What does your Dad do (or did) for work?

[Loafer]

Kris, has posted some great stuff about his dad who recently passed.
Services are this weekend and prayers being sent.

It got me to thinking about my dad, I called my brother and we talked about him.

Napoleon ~ Rough Around The Edges

Our dad was a stone cutter (craftsman) in the granite industry.

He used a 5 pound hammer and a 2 pound chisel, making the little cuts on a monument (for the rough edge look) 'all the same size', and fixing all the mistakes made by others.
He had arms and hands of steel. Spankings really hurt. He worked for almost every business in town at some point and was respected for his work. (Not his attitude, he was 'rough around the edges').
I used to have lunch everyday with some of the Granite Business owners, during the school year, when I was 6 to 10 years old. I know, Lucky Kid.
I would sit there and listen to the deals they would make with each other. And brag about there near hole in one or a new low score at the country club.
On some occassions it would come up that my dad had taken his tools to a new place to work. They always spoke highly of his work, and wished that he would work for them, or they could get him back.
My dad would get mad about something (usually too much stone dust in his work area) he would complain and if it wasn't fixed, he would pack up his tools and go into the office and demand his pay. (They used to pay with cash).
On his way home, he would stop at a competitor's business and apply for work. He would start there the next work day. Never was he out of work.

Dad, worked hard at his job. He was our only parent Monday through Saturday, mom was home all day Sunday. After he would get home, he would get cleaned up and start making our dinner. He showed us how to clean the entire house, prepare some meals, washing and hanging clothes and of course ironing. He would have a fit if our shoes were not shining just right. Simple things with the car, washing, oil changes, brake shoes and such. His goal I believe was to make us self sufficient. Or possibly it was that he wouldn't have to do so much. Didn't matter it worked out fine for everyone.

Anyway, Dad died Febuary 10, 1973 of Silicosis, (too much stone dust in the lungs).
He's been gone a long time, but when someone recognizes me they always tell me what a great craftsman he was. They almost always add that he was 'rough around the edges'.

[rflnomad]

Well, my father was in the restaraunt biz his whole life. he had a brother in the produce side that wholsale sold stuff all over Lexington Kentucky.
My dad, ( step father ) worked for Pratt & Whitney in West Palm over 30 years. Senior design engineer working with TF-30 and fuel designer for the RL-10 rocket programs.

Both have passed away.

[Loafer]

Originally Posted by rflnomad

Well, my father was in the restaraunt biz his whole life. he had a brother in the produce side that wholsale sold stuff all over Lexington Kentucky.
My dad, ( step father ) worked for Pratt & Whitney in West Palm over 30 years. Senior design engineer working with TF-30 and fuel designer for the RL-10 rocket programs.

Both have passed away.

That must have been interesting, could they talk about their work?

[glwilson]

Lost my father when I was 14 years old. (He died at age 47)

He was in a partnership that owned several decent-size cemeteries. A fairly lucrative business... people were dying to get in! (I couldn't resist the oldest line for that business.)

I hate mowing and "yard-work" because of it.

I push-mowed when there was still some snow on the ground early spring; and didn't stop until it snowed again early winter... five to six days a week.

Occasionally, when the backhoe hydraulics broke, I had to help hand-dig graves. That sucked.

I hate mowing, weeding, digging, and anything related to it.

There... that's my story and I am sticking to it.

[nomadtom69]

Dad help build and maintain Railroad bridges was cutoff when work was slow he always found something to do during those times when I was a senior in high school he was working in Nashvile where they welded and made 1/4 mile rails a crane operater knocked him off a pile of rails and some fell and crushed his arm took a long time but he recovered and went back to working on the Bridge Gang. Retired from RR and had a good retirement working on his farm (hobby) Lived to be 87 . He taught me the meaning of working for a living and I have tried to pass this along to my son and daughter and so far it seems they have learned well both doing good.

[duffy]

My Pop was a farmer until the small farmer just couldn't make a living anymore and then he used his mechanical skills working for a Ford dealer that also sold tractors and implements. Taught all us kids how to take care of our own vehicles and some great lessons about working and having fun. He's still alive (91 this year) and has a girl friend that is just a couple of years older than myself.

Hopefully he'll be around for many years to come.

[ponch]

My dad was a greenskeeper for 39 years. I don't play golf. Anyway, That's about it. Dad liked to do woodworking and would have been a good architect or landscape designer, but people in his generation (and his family) didn't go to college and in fact, he went into the air corps in WWII and got the job as a greenskeeper after WWII. Dad's been gone since 2008 and I still have questions I'd like to ask him.

[Monkeyman]

My father (not "Dad"...there's a difference) was a carpenter. I haven't seen him since I was 7 (I'm 45 now). He could very well be a senator or a trash collector by now.

[jandreu]

I saw this thread early this mourning and thought about it all day. Been a long time since I really thought about him and I could write pages but I think it's best just to say "he was a good man". Made his living as a Tug Boat Master. To quote Forrest Gump "that's all I have to say about that".
Thanks Gerry for the memories.

[cactusjack]

My dad was a Greyhound bus driver for 38 years and in his spare time he worked for a vending company his friend owned, fixing candy, soda, cigarette machines and also pinball machines. He served aboard a destroyer escort in the US Navy during WWII.

He passed away in January 1980 and not a day goes by that I don't think about him.

[Rotoman40]

My Dad was a bartender. He loved what he did and because of his hours we got to play baseball everyday. His favorite sport. I wish the Cubs get to th World Series be for I go so we can talk about it when I get there. My dad passed when I was 19. He was and is the greatest man I've ever known.

[Cajunrider]

My Dad is still here at 86 yrs. He retired from pipeline welding at 65. Deep sea diver in the Navy for 2 years at the end of WWII. Went in at 16, lied saying he was 17. Great father and great at everything he does. A perfectionist. Beat a bout with mouth cancer in 1975 the doctor said came from his chewing tobacco. Hope he hangs around as long as he can. Can't imagine him not being here.

[Loafer]

Great so far! Thanks to everyone for sharing!

Anyone else have positive thoughts?

[desertdog]

My father was a farmer. I grew up on a farm. I learned alot from watching him. When I grew up I made sure I did just the opposite of what he did. Works alot better. He died in 2008 and I have never missed him one day since I left home at 18.

[audiogooroo]

My father had an 8th grade education (punched out the principle in 8th grade and was kicked out of school), so worked construction to learn some trades. He became a hook tender/head rigger on a logging crew in Oregon when I was growing up, then started his own business in construction doing plaster & stucco. He was quite successful at that employing over 60 men. He's now retired and nearly 80, but I think he might still be able to take me. Tough old bird.