I remember once, at Christmastime, I think, we were all playing Monopoly.  We were a good ways along in the game when Grandma asked Grandpa to trade his Park Place for her Baltic Avenue so they'd both end up with a complete color set.  Grandpa quickly decided that wasn't in his best interest at all, so he chuckled and declined.  Grandma wasn't going to let him get off that easy, however.  Over the next several rounds of the game, I remember banter around you'll do it if you love me, Grandpa's continued explanations that he wasn't interested in a bad trade, and eventually the game ending in hard feelings.  Grandma seemed to sincerely believe that Grandpa should have given her Park Place because he loved her.  I think of that awkward situation every time I see the Monopoly logo and chuckle along with my Grandpa.

Some other memories also come to mind when I think about my Grandpa.  I remember getting in trouble with all the other grandkids one evening for I-don't-know-what and Grandpa putting us in silent time-out.  He sat down in a rocking chair to monitor our time-out and promptly fell asleep!  We were all too afraid to move, so it became probably the longest time-out ever.  I actually have a large number of memories of him falling asleep in the afternoon/evening in a chair, or a recliner, or the floor in the living room . . . might have had something to do with his habit of rising early.  He could sleep anywhere.

Grandpa stayed with us for an extended period of time more than once when I was young.  I remember Grandpa waking up EARLY, making oatmeal mixed with frozen berries in a gallon mixing bowl, and then reading his Bible at the end of the kitchen table.  As a little boy I imitated him, and I have clear memories of waking up early with him to read the Bible he and Grandma had given me.  I even remember what he told me I should read, the story of Jesus in the gospel of Mark, and I still have that Bible.  Of all the memories I have of my grandfather, this memory is my favorite.

Some other memories also come to mind when I think about my Grandpa.  I remember getting in trouble with all the other grandkids one evening for I-don

By the time I met Grandpa Webb the Alzheimer disease already had some affect upon his mind, therefore, I did not get to really know the man Martin Gilbert Webb. However, there was a strong aspect to his makeup that shone through even with this terrible disease. It was his love for his wife. It was unmistakable not to notice. He often would say he was waiting for her and loved her. On the times I would come to his house to help with meals he would ask if his wife sent me and that she was always good about taking care of him. I would encourage him to tell me about her and he would enthusiastically enumerate her qualities especially in helping him further his own education. Even now there are tokens of his affection for his wife left in the many cards he wrote to her and the way he arranged his house for her comfort.

I have many memories of Grandpa Webb. Growing up Grandpa and Grandma Webb were always next door.  

I cooked my first chicken meal at their house.

When my parents decided to home school their two sons,Grandpa built a chemistry lab in the barn. The same barn he taught Marty and I how to frame walls, put up truss and a roof. 

If you fell down, Grandpa show his concern by ask if you broke the concrete. 

He would get tickled when we were working on a project together and I would figure out another way to accomplish our goal different from what he had planned. For him teaching others was about learning and growing.

He enjoyed gardening and we ate many baskets of collards, lettuce, tomatoes and other vegetables over the years. The one complaint we had was the  four by eight foot tables he built to grow his garden keep multiplying over the years making mowing and weed-wacking changing.

If you were having trouble doing something,  He would say "Your were not holding your mouth right!" and show you how it was done. 

He was a man that lived his religion and tried to instill it in his family. He would regularly read scriptures to us. As we would have a weekly family meeting concerning the apartments he would include a scripture. Proverbs is what I remember him quoting the most at these.

I met Grandpa Webb soon after marrying his youngest grandson.  My oldest three children had the opportunity to meet Grandpa Webb and asked often to go back to Florida to spend time with him!  He will be greatly missed by our family.

