Obituary

Frank Baylus Whorton (May 3, 1925 - October 12, 2008) FRANK BAYLUS WHORTON, SR. went to be with Jesus on the Lord’s Day, Sunday, October 12, 2008. He was born in Rappahannock County, Virginia on May 3, 1925. He was the 7th of 13 children of Henry Taylor and Lillie Margaret Cloud Whorton. Baylus is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Lois Carolyn Utz; four children, Linda Winstead, Jackie Rawlings, Frank Baylus Whorton II and Vickie Watts; six grandchildren, Heather Whorton Meade, Carson Winstead, Melissa Whorton Garza, Jessica Rawlings, PFC Frank Baylus Whorton III currently serving in Afghanistan and Nathan Rawlings; four great grandsons; one great granddaughter; three step grandchildren and five step great grandchildren; three sisters, Ressie Utz, Mary Elizabeth Dodson and Eunice Whorton and numerous nieces and nephews. Baylus served in the U.S. Navy during World War II in the South Pacific aboard the USS McDermut (DD-677) and was awarded ten battle stars for his service. He has been a member of the Washington Area Carpenters Union since 1949. He and Lois are charter members of Centreville Assembly of God where Baylus served as trustee, song leader, Sunday School teacher, member of the jail ministry team and deacon for 27 years. He and Lois worked in the nursing home ministry for over 20 years. Baylus loved to hunt, fish and the Blue Ridge Mountains and beginning in 1971, faithfully kept a daily diary. Besides his love for his wife, “his babies and grandbabies,” Baylus had a passion for Jesus and wanted to share with everyone the difference his personal relation with Jesus had made in his life. In addition to his parents, Baylus was preceded in death by his six brothers, Charles, Robert, Johnny, Roy, Dee and George; three sisters, Grace Corbin, Virginia Clatterbuck and Lou Ada Brown. The family will receive friends from 7:00-9:00 P.M. Friday, October 17, 2008 at Pierce Funeral Home, 9609 Center Street, Manassas. Funeral services will be held 1:00 P.M. Saturday, October 18, 2008 at Manassas Assembly of God, 11500 New Life Way, Bristow, Virginia. Interment will follow at Stonewall Memory Gardens, Manassas with military honors. Expressions of sympathy may take the form of flowers, or contributions to Rehabilitation Fund for Wounded Soldiers, c/o Dave Reover, P.O. Box 136130, Fort Worth, Texas 76136 in loving memory of Frank Whorton, Sr.

Pictures from Daddy's Funeral

The sunset on October 18, 2008, evening of Daddy's Funeral.



Daddy was a WWII Navy Veteran. He was given a Military Honors Burial.

In the Navy, during the war, the custom was to bury them at sea at sunset.


TAPS


Two Honor Guards watch over Daddy during the service.



Daddy is being carried by his grandchildren: Nathan Rawlings, Jessica Rawlings (she is standing in for "Bubba" a.k.a. Frank Whorton III), Carson Winstead, his brother in laws, Jerry Buchanan and Joel Grizzle, his nephews Danny Whorton and 2 Corbin boys (Aunt Grace's boys)



Daddy arrives at Stonewall Memorial Garden with Honor Guard Saluting his arrival.




Entire family singing, I will meet you in the Morning just inside the Eastern Gate over there!




Daddy's grand-daughter and nurse during his final days, Jessica "Whorton" Rawlings




Daddy's grand-daughter, Melissa Whorton-Garza. She's a mother of 3 boys, 1 girl. Daughter of Frank Whorton II



Daddy's first grand-daughter, Heather "Jane" Whorton-Meade. She is a mother of 1 son, and daughter of Frank Whorton II



Jackie Whorton-Rawlings sharing Daddy's humor. Marke Rawlings in background.


Mom with Kedric and Thelma Chambers. Kedric was one of Daddy's favorite friends and they often hunted together. I remember once they had some scheme to make a trip to Alaska. They never made it. Maybe there are things to hunt in heaven just for them!


Mom with Kedric & Thelma Chambers, again.




Kelly Grizzle-Woods w/back to camera talking with Daddy's former pastor, Rev. Godfrey and his wife.



Saturday, October 18, 2008 Manassas Assembly of God Church
1 PM



Daddy's favorite band, the "Whorton Reunion" band.

Daddy has gone home.....

It's been a while since I was on blogging and much has happen.

