
On behalf of our family, I would like to thank you all for coming today to join us in celebrating the wonderful and colorful life of my father.    Any complete eulogy for him, with stories of his life and accomplishments, his service, his travels, and his family, would be a marathon session of sorts, and would require, no doubt, several restroom breaks.    I am sure most of you know his love of sports, especially golf and football, and he could almost always be found watching one or the other, or both at the same time, on multiple television sets.  His wit, like his mind, was sharp.  Laughter was never in short supply in our home.  He was a master at the one-liner, imparting that same funny bone in in all of his boys, and whenever we could all be together, well, the good times just rolled.  His dedication and love for our mother has always been inspiring to me, and Dad, I will always remember your taking such good care of her.    But, not all times are easy, and he also taught us to weather adversity and challenge calmly, with confidence.  If not by instruction, then by example.    He was usually a perfect gentleman, but he had his moments.  To those who loved him, I thank you for loving him.  To those who liked him, I thank you for liking him.  And to those who had to put up with him.well, I thank you for putting up with him.  Our family did all three, and we will all miss him, until we can all be together again someday.    In closing, I would like to tell you of another passion he had.  Ill remind you of his love for trains, and railroading in general.  He grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, where the great train yards of the Midwest forever stamped his personality.  When we were younger, whenever we encountered trains, he would always have us count the cars, identifying the engines, and their respective company lines, telling us what the markings on the cars and cabooses meant, where they were from, and usually where they were going.  And he taught us to signal the engineers, inviting them to sound their horns.  When they did, well, he just got the biggest smile.  I can only guess at what memories that may have brought for him.  In these later years, knowing the schedules, he and Mom often made their way from their home, up around the corner to the railroad tracks, so he could see the trains coming and going from downtown, as they passed his neighborhood.  He just loved doing that.    That night, after he passed, my brother and I lay in his bed, talking.  And then we listened, quietly in that darkness.  And the sound of the nearby early morning train could be heard clacking its way north, up the Mopac tracks.  We remarked how he must have enjoyed that.  I held in that familiar sound, recalling the sad magic of things that are loved by us, only to be lost to us.  And then, as it faded away into the night, the train whistle blew, that soft horn calling its way home.  And we guessed that it was his train.  And I could see him, there at the engine, waving, sounding the horn, and calling to us.  Its all rightIts all right.  Dont be too sad.  But, count my cars, and remember my markings.  Keep me alive in your hearts and minds!  And I am ever waving back, and pulling for the horn, and answering.  We will Dad, we will.                                                                                       -----James Evan Teasdale



Mrs. Teasdale,    I only met you and your husband briefly but I know your son Tom well, and knowing Tom I get a sense of what kind of a man your husband was.  Jean and I will keep your husband, you and your family in our prayers.   Jean and Robert Luchi.



Thinking of you Cornnelia and your family.  I will be here in the days ahead. Your friend, Allene



Preachers learn how to get through these without crying, but I dont think Im gonna be that stoic.  My brothers and I each took 60 seconds to talk about Dad, but I think Tom sold his minute to Jimi for a future 1st round pick out of Oklahoma.    My dad was a big man, big in heart, big in spirit, big mentally, and big in a physical sense.  A man who never met  a stranger and reveled in his friendships.    Dad was born in Cleveland, Ohio, but (as we like to say) made it to Texas as fast as he could.  He married a local babe - and if you think shes good lookin now, you oughta consider her at 17 flirtin with the flyboys.  He went off to fight the Big War, a member of the Greatest Generation - one of those men to whom Democracy owes a great deal.  He came back from combat - much to his own surprise - and carved out a career, a family, a life.  After thirty years in an Air Force blue-suit Dad moved back home where he cloaked himself in that Austin blanket we all understand so well.  Dads life had 3 facets:  his career - years and years in assignments throughout the US and Europe - represented by the Colonels eagles he wore on his shoulders; his love of sports, especially golf, which he played for decades, represented by golf ball; and his family, three sons and a wife, represented by a small photo of his beloved bride.  Dad liked having three sons, liked beating us at golf, was immensely proud of our achievements, but God did he love his wife.  He was a fifties kinda guy, and sentiment was sometimes hard for him, but when she walked into a room, his eyes lit up and a smile creased his face.  These items were interred with Dad a couple of hours ago.  His love of life; his appetite for adventure; and his strength live on in us - his friends and family.  Id like to thank all of you for joining us today.                                                                        Robert C. Teasdale



We're thinking of you today, Cornelia, and hoping your strength and positive attitude will serve you well during this trying time.  You have gone far above the call of duty--without hesitation--and you are appreciated by all who know you, we're sure.      Please share our best wishes for fond memories and good times ahead with your family.    Love,    Amy and Norman Shipherd



Jimi and Teri - Very sorry for your loss.  To the whole family, my thoughts and prayers are with you.  I know you will miss him but he's in a good place now, free of ailments and happy!


OBITUARY

Robert M. Teasdale USAF Ret'd.

November 17, 1919 – December 6, 2004

Weed Corley Fish Funeral Homes and Cremation Services

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