A Younger
Cousin
 Remembers Richard
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By
George Earley
When Toby rang up Wednesday to share memories of his
grandfather with me, he ended by offering to read at today's service any reminiscences of
Richard I might write.
Of summer evenings: I
quickly realized that -- with the exception of Dick's sister Dorothy -- I've probably
known him longer than anyone else here. Not better, much to my regret, but longer. So this
memory goes back quite a while, to summer evenings in the l930's -- another age and almost
another life,
The mayor: I grew up
in Maryland, and Dick in Ohio, near the little town of Bowersville where his dad served as
the mayor -- a position that impressed me mightily. From time to time during the 30's, the
Earleys of Maryland -- Mom and Dad and I -- would get up well before a summer's dawn and
pile into the old Chrysler and head for Granddad's farm in Ohio, near the Franklin branch
of the family. A long trip in those days, to very faraway relatives.
Magnificent porch: Granddad's
farmhouse boasted a magnificent porch, well suited to hold all the relatives who came from
miles around to share a big dinner with the family from faraway Maryland. Dick was always
there, of course, and I stood in awe of him; for he was almost a MAN, and I was only 8 or
9 or 10 . . .
Making ice cream: After
dinner was over, everyone adjourned to the porch to make ice cream. Need I say that for
the younger generation, this was the high point of the day?! There was a big container
full of mysterious ingredients, and paddles attached to a crank in the lid. |
The
whole works went inside a larger container with rock salt and ice packed into the space
between.
Pecking order: There was a pecking order to the cranking, youngest first and then up by age
until my Dad and Dick's Dad and Uncle Raymond would vie to see who'd be the last man able
to turn the crank. When it turned no more, it was time to open it up and eat, and eat, and
eat . . .
Cranked first: As the youngest, I cranked first, then Dick was next. I was always aware of him
hovering over me, |
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| bigger and stronger and just itching for me
to tire out so he could be the one to speed up that ice cream. The years went by,
and World War II came, and Dick was no longer at those family gatherings, for he served as
a pilot in the Army Air Corps. Warm heart: After the war was over, he came back to school to become Doctor
Franklin, and eventually it was my children's turn to stand in awe of him. But only until
they discovered the warm heart inside, as our daughter, Kate, will affirm. She remembers
Dick, above all, for his kindness and gentleness whenever she visited.
My wife, Margo, remembers our last visit in Paula and Dick's home here in Baltimore, when
the two of them sparkled off each other even when we compared notes on the trials of our
youth. I remembered only the great tradition of the ice cream, guaranteed to wipe out
memories of any trials.
Dick Franklin had a warm heart and open heart for all of us. Let us honor the memories and
rejoice in them!
*Click here for drawing credit and Baltimore's place in the history of ice
cream.
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