On October 12, 2008 at 2:25AM my Daddy peacefully closed his eyes and went to be with Jesus.

I will miss him more than words can ever express but I know he is in a better place and he is no longer in pain.

Now we are left with our memories and the fun times we spent with him. His humor and his hilarious writings in his diary. Even more importantly, he left us with a shining example of how to live our lives so that when it comes our time to close our eyes in death...we will be ready.

We didn't have a normal funeral, we had a celebration of his life. It was 2 hours and 19 minutes (this according to the videographer) Dad had always said he hated "creeeeppping" funerals, especially those that are for Christians and you know they are in a better place.

By Dad's request, there was live music played by his son Frank, his nephews Bobbi, Ronnie,Gary, Marty Whorton, his son-in-law "Smokey" Jim Winstead, his grandson Carson Winstead, his brother in law Joel Grizzle, and a great nephew Joshua Baird, and one other friend on the Dobro. Dad's favorite songs were played by the bluegrass family band which consisted of piano, accordion, banjo, Dobro, steel guitar, rhythm guitar, mandolin, drums, upright bass.

For the service, Dad's nieces Kelly Grizzle-Woods & JoAnn Grizzle-Baird along with,"Smokey" and Joel Grizzle sang and played with the band some of Dad and Mom's favorite songs.

Dad's grandchildren all wrote a note to him and each read it. Dad's grandson, Frank B. Whorton III was unable to attend as he is in active Army duty in Afghanistan. The service took a moment to stop and say a special prayer for FB a.k.a "Bubba".

Dad's daughter, Jackie Rawlings had written some funny things that Dad had done throughout the years that had cracked us all up. Marke Rawlings, Dad's son-in-law, also spoke about Dad and his incredible example he had always, everyday, set in front of all of us.

Mom had wrote Dad a letter which Davide Baird read, it was incredible. It made me remember the song that was played on their 50th Wedding Anniversary..."If they want to see how true love should be....they'll just look at us! Chances are, we'll go down in history...when they want to see how true love should be...they'll just look at us".

The service included congregational singing and joining on the stage with the band and singers was Dad's daughters, Linda Whorton-Winstead, Jackie Whorton-Rawlings and Vickie Whorton-Watts.

The closing was video complied of photos of Dad's 83 years of life with his children singing in the background, Led by the Master's Hand, Sheltered In His Arms, Thank You Lord for Your Blessings on Me.

The final song played was my Daddy singing in 1954.....

"This world is not my home, I'm just a passing through. My treasures are laid up, somewhere beyond the blue. The angels beckon me from heaven's open door, and I can't feel at home in this world any more.
Oh Lord you know, I have no friend like you. If heaven's not my home, tell me Lord what would I do. The angels beckon me from Heaven's open door and I can't feel at home in this world anymore.

Daddy always said to bury him under a hickory tree, we did the next best thing; he was laid to rest in a hickory casket at Stonewall Memorial Gardens in Gainesville, Virginia

She Sleeps!

If I had known she'd be content to sleep in my slipper I could have saved a lot of money and not bought a crate and play pen for her!

She is so spoiled she has to be fed from a spoon and BABY FOOD no dog food for her! Of course that is polished off with warmed milk!
Geesh!

We had a Pom many years ago and I have come to the conclusion, either the Pom was extremely stupid or this dog is a genius! In 1 week I have trained her to go pottie only in her pottie box (like a kitty box) or on pee-pee doggie pad on the floor. She is brilliant! The Pom NEVER figured out the pottie thing and pissed everywhere all the time!

Our Genius will probably do something next week and I'll be on here trying to GIVE HER AWAY! LOL

Joking!!!

PS. I have another pair of house slippers just like those in the picture...I just can't find them. Thank goodness I lost the opposite of each pair. :)

We have a new Baby in the house!

We welcomed Miss Scarlett O'Hara Watts into our family on Monday, Feb.4.

As the neighbor lady used to say back home, "the bottom rail has risen to the top"! Vickie has agreed to let an ANIMAL in the house! Yes, a real one that pees and poops....

Scarlett is a birthday gift for Brieanna's 15th birthday.

At first, we thought we were buying a Yorkshire Terrior puppy but now I am not too sure. She oinks like a pig and hops like a rabbit!

If the breeder is correct, Scarlett will only be about 4 pounds full grown! That would be like a loaded bagel! :)

I thought about the funniest thing the other day....just had to share.

