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JUNIATA CONCRETE
Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022
The Sentinel JUNIATA VALLEY MAGAZINE
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He was my superhero Brian Carson
Brian Carson was a member of The Sentinel‘s sports staff and continues to write as a correspondent.
On Page 57, he tells the story of his wife Maria‘s grandparents, who inspired her as she was groing up in Italy.
LEWISTOWN — My grandfather wasn’t a famous athlete, a world-renowned celebrity, or a billionaire business owner. No, my grandfather wasn’t any of these. He was so much more.
William Edward Price, my mother’s father, was my superhero. A real-life Superman ripped from the pages of the comics. He was everything in my eyes and still is, even though he’s been gone for 40 years. His legacy is lasting in my heart.
He couldn’t leap tall buildings in a single bound, and he, most assuredly, wasn’t faster than a speeding bullet. His abilities were far more significant. His superpowers were his passion for living, his gift for storytelling, and the love he had for his family.
My grandfather was my father figure, mentor and role model. My dad died in 1969 when I was only 2 1/2 years old, and grandpa took his place. He moved in with us after he retired from Standard Steel. He gave advice throughout my formative years, taught me lessons by example, and was there for me whenever I needed him.
His wealth of experience and richness of knowledge was invaluable, even though I didn’t appreciate it until I got older. He lived through the depression, two World Wars, and saw man land on the moon. Incredible.
My favorite memories are sitting on his lap while he weaved stories from his rich imagination. Tales of snakes bigger than houses, adventures on the high seas, and chapters from his own life were daily occurrences. No one could tell a story like my grandfather. Because of him, I became a writer and a lover of books. He was an avid reader, and so am I.
He loved life. I never remember hearing a depressing word come from his mouth. Every day was a rich tapestry of delight for him. He stayed young at heart, even playing football with us in the backyard into his mid-seventies.
I can close my eyes and picture it like it was yesterday, my Saturday jaunts with Pap. I would get an allowance of one dollar a week for doing chores, and we would walk, hand-in-hand, either to Havice’s store, where I would get a Wible Red Cream Soda and a Marathon candy bar.
God, I miss those Marathon bars.
Or we’d head over to Abie Walker’s in Burnham, where I would buy four comic books. They were only a quarter each back in the ’70s. I would devour them over the weekend. Fun times and glorious memories for me to have.
Eventually, time and arthritis took away the vigor of my grandfather. He lost mobility and spent his last five years confined to a chair. He may have lost freedom of movement, but not his enthusiasm and love of life.
The latter years of his life and how he handled it taught me many lessons. The dignity and grace he carried himself, his cheerful spirit through times of adversity, and his undying love of family.
He died in his sleep, at peace with the world and himself, in 1982.
My grandfather’s favorite saying was, “There is only one success ... to be able to spend your life in your own way.”
William Edward Price lived and embodied those words for 85 years. He was a genuine success in every sense of the word.
And I am proud to call him my grandfather.
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Peachey
Continued from Page 18
her take the bun out of her hair and make two little braids before she climbed into bed. This was her nightly ritual for more than 90 years.
We have so many precious memories. This was a fun trip down memory lane. Thanks for joining us on this journey!
Blanche Esther Carson Peachey, 1888 to 1985.
Sincerely, Blanche’s great-granddaughters: Melody, Betsy and Nancy.
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