After my grandfather, C. O. White, passed away in November of 1992, his wife Margaret sold her house on English Street and moved out to the Willowbrook area closer to her daughter's home. At 73 years of age at the time and in excellent health, Grandmother settled in a community of cottages in the Champions area of Northwest Houston.
I had just started college and working part-time when this was happening. Time went on, I met my wife, Carrie, and we were married in 1995. Along with my dad, we visited Grandmother regularly, sometimes eating out with her or sitting in her home talking while watching Johnny Carson re-runs.
She still stayed active, getting out to play Mahjong or Bridge with a group of ladies every week as well as taking walks to keep up mobility.
The truth is, she remained in relatively good health all the way up until 2012, the year that we moved to Taiwan. With our twins, Carrie and I continued to visit her. Sometimes, on our way to her house, I would call her and pretend to be the pizza delivery guy or refrigerator repair service person. Grandmother could usually catch on to what I was doing soon enough. I felt a little naughty for teasing her, but it was still fun listening to her playful correction of me when I got made.
She still stayed active, getting out to play Mahjong or Bridge with a group of ladies every week as well as taking walks to keep up mobility.
The truth is, she remained in relatively good health all the way up until 2012, the year that we moved to Taiwan. With our twins, Carrie and I continued to visit her. Sometimes, on our way to her house, I would call her and pretend to be the pizza delivery guy or refrigerator repair service person. Grandmother could usually catch on to what I was doing soon enough. I felt a little naughty for teasing her, but it was still fun listening to her playful correction of me when I got made.
It's hard to say where I'm going with this. Today, April 10th, is her birthday. She would be 101. I miss her. We all do. Even my sons, her great grandchildren, remember her fondly, though she was often busy warning them not to get too close to her breakable china and glassware that decorated the living room. |
There's always more to say about Margaret Virginia Dunaway, like how she got the nickname "Tiger", or her time in Mexico, or her allergies, or...
Those are good stories, the ones she spoke of often. I hope to share them with you one day soon. Thanks for reading!
Those are good stories, the ones she spoke of often. I hope to share them with you one day soon. Thanks for reading!