In Memory of His Father
It was a mild October morning for a gathering of close friends and family to witness the burial of Howard Cunningham.
It made Marion happy to see their dearest friends attend Howard's memorial service. She hadn't seen some of them in twenty years. Roger and KC stood on one side of her. Ralph and Lori Beth stood behind her along with Ricky and Chachi. Arthur was talking with the priest, just as Jenny Piccolo-Davenport was arriving along with her three sons from different marriages. Joanie went to greet her. Too bad Richard couldn't make it. He wrote a eulogy and asked for Arthur to read it today.
"Friends. Richie couldn't be here today. So he asked me to share a few words with you."
He stood by the headstone and put a hand on the marble.
"If people ask me to describe my father, I would have to say that Howard Cunningham was a gentle man. He loved us kids. He always knew what to say when you need him most. He didn't stand very tall, but boy he's a giant in my eyes. I may have been drunk at the time. I never stopped looking up to him even when I married and had kids of my own. He was a faithful and devoted husband to my mother. He was a compassionate human being. The man was my father. You could say he was my friend too. Bye Dad."
"May you rest in peace, Mr. C."
After reading the story by Ally82, I was inspired to write this eulogy as a tribute to the actor Tom Bosley. This was the first show I watched as a kid new in Canada. Even now it still holds a special place in my heart.