"My Man Dave" by Mary Bowers
Dave and I were junior high sweethearts, Dave was 14 and I was 13. Talking about this as time went by, we always believed that God brought us together, we just clicked, although at such a young age, we were blessed throughout our entire marriage.
Dave was a year ahead of me in school, upon his graduation from high school he enlisted in the Army in September of 1973.
Dave and I became engaged on November 24, 1973, I was a senior in high school. Dave found out at the beginning of March 1974 that he was being stationed in West Berlin, Germany, and would be there the remainder of his three-year commitment. We had always been together, so I said “you can’t go without me!” So, with our parent’s blessings, we planned a very quick wedding, gown, cake, everything you would expect in just a matter of a week. We were married on March 21, 1974, he went to Germany a few days later, and I joined him in June 1974.
The time spent in Germany was the beginning of building a strong foundation in our marriage. We were in a foreign country, with no parents or friends to run too, we had to lean on each other, which continued throughout our marriage.
Our first child, Stacie, was born in W. Berlin, Germany on October 31, 1975. Our second child, Joel, was born in Martinsburg, WV on May 17, 1979. We loved being parents, both of the kids were, and are, so special to us.
After returning to the states in September 1976, Dave acquired a job with the local phone company as a Lineman. Dave loved being a Lineman, even after retirement he would mention that he missed the job. It was there he worked for 41 plus years, retiring at the end of 2017.
Most of you knew Dave as being a quiet man, but he had such inner strength, and was such a true gentleman in every meaning of the word. My quiet giant, I have said it over and over, Dave was the bravest person I have ever known, the man absolutely was afraid of nothing. I, on the other hand, am not a brave person, he was my protector and hero, he would always keep me safe. He knew my fears and would always talk me through them, never to make fun of me at the time, but may have a little chuckle after the fact. I loved that chuckle and the twinkle he would have in his eyes. I will forever miss him by my side, My Man.
You could ask any one of our kids or grandkids, that when Dad or Grandaddy would speak up you had better listen, there was no arguing, it was done. I remember when our older grandsons were 4 and 5, Dave and I were singing in the choir, the boys were misbehaving in the pew, Dave snapped his fingers one time and they sat straight up and didn’t make another noise. Oh, and I listened too…on occasion he would put the brakes on, but not very often.
Dave loved his family and everyone of our seven grandchildren, Brittany, Michael, Kyle, Ethan, Zachary, Alex and Adley.
I loved to hear ‘My Man’ sing, he had such a soothing voice. We have been beside each other for the better part of 25 years singing. I will forever miss him beside of me, and him coming through the house softly humming or singing one of our favorite southern gospel songs. But I was surprisingly blessed when I discovered that the church had some of his songs recorded, I will forever be able to hear his voice.
If you knew Dave and I at all, you knew we loved our mountain trips to the cabin, that was our happy place. We loved the peacefulness, and just marveling over God’s beautiful playground that He had created for all of us to enjoy. Those times were so special, just the two of us… and Bailey (a man and his dog). We cherished our time together, our quiet times, just being as one, that was so special to us.
Dave and I loved each other deeply, but more importantly we were deeply ‘in love’ with each other, which continued to grow stronger through the years. We were both very secure in our love for each other. I’m not going to tell you it was easy, but for us quitting was never an option.
Some people may think there is some big secret to lasting love. We knew that it just took two people making the choice every day to love and care for each other no matter what. And there we were, through good days and bad days after all those years, still loving one another in ways that were better than ever, and all our own.
Still when seeing him enter a room would make by heart flutter. I loved and will always love him so much, no words could ever express how deep that love is.
Although neither one of us thought this was going to happen so quickly, Dave and I both knew he was seriously sick. He ask me that I just tell that he was a good husband and father. I want to tell you that he was the best! If you knew him at all, then you know how very true that statement is and no further explanation is at all necessary.
Life is changed now, I will forever miss Dave’s touch and the sparkle in his eyes, and everything that just made him Dave.
Dave was one very special guy, and anyone that knew us knew that he was ‘My Man Dave’ and will forever be ‘My Man’. My heart is forever broken, literally Dave and I were one, half of me died with him that day. I am leaning on God through this loss, I don’t know what His plan is for this, and may never know, but I pray for peace and strength every day.
I want to leave a few thoughts with you, I know that Dave would agree:
“Don’t just spend your life with your spouse, share your life. If you aren’t doing this, you are missing out on so much joy that God has intended for you.
Never ever miss the chance to say ‘I love you’, because you may not get a chance to say goodbye. It can all be gone so quickly.”
I will forever miss you, My Man, I can’t begin to imagine my life without you.
Look for me, love of my life, for I will be there too.
All of my love, until we are together again,
Mary
8/29/20
