After 2003, Al began a slow but steady decline in health. No longer able to care for himself, his son, Jim, moved in with him to help with the house and his daily needs. As time passed, he stopped cooking and took to eating out more. He lost his driving privileges and had to count on his son to get around.
By late 2005, Jim was forced to hire professional care givers to come into the home to assist him in caring for Al. Eventually this became a full-time situation as Al became less able to care for himself. By 2007, the caregivers were working 24 hours a day in the home.
In September 2007, fatigue and age caught up with Charles Albert Galford and he passed away in his home. During the later part of his life, he had always wanted, more than anything, other than to have lived no longer than his wife, was to have died in his home. In this, his wish was satisfied.
Monday, June 29, 2009
The Heart Breaks, 2003
As the years passed, life slowed for the two of them. At first, there was some travel. First to Florida and then to Oregon. There had even been a trip out East. Eventually this began to be too difficult for them and they stopped traveling.
Around 1998. Winnie's health started to deteriorate. She couldn't get around as easy and started to use a walker. Then, over time, her eyesight started to give way, and finally, she could only see shadows and shapes.
By 2002 life was a continuous series of trips to the doctor. These trips became her only times outside the house. Life was closing down for Winnie. Still Al stood by and did all he could.
By the beginning of 2003, she hardly moved at all and she lost the will to live. In March she quit fighting the deterioration and let herself surrender to the eventual. By August she was gone.
Al was lost. His life had been built on two women. Both were gone. He had been married for 63 years, deeply in love and devoted to his wife and now she was gone. It was believed by those around him that he would soon follow.
Around 1998. Winnie's health started to deteriorate. She couldn't get around as easy and started to use a walker. Then, over time, her eyesight started to give way, and finally, she could only see shadows and shapes.
By 2002 life was a continuous series of trips to the doctor. These trips became her only times outside the house. Life was closing down for Winnie. Still Al stood by and did all he could.
By the beginning of 2003, she hardly moved at all and she lost the will to live. In March she quit fighting the deterioration and let herself surrender to the eventual. By August she was gone.
Al was lost. His life had been built on two women. Both were gone. He had been married for 63 years, deeply in love and devoted to his wife and now she was gone. It was believed by those around him that he would soon follow.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Retirement, 1992
In 1992, at the age of 75, Al decided he would retire. At the time he was an electrical inspector for Saginaw Township. He had, over the years, been an electrical inspector for up to nine townships and communities at one time. These included Bridgeport, Buena Vista, Thomas Township, Monitor Township, Frankenlust, Saginaw Township, Shields, James Township, and Spaulding Township.
In his life he had been a typewriter repairman and salesman, a farm worker, a factory worker, an army man, an accountant, an electrician, and an inspector. He had worked at many different occupations but in the end the electrical trade won his attention and he stuck with it for forty-five years.
When he decided he had worked long enough he approached his youngest son, Jim, and asked him if it was alright with him if he quit working. Jim remarked that all Al's friends and peers had given up years earlier and he really didn't need his son's approval to stop working or to continue working anyway.
Al quit.
In his life he had been a typewriter repairman and salesman, a farm worker, a factory worker, an army man, an accountant, an electrician, and an inspector. He had worked at many different occupations but in the end the electrical trade won his attention and he stuck with it for forty-five years.
When he decided he had worked long enough he approached his youngest son, Jim, and asked him if it was alright with him if he quit working. Jim remarked that all Al's friends and peers had given up years earlier and he really didn't need his son's approval to stop working or to continue working anyway.
Al quit.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Heartche, 1981
In 1979, Al and Winnie moved yet again. Having lived on S. Jefferson for 22 years in contentment, they lived only eight years on Creekwood before moving yet again. this time they built themselves a 1400 square foot house in Saginaw Township, near where Al worked as an inspector. This would prove to be the ideal home, one they would live in the longest.
In 1981 Al began to have problems with chest pains. eventually he went in to the doctors who diagnosed heart blockages.
In 1981 Al began to have problems with chest pains. eventually he went in to the doctors who diagnosed heart blockages.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Empty Nest, 1965-1971
As the years progressed, the two boys grew. The eldest, Chuck graduated with honors, as valedictorian, from Saginaw High School in 1965, bound for the University of Michigan. The younger one followed, graduating in 1967, bounded for Central Michigan University. Four years later, Chuck was a law student at Yale University and Jim was earning masters degrees and working as a teacher.
For Al and Winnie, life was slowing down. The house was empty of children. Expenses, never a major issue, but still a problem, were now minor for two who spent little. Life was quiet and serene. Al decided to sell the house they had lived in since 1949 and build again. The new one would be the "ideal" house for his love. The Creekwood house was a ranch, with no basement, as Winnie now had severe arthritis. It was an all electric house, keeping with Al's orientation. It had nearly an acre of land and was Al's delight.
The two of them moved in in 1971 and sold the old house immediately.
For Al and Winnie, life was slowing down. The house was empty of children. Expenses, never a major issue, but still a problem, were now minor for two who spent little. Life was quiet and serene. Al decided to sell the house they had lived in since 1949 and build again. The new one would be the "ideal" house for his love. The Creekwood house was a ranch, with no basement, as Winnie now had severe arthritis. It was an all electric house, keeping with Al's orientation. It had nearly an acre of land and was Al's delight.
The two of them moved in in 1971 and sold the old house immediately.
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