A Celebration-of-Life Funeral Liturgy and Memorial Service
Saturday, February 11th (Reuben's 70th birthday) at 1:30 p.m.
Plymouth Congregational Church
at North Capitol Street and Missouri Ave NE
Stories and memories to be shared after the service (more info...)
After more than eight-years of heroically enduring the ravaging effects of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), a rare and fatal neurological disorder, Reuben died peacefully. He never complained about what he was going through and right to the end lived life to the fullest extent possible. As death approached we continued to hold his hands and recite one treasured memory after another. Long his wish, his brain was donated to Mayo Clinic’s PSP Brain Bank to benefit researchers around the world.
Among Reuben’s many specific directives: the words “dead” or “death” are not allowed during the memorial service.
We his family invite you to share on this blog - with others and with us - any of your own memories, stories and tales. Many tales presumed by some to be mythical, have in fact consistently been demonstrated to be true in the life of this much larger than life man we loved and already miss so much.
It seems fitting that Reuben died on the feast of the Epiphany. A skilled sailor, Reuben’s life represents a unique voyage following his own star from Kansas, across continents where he lived and learned from local families, indigenous peoples, political and spiritual leaders of diverse belief traditions, then home to Washington to passionately pursue causes for social justice and peace. In these final decades he was devoted to developing affordable housing for those with special needs.
We will forever know him a one of the “wise men” of the Epiphany—and heartily agree with any who might even say that at times he could be a wise ass. Always with a great sense of humor, determined to keep learning, he generously invited others to share in his challenges and adventures - the platform for endless wonderful stories.
In the photo here Reuben impishly puts in his mouth one of the oversized shamrocks that appeared in our front yard as we all left to trek to the mountains where Andrew and his bride, Krys, cut down our Christmas tree exactly 2 wks. before his heart stopped.
Kathleen, Andrew & Krystel
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PS - To post a comment, click on the title of this posting, it will take you to the specific page for this blog entry. When you scroll to the bottom of the page, you will see other comments and a form to add your own. Hope that helps!
