The Surprise of Love

Carl gradually emerged from his mourning period and began to socialize. He was particularly fond of his neighbor, Rita Carroll. Over the years, their friendship developed into a close and loving relationship. Carl recognized how lucky he was to find love once again.

In Feb 1995, Carl’s brother Roy and his wife Jordean, initiated the idea of a surprise 90^th birthday party for Carl. Rita kept Carl busy with some chores, while Roy, Jordean and Mark decorated the house. Carl was definitely surprised when he walked in and his friends and family jumped out and yelled “happy birthday”. Carl joked that he was glad he didn’t have a heart attack from the surprise!

In 1996, after a lapse of 14 years, Carl decided he wanted to go on an ocean cruise again. He invited Rita on a 7-day cruise to the Mexican Riviera and they had a delightful time. The following year Carl and Rita went on a cruise through the Panama Canal. Since Carl had traveled through the canal several times in his Navy days, it was a nostalgic trip for him.

After that cruise, Carl and Rita had a profound shock. While they were gone, Mark’s 23-year-old son Jason had committed suicide on April 23, 1997. Even the funeral had occurred while they were gone. Ever strong, Carl provided much needed comfort to Mark.

In April 1998, Rita and Carl took a cruise to Hawaii that was particularly significant. It was the first time Carl had been to Hawaii since he retired from the Navy and the first time he visited the Pearl Harbor memorial. It was an emotional and poignant trip for Carl as he remembered many of his fallen shipmates and the times he had shared with Lorraine. Mark had arranged a tour with Navy officials beforehand, so Carl and Rita received an official guided tour of the base and the memorial.

Being a sailor, Carl really enjoyed the cruises, particularly on the Holland America lines; because he knew the ships by heart and could get around, even with his failing eyesight. In 2000 Mark joined Carl and Rita for a 1-week cruise to Alaska. In 2001, they all took a 10-day cruise to the Caribbean and in 2002, Mark and Rita joined Carl on his final cruise with a 1-week trip to the Mexican Riviera.

Carl had an accident with bizarre consequences in mid 1999. While walking in the apartment without his walker, Carl fell and hit his head. He began suffering from excruciating headaches and went to see the doctor. After an exam, Carl was given a series of spinal shots, which did little for his headaches, but had the effect of completely disorienting him. When the doctors inquired how he was doing, Carl caustically responded that he was “looking for bullets for his gun”. The doctor didn’t appreciate the dark humor and wouldn’t let Carl leave his office. Instead the doctor called for a wheelchair and immediately transferred Carl to the psychiatric unit at St Mary’s.

Carl spent 5 long weeks in the “Cuckoo’s Nest” before Rita and Mark were able to convince the doctors to release him. It was a chilling episode, because after being in the psychiatric unit for several weeks, Carl began to question his sanity. However, once he returned home, Carl quickly put the episode behind him; even looking at the event philosophically by saying ”I learned a lot from it”.

On Aug 18, 2000, grandson Cory and his wife Julie gave birth to daughter Reyan, Carl’s first great grandchild. Kelly and wife Heidi followed suit on July 5, 2001 when their daughter Madison Marie was born. Teri’s daughter Taylor Nicole was born 2 days later on July 7.

In Jan 2003, just before his 98^th birthday, Carl suffered a mild stroke and fell, breaking his hip (his first broken bone ever). The hip and subsequent pneumonia caused Carl to be in and out of the hospital for 5 months and Carl remains bed-ridden today. The stroke caused his larynx to become incapacitated and Carl is on a stomach-feeding tube. His strength to recovery stunned his family. His doctor thought what Carl had been through would have killed most other people.

After 18-months of being bed-ridden and unable to eat, Carl passed away in his sleep at the age of 99 on Dec. 11, 2004. His sons arranged a service that included a grave-side military 9-gun salute and an honor guard stood nearby and played "Taps" on the bugle. It was a profoundly emotiona moment. Son Jim officiated at the service. Speakers included son Mark and Carl's friends Eric David, Ann Hastings , Debbie Nichols and Lisa Adkins.