Grandpa Webb was always an example and a paradigm for me of hard work and learning. The youngest I ever knew him, he was well into his seventies, and as a child he impacted me with his work ethic and lack of "retirement," even though I never knew him when he wasn't "retired." When I was growing up, he grew a garden, build a shed, went through a triple bypass surgery, cared for me and one of my brothers for weeks when my mom was hospitalized for surgery, built a carport for his motor home, a tree house, a tree house retrofit and countless other things. He never retired and he never gave up. He also never stopped learning, impacting me with reading encyclopedias and all sorts of things. Even as a child I thought "why do you need to know that, you're retired" and he never ceased to learn and grow himself. Never give up, never stop learning. Those are the legacy of Gilbert Webb to me. Someday I hope to be the same.

When I first started dating Gilbert Webb's only granddaughter, I was warmly welcomed by the Webbs. The first time I visited the Webb's after officially becoming part of the family, I greeted them as Grandma and Grandpa. Upon my addressing them this way, they had a moment of pause and contemplation followed be the statement, "Grandma and Grandpa, I believe I like that." I hadn't realized it was a question needing evaluation, but I was glad to officially make the cut. I never felt like anything but part of the family after that. 

As part of the family, one was subjected to their sometimes amusingly protective ways. On one occasion when we were staying with the Webbs, we took a weekend trip to a city in Florida about an hour north of them. They loaded us down with coats, telling us we would be cold up north. The coats stayed in the trunk for the duration of the trip. They were also very free with there opinions about which parks in their town that we should and shouldn't visit. And whenever you left the Webbs, they made it clear that you were to call when you made it to your destinations so they knew you were safe.

Grandpa always referred to me as a "city boy," nevermind I grew up on a farmmake one amusing mistake about goats and that's the end of the discussion. This "city boy" is glad to be the Webb's grandson. I miss both Grandma and Grandpa already.

Grandpa Webb, as I know him, was actually my grandpa-in-law. I didn't know him incredibly well, as my husband and I live in Ohio and he in Florida, but I did get to spend some time with him over the past 15 years. I remember talking with him about the little spoiled white dog that he and Grandma Webb had, as we also had a little spoiled white dog at the time!  We visited him in Florida a time or two, and I remember that he fed us big, beefy tomatoes and breaded chicken for breakfast each morning. He loved it!!  I found it a bit unusual at the time, but now I actually feed something similar to my own son sometimes for breakfast and I think of him each time!  One year Grandpa Webb came up to South Carolina to spend Thanksgiving with my husband's family. My husband's family always eats rather quickly, at least compared to my family, and then leaves the table promptly to go clean up the kitchen. Grandpa and I were always left to finish our dinner together at the table as everyone else ate much faster than us each meal. Haha!  We found this incredibly comical, and we would look at each other in amusement and both smile while saying something like, "Well, it's just us again! What should we talk about this time?!"  Haha!  Grandpa and I had some good chats that week at the dinner table while enjoying our very slow eating. Every evening he wanted to go through a walk in the neighborhood. I really enjoyed those walks with him and my husband's family. I was amazed with how spry and fit he was, despite his age!  He was always smiling when I saw him, and he really loved his family.

Another precious memory of my father I would like to share is the time period after the birth of my fourth child, Daniel. My parents came to visit for Christmas that year and stayed a month. My father, an early riser, took care of my 6 year old son, Emery, who was an early riser also. This allowed me time to sleep in after caring for my newborn throughout the night. What a blessing that was!

For Christmas Daddy and Mother gave Emery and Laurel two new children's Bibles. Emery brought his new Bibles to his grandfather and asked to read them with him before daylight each morning. For a month Daddy and Emery read the Bible together. Grandpa turned it into reading lessons as well as Biblical lessons. When my parents left the first week in February, I began homeschooling Emery again.

Much to my surprise and delight Emery had made tremendous progress in reading. He raced through the curriculum. In the fall he was ready for the next grade. What a special way God used my Dad to help Emery get off to an excellent start in school.

