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Bill Painter passed away this morning, while in Hospice care after being transferred from the hospital where he had recently been admitted.
So many fond memories.
When my son Carl was only about five years old, he didn't know anyone who was balding. He asked Poppa Bill, "why do you get your hair cut that way?"
In a similar time frame, Carl accompanied Poppa Bill to the dry cleaners to pick up some clothes. When they pulled into the drive up they asked for Bills name. Carl said, "don't you recognize him, he just won a golf tournament and his name was in the paper?"
His big grin, and big heart... We each have our own favorite memories, and funny stories to remember.
We watched helpless, as his mind slowly forget little things, and his conversations sometimes rambled, or ended abruptly. By the time they moved to Tampa it was more evident. We saw him continue to play golf, even when he couldn't drive a cart, or remember how to keep score.
The Poppa Bill we knew and loved, is gone. But by now, I'll bet the following events have already taken place...
Bill knew he'd get to heaven, but was nervous about meeting with St. Peter. He shouldn't have been. Flying across the manicured fairway in front of the Pearly Gates comes St. Peter in a brand new, sea green, E-Z-Go cart - just delivered from the factory in Augusta. He slid to a halt, careful not to rut the turf, and a well used Pro Bag of Callaway clubs bounced in the back. St. Peter boomed, "Billlye Painter, welcome!" I'm sure you've got some questions, and we'll get to that later. But right now we've got to hurry, because the rest of the foursome is already warming-up, and even Heaven doesn't delay tee times!
St. Peter was wearing a hand-made white cable-knit Scottish sweater over a gray pair of wool plusfours, white stockings, a dark blue tweed cap and black shoes with laces and full spikes. Bill thought he looked like Santa Claus in knickers, but didn't say anything. As if St. Peter had read Bills mind, he said, "we'll be playing some holes along the ocean and it is windy, so we will need to dress warm." Bill walked over to the E-Z-Go with those long lopping strides, and St. Peter was doing double time to keep up. When they reached the cart, St. Peter handed Bill a sweater and matching tweed cap. It was then that Bill noticed the cloud logo on the short bill. Bill sat down in the cart, and continued to look down at the tweed cap in his hands. St. Peter looked at Bill again, and with a warm smile said, "yes, you're here." But now it's time to "grip it and rip it, big guy." And with that the E-Z-Go roared off down the manicured, green fairways, and out of site.
In Memory of Bill Painter
John L. Corbitt