Today is Friday, January 10th, 2014; Karen's Korner #2735
Long-time Clarion physician Robert Eaton passed away earlier this week at the age of nearly 95. His funeral was yesterday.
Dr. Eaton was a 'class act' for all of those years. Clarion was the big winner when he and three other physicians came to our community over the span of ten years in the later '40s and '50s, serving together more than 30 years. Retiring in 1983, he continued to be involved in the lives of people in his world.
He and his wife Edie served on a study committee to help in the construction of The Meadows, a senior independent living facility in our town. They put their money where their hearts were when they became one of the first residents of the 45-apartment complex in 1993.
Fortunate for all of us was that Dr. Eaton's physical health declined only in the recent past and his mind remained alert. One of the first things the officiating minister said in the funeral service was a parting statement by the ever-alert retired physician: "Tell those attending my funeral 'Help Others!'
Several remarks by two of his three children caught my attention: "The best thing dad did was to love our mother!" (they were married 69 years). Dr. Eaton's day off was Thursdays; he thought if it was his day off - it should be his wife's (nurse by education; stay-at-home mom) as well. So the family ordered a meal from the Teenie-Weenie (popular restaurant of Clarion's history)!
When we think back to doctors of long ago, they were 'on call' at all hours of the day and night - making house calls, delivering babies. His and Edie's children were spread over a couple of decades and they were talented and involved young people. None of them could recall their dad missing their events and activities; they were sure that he did but because of his interest in, and involvement with, their family - they couldn't recall any of them.
No task was 'above' Dr. Eaton (while he gave up his medical license more than 30 years ago and he wanted everyone to just call him Bob, I just couldn't bring myself to call him that). The minister said he was The Meadows biggest advocate, donned zippered coveralls and helped others when they chose to make the facility their new 'home'. Because not everyone knew who he was in his past and with his apparel, they'd assume he was a hired custodian. He'd be asked to install towel racks and help hang pictures. "Why would a doctor do this?" ask the minister, "Because helping others was who he was and what he believed."
A poem which Dr. Eaton had taped to his mirror and could repeat in its entirety, was included in our funeral brochure:
"My life shall touch a dozen lives,
Before this day is done.
Leave countless marks of good or ill,
Ee'r sets the evening sun.
This, the wish I always wish,
The prayer I always pray;
Lord, make my life help others lives,
It touches by the way."
~ Author Unknown
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He earned the right to ask all of us (including Karen's Korner readers) to "Help Others".
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