One of my memories of my father occurred immediately after he had triple bypass surgery at Presbyterian Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.  My husband had urged him to go to his doctor, which he finally did, and was told he must go straight to surgery.  We decided to bring him close to where we lived, so we could care for him. My husband recommended an excellent cardiologist he knew, and he had excellent medical care. Daddy did his part to recover.

Immediately after surgery, Daddy had to be taken back into surgery to stop a bleed. Then two others followed Daddy in surgery that day.  The next day when I went in to see Daddy he was eating bananas..many bananas.   When he finished, he announced he was going for a walk.  So Daddy began our first trip around the nurses station at the top speed Daddy could muster at the time.  No one else who had surgery the same day as Daddy was out of bed.  Daddy repeated this exercise routine as often as the nurses would let him. I walked by his side. He was discharged early.  

When I took him to my house for the next six weeks to recover, every day we went for a walk. Each day he insisted on walking a little farther.  At six weeks he was strong and ready to go home. I am so glad I had the privilege of caring for my Dad during this critical time, and the time I had to admire his hard working spirit and see his genuine love of exercise.  

When I was young and woke up early, two of my early memories of my father was of finding him reading his Bible or doing calisthenics as he called it.  Today we call it working out.  Sometimes I found him dozing on the couch with his Bible open on his chest. Two things he loved was studying the Bible and exercising. He did not miss either one. He was very disciplined.

In his 80's and 90's he was still exercising. I joined Daddy walking up and down his long drive way many evenings when we visited.  Daddy was seldom ill, and no doubt his love of exercise kept him strong and heathy for years. He is an inspiration to me. He set a good example. His daughter regularly exercises today just as her father did.  

Good memories to treasure!

Becky Wells Was awake around 3:30 this morning praying for you all! Still Praying! He always made me feel loved and special every time I'd hear him say "Hi how are you Miss Becky?!" I miss him! Love you all!

Ruth Scherer I am so sorry Eddie. Of course my condolences to your mom and dad and yourself and your whole family. At least he's at peace and he's in a better place.

Suzanne Perry Wright What a long and full life. Thinking of your family during this time.

So sorry for your loss Judy. Our thoughts and prayers are with you in this difficult time.

Joni Sue Wright Miller Lots of prayers sweetie. Praying for lots of love and comfort for you and your family and friends. I'm so glad you know where your daddy is.

Mary Johnson Praying for you and Judy. I will always remember your dad as a part of my Jr. High years!

Amy Christine Parsons Praying for your family but understand very well the comfort that God can provide and the rejoicing that happens when you know a loved one is with Jesus!

He raised a lovely daughter and from what I know you had a wonderful relationship- huge blessings. Praying for comfort in your sadness.

Praise the Lord for such a long life here on this earth. Now for his eternal rewards. So sorry for your loss. My Dad has been gone 8 years this month. Not a day goes by that I don't think of him. Prayers for your family.

I am saddened by the news--but rejoicing that he is now in glory with the Master! Corragio!

Judy Morris Mabe So sorry for your loss, Linda. I know you will miss him. It has been 4 years since I lost my Dad and I miss him every day. Cherish those precious memories of your time together. They will get you through the tough days. Praying for God's peace and comfort for you and your family.

Barb Bishop So sorry Linda Was just thinking about him the other day... He was a truly good man and I know he was a great father to you and Judy....I got to know him as a person( not just my teacher!) the summer I worked in Headstart with him...We road together to St Pete I believe for our training...Had I not worked in Headstart that summer..I doubt Id ever become a teacher,,, Your dad was very encouraging to me and a good role model Yall are in my prayers,,,,hugsssssssssssssssssssssssssss

Oh Linda. I'm so sorry. You were such a loving daughter and so carinMichelle Spielerg and attentive even though you lived in separate states. I know he is with our Lord. What peace we can have in that!

