Graveyard Rabbits--Funeral Cards

The call for submission from the The Association of Graveyard Rabbits this month is funeral cards.

This funeral card (actually made of paper) is from the service of my maternal grandfather, Charles Edward Stark. As the oldest grandchild, I made up the cutesy familiar names for all the grandparents—Grams, Pop Pop and Teek. Grandfather Stark did not have one—he died before I was born. I know of him through the stories and memories of his daughter, my mother.

Charles was the oldest son and child of Charles Stark and Wilhelmine Catherine Schwarz. Born in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, he lived his entire life in the Pittsburgh area. A numbers cruncher, he was employed in the Traffic Department of U.S. Steel in Pittsburgh. As I understand from my mother, he was the head of the department. There were many nights that he brought the books home and worked on them at his desk in the living room, doing the math in his head.

Grandfather Stark was a well loved and respected father, husband and member of the community. His passing took everyone by surprise as he was rarely sick. It saddens me as I never had the opportunity to know him personally.