Robert C. Stoscup (1927-1990)

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Remembering Dad on his birthday, March 24th

1927 August 14 - Dad was born March 24, 1927 and being barely over 2 pounds at birth wasn't expected to live. There was a sister that came before him that was either stillborn or died shortly after birth and according to the doctor Dad wasn't going to live long either. 

The story, as told by Dad, had the doctor looking into a mirror twisting his moustache after laying the baby down on a table saying to my angry grandfather only that he was "sorry". But Grandpa's sister Arnette was determined to keep the baby alive. She turned on the kitchen oven to keep the room warm and wrapped Dad up in a bundle watching over him until he would be strong enough to make it on his own. 

After Dad passed away in 1990 I had the honor of sharing the story again with Aunt Arnette when she telephoned our house to give her condolences. I remember her saying that she thought no one knew of that story. How amazing it was to talk to a person that was there when your father was born!

early 1930s - I would ask Dad about his older sister and he said to me that he remembered Grandpa taking him to the site where she was buried but that he just couldn't tell me where that place was now, he had been too young at the time to know its location.

Even though she never really had a life herself, I always thought it strange thinking I had an aunt 'out there somewhere' no one would ever know.

mid 1930s - I always loved this photograph perhaps because roughly some 30 years later Dad would have me up on a pony for the same type of picture.

ca. 1945 - We don't have a lot of pictures of Dad in his early years like we do on my Mom's side of the family but this is him probably taken for his graduation from High School.

Summer 1945 - Dad was young enough that when he was inducted into the U.S Naval Service, Germany had fallen and World War II thankfully would officially be over in the not too distant future.

1945-46: Dad spent a year in the Navy from July 1945 to July 1946 and it helped him understand his job preference in the "Field of Electricity"

1945-46: He was stationed on a base at Great Lakes, Illinois and attended classes at Wright Jr. College in Chicago eventually holding the rank of Electronic Technician's Mate Third Class. I only remember him saying what a wonderful time this was for him in his life.

1945-46: with friends we can't identify from his Navy days.

Dad really enjoyed his work. He started at Detroit Edison (the electric utility that served Southeast Michigan) on August 12, 1947 and stayed with them until his death in 1990. He never thought much about retiring and I can understand why. For one thing he didn't have a desk job. He was basically his own boss getting out on the road doing house calls originally fixing ranges and then to helping people get their power restored in the later years. But even Dad knew he was the last of his kind as he neared the end of his working career. Who stays at any company this many years these days? 

When he passed away on September 28, 1990 his field service position, No. 1, was retired with him.

I suspect this was taken very early in that career. Dad is shown at the extreme upper right corner.

Circa 1947 - A very rare photo.

This photo documents how Dad & Mom met. It shows some of the members from "Luther League" of which both my parents-to-be had joined through their church.

As told to me by Mom Margie, my Grandfather Gordon kind of nudged Mom into joining. She was 19 years old and looking back she feels he probably thought she should 'get out' and socialize more. It was at her first attendance to a Luther League gathering when she met Dad.

He was on the other side of the room and walked past all the other girls to talk with and sit by her. Before the end of the evening he asked if she would let him drive her home. When she said that her father would be picking her up, my wonderfully smooth Dad simply replied, "Why don't we call your father to let him know I'll bring you home." 

I guess Grandpa's mission was accomplished and maybe more on target than he expected!

I'm pretty certain Mom took this photo as there is a companion shot to go along with this that has her in it and not Dad.   You can find it here:  http://tinyurl.com/4t3segu

Mom doesn't remember if they were 'a couple' yet, but if not, it wouldn't be long. 

For me, it's so rare indeed to see Dad with a leather jacket on and, in my imagination, 'channelling a 1953 Marlon Brando'!

Shown up front & center: June Elliot
Behind June is: Dad, (?), Delores Moran, Bill Henning
Back row: (?), (?), (?)
The person standing up in the back is the Assistant Pastor

I wanted to add some photos from Dad and Mom's Wedding especially being since it has been 60 years. This is a photo not seen since then. The alternative used is a better picture but I like this one too.


Especially looking good is my Uncle Gordon (back row on the left) Mom's sister Betty to her right and Dad's youngest brother, my Uncle Bill on the extreme right. Mom remembers his pockets being full of flash bulbs. Uncle Bill was the photographer in the family. He's not quite 15 years old here!

Dad was fortunate that his parents were friends with a Mr. & Mrs. Dawson and that Mr. Dawson was a professional photographer for General Motors. It was he who took my parent's wedding photos.


This is a nice one with both Grandpa & Grandma Stoscup on the left of Dad and Mom and Grandma & Grandpa Findahl to the right.

7 January 1950 - Mom and Dad ready to cut the cake.

This was always a favorite of mine because it represents to me a real turning point in both their lives, for surely they were devoted to each other from this day forth.

Another favorite, especially of Mom's. Mom and Dad leaving the Findahl home to their new life together.

1950 (Northern Michigan)

1950 (Northern Michigan) - After Dad and Mom were married they Honeymooned in Washington DC, but this picture was from their first vacation together that summer.

1950 - Northern Michigan trip together taking a ride on Mackinac Island. No motorized vehicles here!

Thanks to my cousin Joanne's help we can place this photo in 1950 - At Lake Storey in Galesburg, IL with Dad, Uncle Paul, Mom and my cousin Joanne Johnson. 