My first memory of my grandfather was of him pretending to be a bucking bronco with me, my brother, and my cousins on his back. I also remember taking long walks with him along the train tracks and listening to him tell stories of mischief that he got into with his brother, of how he met my grandmother, of when he was a pastor, of when he was a salesman and teacher, and especially of when he worked for the Farm Home Bureau with someone who didn't know that bulls don't give milk. He really liked to make nonsense rhymes with our names and our middle names. He bragged often about his daughters but never in their presence. He loved them and was so proud of both of them. He loved tomatoes. And he loved, absolutely loved, Tyson processed and breaded chicken and always assumed that everyone else did too. He had so much fun building and planning things. Once when he was delirious with a fever, I listened to him as he planned to take apart his hospital bed for the purpose of reconstructing it into something else. I never determined quite what, but knowing him, it would have been well done and functional. He loved my grandmother for her spunk and thoroughly and regularly engaged that spunk, often to his grandkids' alternating amusement and abject terror. He was playful and fun, but crossing him was not an option. He was the master of ceremonies at every family gathering. At Thanksgiving he always gave a little speech often with a devotional attached. One year I remember his clearly explaining the gospel and urging us all to follow Christ. "That was the most important thing in life," he said. Each Christmas he read the Christmas Story and distributed packages wearing a Santa Hat. He was a life long learner. He read his Bible regularly. He read the encyclopedia regularly. He was always trying to learn Spanish and constantly reviewing algebra. I loved looking at his gigantic periodic table in his office. He was well prepared for anything (as long as the electricity didn't fail) with three freezers and a fridge in the garage and shelves stacked with water. Sensitivity was not his gift, and he didn't always approach difficult situations gently. But sometimes he said just the right thing at just the right time. When we lost a third baby, he said, "Well, I'm pretty sure I'll be meeting that baby before you, and I'm looking forward to it." I miss my grandpa, but that statement comforts my heart now as I mourn his death, just as it did when I mourned my baby. I am so glad that they are together now. I am glad I will see Him again.

As I reflect with great sadness the full and meaningful life of my father-in-law, I also reflect with joy the memories of my being his "physician-in-residence." It was my pleasure to share medical information on concerns that he would express.  My goal was to direct him to a better understanding, so he could communicate effectively with his primary care provider.

There are two events which come to mind relating to my medical interactions with Mr. Webb. In his middle 50's he told me he was having some right upper quadrant abdominal pain, especially, after eating a "heavy" meal.  At first the symptoms were transient and tolerable.  When I suggested that he had gall bladder disease and needed surgery' he stated he could live with it and did not need a surgeon.  Overtime the pain became more persistent and intense until finally "we" came to the conclusion that it was time to see a surgeon.  As his pain increased, his fear of surgery decreased until he was able to accept the inevitable.  

The second memory involves his questions about his shortness of breath and a pressure in his chest with minimal exertion.  With his deep seated stoicism he denied any chest pain.  As we continued to discuss his symptoms, it became obvious that he was having angina associated with coronary artery disease.  This was confirmed by his primary care provider and his cardiology consultant.  He made the decision to have coronary artery bypass surgery in Charlotte, North Carolina, with surgeons I was familiar with and close to my practice.  We had the pleasure of hosting him in our home during the six week recovery period.  

He did well with his bypass.  While in recovery, he jokingly asked the vascular surgeon how long he guaranteed his work. The surgeon, with a little pause, retorted that the guarantee was only good for fifteen years.  Later, Mr. Webb expressed sadness that he would have to go through cardiac surgery again, because he was planning to live to be 100 years of age.  This half-hearted comment of the surgeon was taken with all seriousness and dismay to this forward thinking patient.  It took me several years to diminish his concerns which I am not sure if I ever did completely.

My father-in-law will be missed by many for his teaching and dedication to the church, but I will miss our sessions discussing medical issues.

I remember Mr. Webb as very kind with a beautiful smile.  I remember how he always talked about his two beautiful daughters. It was obvious how much he loved them.