I have discovered the very best life crutch and or excuse!

I read the joke about the guy in the flood who kept praying for God to rescue him and he kept refusing help as it came along, until he ended up in heaven with God whereupon he was admonished, not only did he TRY to rescue him but he tried many times with no cooperation.

Have you ever heard someone say, "I am waiting on God" before making any move?

I have visions of these people sitting at an imaginary bus stop type bench as if God was coming thru....right on schedule.Or, maybe they are waiting for him to "catch up".

When in actuality, nothing has been done and nothing is getting done; and God is so far ahead of them that his brightness looks like a speck equal to the northern star....all in the name of "waiting on God".

Usually, you have to stop and wait when you have far passed another, but if you are just sitting on your duff what do you guess is the expectation?

God is lapping and will be back around to get them?

Or, maybe they expect God to "draft" along behind them so they need to wait for him?

Visions of the picture of Footprints where there are two sets of footprints, then one set, comes to mind; there should be a sequel showing one set of prints and fingernail clawing along behind! :)

I bet whenever you hear that expression again, you'll have the same vision as I just had! :)

Raise the Bar or Pass the Bar?

Raising the Bar or Just Pass the Bar

I find myself some days in the position of having to give wanted AND unwanted advice to a TEENAGER! So many times the explanations about life can be so difficult and make no sense whatsoever.

However, I discovered the concept that so many think will work of sharing/caring/giving is 50/50.

!OH SO WRONG!

Using the logic and visual aid of a grand dining table all set with china and crystal and then given the instruction to move that table thru a major obstacle course and not let anything slide, or fall.

Picture you and your partner, what if both of you decided to move this "dining table" contributing only 50/50. This being each of you picking up with only one hand and trying to carry.

Imagine how unstable the table and it's contents would be. Imagine when you'd come to a high obstacle that required raising the table(aka raising the bar) .....and you would raise your side but your partner didn't...guess what happens to all that china and crystal!

You guessed it, everything slides and dumps on them!

Nobody likes being dumped on and no one likes to feel like they are having to carry the load.

All my life I have heard it preached over and over about being "unequally yoked"...the emphases was always about the partner needing to be a Christian but you know what...it's more than that.You seriously need to find a partner that is willing to "raise the bar", be willing to use BOTH hands to carry the load and do whatever else it takes to keep things level.

I explained that one person's idea of "raising the bar" and another's may be totally different, therefore you need to really find out long before making a commitment where your partners personal bar level stands.

For some, their idea of raising the bar may be turning the local bar into a 2 story building!

Love On, Love Off, Love On, Love Off

Do you feel like clapping your hands while reading that title? Oh to be young and think that your world is coming to an end as you know it because some pimple faced, frizzy headed boy breaks up with you!

I am so happy to be getting gray around the edges...so to speak...and not having to deal with being a teenager again!

Brieanna had been dating a guy who, at first, seemed like a really nice guy (don't they all at first!) Then my years of experience of reading and watching people I realized "sugar wasnt' so sweet" for him anymore. He was still hanging on I think more to benefit from the activities and free meals whenever possible.

Well, good riddence is what I say! She had found another friend who had seemed to fit the bill for last week...but she has already traded him back in this week.

The point of this story, she is always asking me to have everyone pray that she find the right person for her life. She seriously recognizes the need to have the "right" person and not just anyone.

To quote Martha Stewart......"that is a good thing"....

So, when you are praying for people who need boyfriends don't forget Brieanna in your prayers!

Almost Out of the Woods

In case you have been keeping up with this blog....I am sure you've noticed that it's been several weeks since the last post from me. So to catch you up to date....pardon me while I sneeze...cough and blow....Yep...you guessed it...I've been nursing the sick and THEN I got sick!
Brieanna is just beginning to make some recovery from her case of mono and Riley is just yesterday back to work after a week in bed sick with a major sinus infection.
I was doing just fine playing nurse maid....and all was going well until I had to take one of Brie's friends to the ER after a frantic game of Laser Tag at Fun Land on Friday night. Seems the heat and the flashing lights gave the child a panic attack! Whoever heard of such "who shot John" ..as my Dad would call it! LOL

Let me just say...IF EVER I have to go to an ER for someone else because they are sick, please do not be offended if I request a face mask!! The last two times I got so sick was after being in the ER with someone else!!

Thanks to all who prayed for us!

