It has been a long time since I had seen Uncle John due to me living in Texas, Pennsylvania and some time in Richmond. I was always excited to get to see him and he never changed. He and my Dad, Ernest, started the Standard Service Station together. It was hard for Dad to travel that far so he started Esso Station on Lakeside Avenue in Henrico County. I missed Uncle John being with Dad. Uncle John, Uncle Harry and my Dad to me were the 3 musketeers. 

When I was ready to buy a good car I went to see Uncle John and told him wanted the 1964 Chevy Super Sport with 4 in the floor in Daytona Blue. He smiled and told me, 'You know your Dad isn't going to sign the papers for
that car Ruth Genine.' He then walked me to the show room and showed me 1964 White Impala with stick drive. He was right and I drove out the next day with the Impala. 

I loved being with all the Andrews family gatherings and Grandma Alma's great cooking was always a winner. I'd look around and there stood the 3 brothers smiling and laughing. Uncle John was always smiling. Though I have not seen him in years and never loved him any less.

Love you Uncle John. Enjoy your new Eternal Home with Christ and all
your family.

My dear Uncle John!!

Back in 1963 my parents decided they were going to buy a car from Uncle John. Uncle John was my father‘s brother, Harry. 

One day my whole family packed into a car and drove to Richmond to pick up the car that my dad had purchased. We were all excited. I think I was eight or nine years old at the time. Uncle John held out a set of keys and gave them to my brother - Andy. He told Andy that if he could find the car that fit the keys he could have the car. So of course our new car had been pulled up and was right in front of us and Andy immediately unlocked the car and he was thrilled to death. It was a 1963 Chevrolet Impala, fire engine red with a bright white top. 

Dear uncle John I miss you so much already! You are the best!

In my early teens I delivered morning newspapers and generally started
about 5:30-6:00am.  When it was raining very hard, I would ask him if
he could help me by using his car.  Often, he had been out late the night
before (probably a hot date) and would groan as he sat up on the edge
of the bed.  But after a minute or so to be completely awake, he dressed
and off we went.

In my mid teens, like others my age I wanted a car.  I had an after-school job
but the pay was not so great. However, John found me a car and had, I’m
sure, already negotiated the price lower.  So, for $100 I became the proud owner
of a 1947 Nash Coupe

John operated ESSO service stations at that time and was also an excellent
mechanic.  He generously helped me through needed repairs and maintenance
of my first car as well as several others that followed.

He bought a new 1955 Buick Century and let me use it a couple of times to
impress dates.  Very sporty car!

In my late teens – early twenties, he taught me to play golf.And sometimes
would take my best friend, Tom Millner with us.  We laughed a lot at some
of the erratic shots Tom and I would hit.

Speaking of golf, I regularly teased John that he used up most of the golf
talent allotted to our family and left very little for me.I have always believed
that if he could have had a financial back to get him started, he would have
done well on the PGA tour.

When he married Allison’s mom, I was so very honored to be his Best Man.
And when I married Kay, I was proud to have him as my Best Man.

All my life I have been proud to call him my brother but also advisor and
friend.

God bless you my brother.

Big John wasn't just an Uncle to me, but more importantly he was my Buddy.  I mean a true friend and pal.  We spent a lot of time together over the years.  I hired John after he retired from Don's Trucking, primarily to have a golf partner while "on the road".
I could tell countless stories of our escapade's and golf matches and this is one of my favorites.
We were working in Coral Gables after hurricane Andrew and were there for about a year.
Every afternoon we would head out to a golf course for 18 or 27 holes.
We were both very competitive, especially John.  One day we were playing at Kendal Lakes where they had built a golf course with coral lagoons running through it.
We always played for small amounts, either 1 or 2 dollars a hole plus some "trash" bets.
On about the 16th hole we were dead even.  Neither of us had won a hole, so the bets had stacked up to a decent size pot.  This was a par 3 of about 160 yards.  I hit 1st and pushed my shot just enough to catch a branch and land 50 feet short.  John hit his ball to within about 12 feet of the hole.  Oh boy, did he ever get excited!  He was going to win ALL the marbles!
As he was crowing, a seagull swooped down and grabbed his ball, flew over a coral ditch and dropped his ball in the water.  He immediately started talking about getting to replace the ball and I said, no, we're playing Fla. rules where the gulls are allowed to do that.  He started to get mad then realized I was kidding and we had a huge laugh.  Then I got to pay him about 30 dollars, a not uncommon event.  We had tons of fun together.