I remember the time Mr. Webb put a frog in the vacuum bell to illustrate atmospheric pressure.  As he pumped the air out of the bell, the frog began to swell to the size of a softball.  When the girls in the class started to scream, Mr. Webb would turn off the pump and the frog would return to its original size.  Then he would walk around the room and show everyone that the frog was not hurt.

I remember how patient Mr. Webb was with his students.  His eyes would gleam when he saw the sparkle in a student's eyes indicating he or she had finally "got it."

I remember Mr. Webb picking me up off the ground to illustrate the three different types of matter; solid, liquid and gas.  When Mr. Webb put me down he said, "you are solid."

I remember in the winter Mr. Webb would boil water over the benson burners to keep the class warm and humidified for the comfort of his students.

I remember Mr. Webb giving us dirt to take home and bake in our ovens to kill all the nematodes in the soil. Then we would plant tomatoes in the sterilized soil.

Mr. Webb introduced me to the "Board of Education" on more than one occasion. This was his personal wooden paddle that he would use only when everything else failed.

Mr. Webb was always smiling and so very patient with his students.

I remember when we took tests in class, Mr. Webb would remind us about "Peeping Toms and Naked Janes."  Peeping Toms were the students who would try to look at other students test papers, and Naked Janes were the students that would allow such activity.  Both were equally guilty of cheating in Mr. Webb's  opinion.

Of all the teachers that I came across in my scholastic adventures, none stuck in my memory more than Mr. Gilbert Webb.  I first met Mr. Webb in 1967 as a 7th grader in Palmetto High School.  I had Mr. Webb as my homeroom teacher and my Science teacher.  Long before Carl Sagan, Bill Nye or Neil DeGrasse Tyson, Mr. Webb was the original "Science Guy."  He felt that in order to capture the minds of his students, he must first capture their attention. How do you capture the attention of students who come into your class expecting to be bored? You capture students' imagination, with the unexpected and by building their curiosity to a point where they wanted to know more, they wanted to actually see the results with their own eyes.  Mr. Webb introduced me to the "volcanic" reaction between vinegar and baking soda in a little class project we called the "Palmetto High Volcano."  I can still see the red dye that we mixed with the baking soda to make it look like real lava as it poured out of our paper mache volcano.  I can still taste the raw wheat Mr. Webb passed out to give us a taste of what wheat tasted like.  I can still see him jump to the top of his desk to illustrate "kinetic" energy, then slump over his desk as if he were asleep to demonstrate "static" energy.  Most of all I remember how much Mr. Webb loved his students, how he always had a smile on his face, how patient he was with his "kids."  But Mr. Webb's memorable teaching style and off beat illustrations were not wasted on me alone. Gilbert Webb touched a thousand young hearts, molded a thousand young minds and prepared a thousand young people for a life of searching for the right answers, finding the most logical conclusion, proving your hypothesis to be correct.  
In closing, I just want to say that Gilbert Webb left this world a better place than he found it. Gilbert Webb touched thousands of hearts and opened thousands of minds with his original teaching techniques.  And I for one am a better person for the experience of simply knowing this wonderful man.  I will always remember him saying, "Frankie, go check the Weather Station."

Few teachers make a positive impact on our life...Mr. Webb was one of the few. He was passionate about teaching us young kids when we had other things on our mind.  Thank you for your patience and persistence.

Thankfully thinking of Mr. Webb's classes at Palmetto. Condolences to the family. May the love of friends and family carry you through your grief.

what a beautiful eulogy Linda..Made me cry.. So many lovely pictures of all of you... Hugsssssssssssssssssssssssss and prayers  for you all Barbara Bishop

Thank you, Mr. Webb, for 7th grade science.  Some of us "old kids" still remember you fondly, even at 65.

AVIS DE DÉCÈS

Martin G Webb

28 novembre 1922 – 18 septembre 2016

Montrez votre soutien

Envoyez Vos
Condoléances

Partager
L'avis De Décès

Obtenir les mises à jour

Prestations de Service