A Day in Northeastern Ohio

This morning, we said our farewells to Kirk and Lorri Noce, after spending a wonderful couple of nights at their home in Powell, Ohio. Captain Kirk Noce was Charles' commander during part of Charles' assignment in Cornwall. As we left their neighborhood, we spotted two deer in a neighbor's yard; what a nice send-off! We then made our way toward Conneaut, Ohio (near the Pennsylvania border along the eastern end of Lake Erie), where we spent some time visiting with Charles' Uncle Bob (eldest brother of Charles' mother). Uncle Bob, who is 86, served in the Navy in the Pacific during WWII and had some amazing tales to tell. We really enjoyed the visit with him!

Next up was a stop in the harbor town of Ashtabula where Charles and his family lived from 1958-1963. Seeing the harbor with its famous bridge, driving the streets of the town and seeing where he had lived as a small child was really special for us. Then it was west along US 20, where we paid a visit in the village of Saybrook to the cemetery where Charles' great-grandfather, Leonard Plants, grandfather and grandmother, John & Ollie Plants and John's second wife, Hazel, are buried. 

Next, we stopped in Geneva where Charles was born 50 years ago and then in Perry where Charles' family lived before moving to Florida in 1966. We couldn't get to the old house (replaced by a nuclear power plant some years ago!) but we did get down to the shore of Lake Erie about a mile from the house on Lockwood Road which brought back a lot of memories for Charles. 

The last stop of the day was in Painesville, where we spent an enjoyable evening with Ron and Judy Rainery, Charles' aunt and uncle. Judy is Charles' dad's sister. Also with us for supper was cousin Karen (daughter of Uncle Ron & Aunt Judy)! We drove Karen to her home and in the yard of her next-door neighbor, we saw eight more deer! What a day for wildlife!!

A real treat for Charles was when Aunt Judy presented Charles with a shelf that Charles' father had made when his dad was 15. This simple object will be a treasured reminder of this visit and of his dad. Thank God for the opportunity to share with family!!!