Grandpa Irish was born March 1, 1918. After graduation from high school he worked as a cowhand on a ranch. He entered the United States Army Air Corps in 1942 until he was honorably discharged in 1945. After his time in the service he worked for a time at a grocery store and later became employed by the U.S. Postal Service where he was a clerk, postmaster, and rural mail carrier. His job as a mail carrier kept him outside much of the time and from what the family has said, kept him out of trouble. No, wait, they said it got him into trouble!
For example, he sometimes carried a slingshot with him. There was one horse in particular out in a meadow on his route that he would try a little target practice on. The horse got wise to that after a while and took off for the hills whenever he saw that mailman coming.
Grandpa Irish loved the out doors–whether it was sports like golf or baseball, hunting or fishing. He enjoyed flying his Piper Cub airplane, and also often entertained at events as a magician. He was skilled at building things out of wood, and had a talent for drawing sketches, painting, and writing poems.
He was a very good shot. Sometimes he would take some of the pheasants he had shot and attach their heads to poles and then stick those poles in the weeds by the side of the road out in the country. Other hunters would come by, see the pheasant heads popping up and blast away. They never got much of a dinner out of that.
Grandpa would use that spirit on his kids as well. One of his daughters tells about how when she was young she used to dig through his pants pockets to find loose change. Grandpa was on to that and one time he set a mouse trap in one of the pockets!
When Jason introduced me to the family, I saw right away that we would get along, except for my lacking knowledge of history he thought I was swell! His stories from long ago were fascinating. He loved making people laugh. I am sure going to miss him.
*Most of my information for this post was copied from the flier that was passed out at the funeral and from the pastor’s personal notes.
This post is linked to Wednesday’s Walk.

I am very sorry for your loss of Grandpa Irish. He sounds like a wonderful man. This broke my heart to read. I am so sorry.
Very touching. I sometimes wish I could have made more notes about my grandfather’s life too… it seems as if “Grandpa Irish” had a deep influence on his family, and was much-loved.
He sounds like a truly amazing man! I am so very sorry for your loss.
What a sweet legacy he left for you, your husband, and your kids. Blessings!
Sorry for your loss and that of the entire family. It sounds like he was quite a guy!
So sorry for your loss.
You have a beautiful family!
I really enjoyed the couple of times I got to meet him and visit with him. My prayers are with his wife and children.
So sorry for your family’s loss. Praying for you guys.
what a wonderful memory post about him! Thank you for sharing him with us!
I’m so sorry for your loss! He sounds like a very special man who will be missed deeply. Thank you for sharing!
Sorry for your loss. This was a wonderful tribute to Grandpa Irish!
So sorry for your loss, he sounds like an amazing man.
It has been almost a year since my father passed away. Reading your story and sharing your memories made me think of him. http://goodmemoriescafeandhomestore.blogspot.com/2010/01/dad-papaw-poppy.html
http://goodmemoriescafeandhomestore.blogspot.com/2010/02/my-dad.html
What a wonderful stories you write.