On Being Grateful II – – – Ruth McMullan Wallin 95

I wrote about being grateful on Easter Sunday, when I awoke to the stunning beauty of the Colorado Rockies at Grand Lake.  In that post, I called out a long list of family and friends.  Little did I know then,  just a few hours later, my Grandmother, Ruth McMullan Wallin (“Mimi” to all of us) would pass from this living world to the next.  There have been many great remembrances by family members to each other over the past two weeks.  And while I won’t share those here, I will share the obituary my father, John Luther Wallin III wrote on his mother below.

I also came across this “Morning Prayer” that executive coach Jim Warner shared with my YPO Forum some years ago.  It felt appropriate here as well.

Morning Prayer

Let me awaken every morning and be thankful for what God has brought me.

Let me awaken every morning knowing things are as they are meant to be.

Let me awaken every morning knowing life is a journey and I am just a part.

Let me awaken every morning knowing the day will bring challenges, opportunities and learning experiences.

Let me awaken every morning with self-love and self-acceptance, so I may be more tolerant of myself and others.

Let me awaken every morning with an open heart, so love may rush in and out like the tide of the mighty ocean.

This made me think of my Grandfather, John Luther Wallin, JR –  “Luke” who passed way in 1998.  I include an article my dad wrote about his father at the bottom of this post.

Shots of my grand parents

 

Ruth Wallin

Wilmington, NC — Ruth McMullan Wallin, 95, of Wilmington and formerly of Columbus, Mississippi, died Monday, April 1st, 2013, at her home. She will be buried in her family plot in Friend- ship Cemetery, Columbus. A memorial service will be held in the fall, at a time to be announced.

Ruth was born in Newton, Mississippi, to Thomas Eugene McMullan and Ruth Hudson McMullan. She graduated from high school in Meridian, Mississippi, shortly after the death of her father, and moved to Columbus with her mother and brother, Thomas Eugene “Gene” McMullan, Jr.

Ruth married John Luther Wallin, Jr., and they had two children, John Luther Wallin III and Twila Wallin Robertson (deceased).

Luther Wallin, Jr., operated Wallin Lumber Company for many years, and later served as president of the National Bank of Commerce in Columbus. He and Ruth were early supporters of wildlife and forest conservation, and active members of the First Baptist Church. Ruth was known for her flower garden and contributed to her garden club’s “Plant the Town” initiative. Many live oaks and flowering pears in Colum- bus are the legacy of her group.

Ruth had a special grace, beauty, and dignity. She was a wonderful mother and grandmother, and had many friends.

She is survived by her son, Luther Wallin III, and his wife, Mary Elizabeth Gordon; by Luke’s children, Smoke and his wife Anitra, Clay and his wife Sarah, Rain, Patrick and his wife Sheen, and Eva; by Twila’s children, Kim- berly and Lisa; by 11 great grandchildren; and by her sister-in-law, Dorothy McMullan Lang- ford, and her daughter Nan.

Friends and family may leave remembrances of Ruth at www.wilmingtoncares.com website.

Ruth Wallin obituary

I include here an article my father wrote about his father (my grandfather).  Memories of my Father – John Luther Wallin Jr

ALso a link to Mississippi Writers and Musicians site honoring my Dad, Luke.. . http://www.mswritersandmusicians.com/writers/luke-wallin.html#websites