Thomas Walter Smith, Jr., 83, of Newark, DE passed away Friday May 27, 2005 at Christiana Hospital. Mr. Smith was born on August 19,1921, the son of the late Thomas Walter and Clara Burney Smith. He worked for the City of Newark and retired from there in 1986. He served in the United States Navy in the Pacific Theatre during the Second World War. Mr. Smith was an avid reader who especially enjoyed Westerns. In addition he was a fan of NASCAR and the Atlanta Braves. He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. Mr. Smith is survived by his wife of 39 years, Helene Smith of Newark; a son Thomas W. Smith III and his wife Ann of Manchester Center, VT; 2 daughters Karen Booth and her husband Joseph of Newark and Patricia Kellermann and her husband Paul of Catonsville, MD and 8 grandchildren, Joshua, Jason, Molly and Samantha Smith, Chris Megonigal and Jason, Alexis and Jessica Booth.

Sadness

My father is dying. He is currently in the ICU with terminal lung cancer that has spread to his liver and brain. We knew he hadn't been feeling well but as a stubborn old man he never told us how bad it was. He will not live to see our referral, most likely; nor the 2 great-grandchildren due this summer to my brother's sons. When you are 83, the resources you can draw on to fight an illness just aren't there. Soon we will have to say goodbye to another member of the Greatest Generation that fought for us in WWII.

Better Now

We're healthy now! Trying to do fun things we won't be able to do in the future quite so easily, like leave for a beach weekend at the drop of a hat, or see Star Wars at midnight. Wait, wait; that's the last movie so we won't be able to do that again anyway!!

Beware of Germs

Do not come to my house unless you are dressed like crazy MJ with a surgical mask and armed with your own Lysol wipes. P has been sick with pneumonia and I followed right along with a bad chest cold. Fun times in the House of K, yes indeedy!
Otherwise, another PIPS meeting was last night. It's our third one so we are starting to see familiar faces and network with other waiting parents. Also trying so hard not to think about the last 3 referrals Catholic Charities have received were all around 3 months after the homestudies went to Korea...that puts us around mid-June if we are to be so lucky.