A Day to Celebrate!

We are so happy and blessed to be able to celebrate the 95th birthday of my dad, Marvin Millard Barkley.  Let me tell you a little about him...

Dad grew up in Watertown as the only child of Millard and Anna Barkley.  He lived through the Great Depression, but doesn't remember it as hardship.  He says his dad was able to support his family fairly well, hauling ice, eggs, and whatever people needed.  He grew up and graduated from high school, and, even though his dad wanted to send him to college, Dad didn't go.  (where have I heard that before?)  He attended business school instead.  He worked for Swift and Co. before being drafted into WWII.  He ended up serving with the 37th Signal Corps., a National Guard unit out of Watertown.  His unit was responsible for laying wire and maintaining radios ahead of the advancing  troops.  Dad was a warrant officer.   The 37th served in Italy and North Africa for 38 months.  Dad earned a Bronze star for his service.

When he finally came home, he brought a ring for my mother, Mary Lou.  And he became a step-father for my sister, Barbara, who was l2 at the time.

Back at Swifts, he was transferred to Fresno, CA, where they lived for a while until his dad asked him to come home and help with the family business, Barkley Truck Lines.  He left Fresno with mixed emotions.  Then, suddenly, in 1947, his dad died--so Dad stayed on in South Dakota.

In 1949, my brother, Michael Marvin was born;  I followed in 1952, Patricia Mary.

Then in 1955 came the terrible car accident that took the life of his wife, and my mom, Mary Louise Barkley.  Dark days followed.  Dad was left to run the trucking business,  and raise two children.  He did the best he could, but found himself relying more and more on alcohol.  He  remarried, but it

wasn't a happy marriage.  Then  after  several years, by the grace of God,  Dad was  able to  get sober through the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous.  He was active in AA for many years, and has helped numerous men and women find sobriety, by turning their problems over to God.  He would literally put his money where his mouth was, by hiring recovering alcoholics.  He was chosen Boss of the Year because of that!  He even served as the state representative at the national AA convention for two years.

Dad worked for many years until selling the business and eventually moving to Sioux Falls, where he met Irene.  They have been together, happily for many years.  They spend many hours on the dance floor!  Truly, they are blessings to one another!

I have only hit upon a few highlights of 95 years well-lived.
If you could meet my dad, you would find a kind man, with a good sense of humor;  a man with many long-time friends; a man who met many challenges in his lifetime.  He is an honorable man, a man of his word.  He is a gentleman, with the manners of his generation.  He loves the music of big bands from the 40's, swapping stories with his friends over a cup of coffee, reminiscing with family, but the really important things he holds close to his heart.

Happy birthday, Daddy!
I love you!