By Elissa Maudlin | The Times-Post
Pendleton dad and son write book about their father/grandfather
PENDLETON — David Humphrey said his dad, George, wasn’t famous.
But that doesn’t mean he wasn’t interesting or worthy of a little attention now.
George Humphrey is the subject of a new book David, a Pendleton resident, co-wrote with his son, Evan, a graduate of Ball State University with a degree in English Language and Literature.
George grew up during the Great Depression and served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a gardener and a golfer. He loved to read, was “very good-hearted” and loved the Chicago Cubs, David said.
“(He) danced to his own music,” David said.
When he retired, George wrote down his experiences in life and, after he passed away in October 2015 at age 93, his stories were shared at his funeral — with everyone laughing, David said, “the way he would’ve wanted it.”
That’s when David got the idea to write a book about him.
Story continues below photos.
“People complain about the silliest things, like cold French fries or their French fries [being] too salty,” he said, “and Dad wasn’t like that, and a lot of people, when he was growing up or even today, would want those French fries, salty or cold … it’s not only about him but people who just accept things as they are and work …”
The book is titled “He Never Complained.”
The first part of the book is comprised of excerpts George wrote, and the second part is made up of vignettes from David and Evan, from their memories of him.
One thing Evan remembers about his grandfather was how, in his last years and months, he was still “sharp as a tack.”
He said instead of complaining, his grandfather would find solutions.
When Evan was young, they went to a military museum in Anderson and his grandfather “was really the expert in the room,” he said, as his grandfather showed them around.
It was mindblowing, Evan said, that his grandfather went to war a few years younger than Evan is, and that he took minimal benefits from the GI Bill, the law that provided a range of benefits for returning service members. He didn’t tout he was a veteran and didn’t have anything to do with the military at his funeral except for the flag on his casket, Evan said.
After George came home from the service, David said he moved on from the war. He’d tell war stories to him and Evan, but those stories wouldn’t be told outside of family walls.
“I can’t imagine doing some of the things he did,” David said. “I’ve been a good dad to Evan, but the things he did for me and other people, you can’t touch that.”
His dad always thought of his family first, David said, and always looked at the good things. When he got sick, he accepted it and didn’t whine about it. He was always in a good mood, was a trickster and had a good sense of humor.
One time, George and his wife, Anne, went to the movies. It was raining, they were dressed in wool, and their clothes shrunk because of the rain.
Evan said his grandfather thought it was hilarious.
One chapter of the book depicts memories David remembers through golf conversations with his dad, who was an athlete before David was born and continued playing golf throughout his life.
David and Evan play golf together and, when Evan edited the chapter, he laughed out loud, he said.
“It’s a bonus if you’re good at golf. You don’t have to be good at golf to have fun,” Evan said. “You just go out and hit the ball around and talk.”
After George’s funeral, they played golf in the afternoon.
Evan and David agree the book, consisting of both funny and sad parts, is bittersweet.
Evan, who graduated from Pendleton Height High School in 2018 and lives in Muncie, hopes the book is still interesting for people who didn’t know his grandfather and wants people to see their own relatives from the time period through hisgrandfather’s experiences.
“It’s a personalized story that is not unique,” Evan said. “I feel like a lot of people could write this same book and change the names.”
The book speaks for many people, men and women, during the time period, he said; like others, George went to war and then lived his life “humbly.”
“Like I point out in the book, Dad wasn’t famous … ” David said, “and that’s what makes up this country. Everyday people, not just someone who’s on TV or a celebrity … “
The book is available for purchase online at MT Publishing and Amazon.