Late 1951 - Dad at home. He was as calm in life as this picture shows.

1951 - Mom and Dad in the living room of their new home on Patton in Detroit, MI

1953 - Dad again on a trip up in Northern Michigan with Mom.

1953 - Northern Michigan

March 24, 1953 - Dad and youngest brother William displaying his new workbench on his 26th birthday. His Dad is standing out of camera range on the right.

To this day we still have that vice. It still comes in handy sometimes. It was given to my dad from Grandpa [Mom's Dad]. He got it from the aircraft building at Ford Motor Company where he worked during World War II. I think he'd got a few that were left over from the war effort and gave them away.

1954 in Estes Park, Colorado

1954 - Dream Lake, Colorado

1954 - Dad in Estes Park, Colorado. Photo taken by my Mother Margie

1954 - Mom & Dad on Pikes Peak

1954 - This photo has a process date of October. Shown are Dad Robert, my Cousin Joanne Johnson, Grandpa Gordon and Grandma Martha Findahl, Cousin Bill Johnson, Mother Margie & Uncle Paul Johnson. I'm sure my Aunt Betty Johnson took this photo outside my grandparents home in Detroit, MI

Thanksgiving 1954 - At the Stoscup home on Heyden in Detroit, MI


Shown are Grandpa Gordon & Grandma Martha Findahl, my Uncle Gordon Stoscup, Grandpa Wilfred Stoscup in the foreground, Grandma Anna Stoscup in the background, Mom Margie and Dad Robert. Dad's youngest brother Bill was probably taking the photo.

1955 - Dad holding up his first-born, David Robert Stoscup

1956 - At his parent's home, Dad holding little David

1956 - Dad had the best 29th birthday present ever when his daughter Shirley Ann was born on that day. Shown here are both at home on Patton.

Winter 1957 - outside with David and Dad

1957 - Dad with his new Ford Fairlane

1957 - 30th Birthday (shown at home on Patton)

1957 - Dad and Shirley

Easter 1957 - Dad's brother my Uncle Gordon & Aunt Edith with Grandma Martha Findahl, my brother David and sister Shirley, Dad, Grandpa Gordon Findahl and Dad's brother Uncle Bill

1957 - In Galesburg, IL at my Uncle Paul & Aunt Betty's home.

1961 - Dad and his new car

1961 - Years later in Galesburg, IL with myself finally on the scene. Dad's holding me with David on his other side, Mom, Shirley and Grandma Findahl

1964 - Me and Dad on a particularly fun family vacation in Florida. I remember the sun (in both our eyes), the sand, the water and the newts. I never forgot that this was 'it' for me! Nothing better than a beach.

1965 - A nice photo of Dad and Uncle Bill at Bill's Home

1968 - It was always cool that Dad and Shirley shared the same Birthday.  Here's a rare time they were both recorded celebrating together.

1968 - And while I'm at it I'd like to not forget my very special sister:   Happy Birthday Shirley!!!

1973 - One of the last family photos we ever had taken for the church directory.  This particular shot wasn't used.


Brother David, Dad, Me, Mom & Sister Shirley

August 16, 1975 - A very special time.


This was taken about one year after Dad survived a kidney transplant operation.  I'm sure that experience helped alter his facial appearance a little as you might see.  The fact that he was able to get down on one knee and keep his balance after learning to walk all over again only the year before says a lot.


We see him here for his daughter Shirley on her wedding to Carl Peters this day.

August 16, 1975 - A miracle to be able to see Dad not only walking but dancing again with Mom at daughter Shirley's wedding.   (I think I just barely see cousin Janice behind them.)


As soon as he could, Dad was back to work at Detroit Edison.  He never retired working virtually up to the day he did pass away in September 1990.

1976 - Detroit Metropolitan Airport


From a trip to Orlando, Florida that I was fortunate to be able to tag along.

1976 - This was always a favorite photo of mine I happened to take one quiet evening at home

1978 - Mom & Dad at a family engagement

1978 - Dad sitting in the dining room next to the kitchen

1978 - Dad and me.


Although so much of my high school life was a fiasco, we tried to make something of my graduation from it anyway.  It was a nice thing to do with my parents and Dad was there for me.

1978 - relaxing in-between his son's H.S. grad activities

1978 - Dad and Mom

1978

1982 - Mom & Dad in a photo taken at the Westland Mall in Michigan

1982 - A candid shot of Mom & Dad taken while I was visiting home from Houston, TX

September 23, 1983 - Dad, Mom, myself, Carl & Shirley Peters shown in the back row and in front are Kathy & David Stoscup at their wedding at St. Genevieve Catholic Church in Livonia, MI


I know Dad was always very proud of all his kids.

1984 - While he didn't make it to be able to see his grandchildren grow up we were lucky to be blessed with him, as with all life, while we could.


Happy Birthday Dad!  Your spirit lives on.




Updated September 28, 2011

Mom & Dad at a dinner held by Detroit Edison (ca 1989).

I remember Pastor Lindholm saying that the day one passes on from us is at least as important as the day they came into the world. Lately I've been struck by the idea that it is impossible to say the important people in your life are really gone if you can still feel the energy they left behind. That energy is real and it stays with you forever.

So here's to remembering this day when Dad left us in 1990. His presence can still be felt.

Updated September 28, 2012

This link leads to all we have left of Dad's voice on the answering machine. Dad 1990

Originally published December 25, 2009- March 31, 2010 on my Facebook account