With this chronicle of my personal history through the stages of life, I have had a single purpose. I want my grandchildren and great-grandchildren and future Rowntree generations to see a picture of my life.
I have tried to share my feelings and allow my legacies to see my heart and to get a sense of what I valued. I have witnessed many times, as friends and relatives have pleaded with their aging grandparents to write down or record the memories of their lives to share for later generations.
I have gazed at old photos of relatives and wondered about their lives. This is a story of my life from my childhood to becoming a grandfather. Through the various phases, I have woven many personal stories of my years and dealing with life experiences in each chapter.
These stories include a variety of circumstances from laughable memories of marriage and child raising, too difficult work and personal situations that occurred along my path. It begins with childhood memories through the education years, my courtship and marriage, and through the parenting experience.
I closed with my work path history and dreams, and finally with the sharing of my spiritual thoughts on life. My goal and hope is that the family members that read this personal history will feel a connection and have a sense that they know me.