How You Can Help Funds: Wilbert L. Daniel Fund

Wilbert L. Daniel Fund

Looking back over my life I would not change it for anything. We laughed (a lot), cried (a little), and loved unconditionally. What more could you ask for?

I met Wilbert in 1956, I was 14 and he was 17. I was riding in the car with friends when they stopped at Wilbert’s house. I was sitting in the back seat with the window down and all of a sudden he leaned in and kissed me. I’d never even met him before. Needless to say I was smitten. That was the beginning of our life together.

He didn’t have a car at the time so he would walk miles to my house to see me, only to have to walk miles back in the dark. Once he got a car he would pick me up from school and drive me home. After two years of dating, he surprised me with an engagement ring.

My Mother thought I was too young to marry but she loved Wilbert. He was always doing things for her, repairs around the house, mowing the lawn, anything that she needed help with. In return, she fed him - a lot. He instantly became family.

We married on July 10th, 1959. A year later, we welcomed our daughter, Theresa. Our son, Stephen, was born on November 1, 1962 and our family was complete.

Wilbert was a house painter and I helped him, so we spent most of our lives working together. We had an RV and took many trips around the country. We loved seeing the beautiful scenery pass by our windows and made countless memories visiting the state parks. By 1986 our children had grown up and we decided to move to California, where I grew up to join my sister and brother. Our children and grandchildren made the move soon after.

A few days before our 50th anniversary, Wilbert took me to a nice restaurant for dinner. Out of the blue he kneels down and asks me to marry him again. He then gave me the most beautiful diamond ring. It was five rows of diamonds, times two, representing the 50 years of our marriage. Of course I said yes.

In late 2010, as we were working on renovating our rental house, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. They gave him 4-6 weeks to live and we both knew it was a death sentence. He made it almost eight months, six of which weren’t so bad. He passed on February 23rd, 2011 in his own bed, surrounded by family and friends. He loved our home and told me he could not imagine it any other way.

I miss him every day. In the years since his passing, the pain of losing him has eased but there is still, and always will be an empty place in my heart. Sleeping in an empty bed after more than 50 years together doesn't help. The night after his service, I could feel him lay down next to me, he told me to be peaceful and go to sleep. I slept all night. I could feel him hanging around; to remind us he was still there. Believe what you will, but I believe he was just wanted to make sure we were all ok. It didn’t scare me; it gave me great comfort knowing he was watching over us. To me, that’s the true meaning of undying love.

I now live my life day-by-day, trying to do the best I can, which is what I know Wilbert would want from me. I spend my time enjoying my kids, grandkids, and great grandkids. Looking back over my life I would not change it for anything. We laughed (a lot), cried (a little), and loved unconditionally. What more could you ask for?

~ Sharon Daniel

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