got old, and I could listen to them over and over again.

I thank the good Lord for the time I have had with my Grandpa, and I take comfort in knowing he is in a better place today. Like I told my son this morning, he was the best Grandpa a boy could have. If I can be half Father and Grandfather that he was, I will feel like I have done well.

Sorry for the long post, but I know some of you will enjoy a glimpse into the life of a great man who will be missed by many.

Sorry for your Loss Sir...

Story made me miss my pops.

Prayers sent.

Sorry for your loss... Prayers are up for you and your family

Good men like that are hard to find these days..

Sincerely sorry for you loss.

On a positive note your son is old enough that he will remember him well..

God bless

Sorry for your loss. Sure sounds like he made good use of his years.

Sorry for your loss. Be thankful he lived a long full life and you got to have many memorable years with him. Both my Grandpa's died before I was 3, so I never knew them. Both my children grew up the same way as me. Again sorry for your loss and be thankful that you got to spend so many years with him.

Sorry for your loss. I am sure he was a great man and a wonderful grandfather.

Any man that ran coon dogs gets a thumbs up from me!! Men like your grandpa are rare! Sorry for your loss.....

Sorry for your loss.

Sorry for your loss.

sorry for your loss , sounds like ya'll were blessed with a lot of great times

Prayers for you and your family. I was inseparable from my grandfather also. Passed about 15 years ago but hardly a day passes that I don't think of him.

Congratulations on knowing and loving one of the great ones. Sorry for your loss.

God bless you and your family. Thanks for sharing the story.

Sorry for you loss.

Rest In Peace, prayers up...

Thank you for the post and what a nice tribute to your grandfather. Congratulations on such a wonderful life with him and my condolences on his passing.

My prayers are with you and your family. Thank you for sharing your story with us. Your right not to many men get to enjoy their grandpa for 40 years. Looks like he made one heck of a difference in your and others lives. His opening weekend is in a very special place this year!

So sorry for your loss, You were truly blessed with a man like him in your life. Cherish the memories.

My grandaddy was a huge part of my life. When I was twelve, a real estate agent who was a stranger to me and was selling my grandad's house for him looked me in the eye and told me "he's the best thing you got." And when he said that, I knew it was so. He was not a hunter but loved to fish, and the times I spent with him were priceless. The memories are more precious than gold.

I am truly sorry for your loss.

sorry for loss, god speed

A beautiful and loving tribute to your Grandfather. I guarantee that man is smiling right now.


Prayers up.

What a tribute...you made me tear up and remember my grandparents

God Bless

Mike