SCRABBLE ~ Can you find the answers first?

Can You Find The KID??

Make a slideshow - it's easy!

Battle Mountain in Rappahannock, Virginia

I couldn't resist snapping a picture this morning as I crossed over Battle Mountain. I wondered if Dad ever played, "the fox and hound" over this mountain on a foggy morning like this one.

This is worth framing!

Frank & Judy have 'Critter's' and Very Low Moon!

Judy sent this pic along with some others of deer in their back yard at night.

I couldn't enjoy the great rack for being concerned that about the low hanging moon in the background!!

I always thought the farm was almost to the end of the earth...and now I am thinking it's at least on the edge!!

Linda's Annual Holiday Party Recap!

Read about Dad's memory of Christmas while serving in World War II

(Just to clarify, "holiday" was not used instead of Christmas to be politically correct, it was because the party is always after Christmas but before New Years. And yes, we had a MERRY CHRISTMAS!)

Linda is still learning the ropes for bloggin and she ask that I post this for her....
This year at our annual family holiday gathering (almost 70 people!) we shared fond memories of Christmases past. Dad recalled that 65 years ago this Christmas he was a 18 year old US Navy seaman on board the newly commissioned USS McDermut (DD-667) on a "shakedown" in the British Isles. He recalls that they spent Christmas Day "practicing shooting up some beach" along side the British Navy. Sack lunches had been provided for both crews and he also recalled (rather sheepishly) that his crew snuck and ate the British sailors lunch early in the morning---then at noon tried to act innocent while they ate their own! The year would have been 1943 and the British Isles were quite a long ways from Laurel Mills and his beloved home in Rappahannock County, VA.

Interesting True, Yet Stupid Info

It takes 3,000 cows to supply the NFL with enough leather for a year's supply of footballs. ~Where's the protestors?

Presidential trivia: stranger than fiction; unusual facts about our presidents

Benjamin Harrison (1889-1893)
Benjamin Harrison was the first president to have electric lights in the White House. However, he was afraid to turn them on for fear of being shocked. He even refused to push electric bells and buzzers. Harrison did not enjoy his one term in office. During his administration the economy was bad; the Johnstown Flood killed 2,400 people; and the massacre of Indians took place at Wounded Knee, South Dakota. People tended to blame those events on Harrison, though he had little or nothing to do with them.
~Funny, almost 100 years later ~ Replace Johnstown with New Orleans change the numbers a little, change Indians to terrorist and replace Wounded Knee with World Trade Center/Pentagon/fields of PA. Interestingly, the above writer does leave some room for doubt saying after the flood & massacre, Harrison had "little or nothing to do with the event". Current reporters are not so kind for President Bush! comment by:Vickie

Richard Nixon (1969-1974)
Servants and other employees at the White House often found it difficult working for Richard Nixon, though they never admitted it publicly at the time. New rules and regulations, firing and hiring personnel, and constant "nit-picking" by the president and his staff created an atmosphere of sobriety and suspicion. One of Nixon's quirks was building a fire in the Lincoln sitting room in July. Running the air conditioner at top speed, Nixon lowered the room temperature to below 50 degrees so he could sit before the fireplace. Even top Nixon aides, including chief of the White House staff, Bob Haldeman, were seen carrying logs, stoking the fire and hauling ashes in midsummer when temperatures outside approached 100 degrees.
Whatcha reckon? He was practicing for after life? :) comment by:Vickie

COPYRIGHT 1996 Weekly Reader Corp.COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group

I see skies of blue....and it would have been Elvis Presley's Birthday

Wow! Today has been beautiful outside. I went with Dad & Mom to Veteran's Hospital for his check up. I guess all is fine as they sprung him out pretty fast.
It's hard to believe, but on the way home I looked at the temperature and it was 72 degrees in January!
Mom reminded me it was Uncle Johnny's birthday. Just as a passing thought I realized it is Elvis Presley's birthday too.
I am experimenting with fonts and I see absolutely NO changes, I have changed it every so often... OK, so that one works! :)
I am still experimenting to find other options for posting, I think this is another option.

Signs of Spring

I started the long task of raking out the last of the leaves from everywhere! Raking the flower beds and GUESS WHAT....I saw the new growth of tulips.

If you know anyone planning a wedding/reception and needs an affordable place for their reception keep me and Casanova Groves in mind! We have several nice places for the set up with plenty of parking. I will simply provide the location, catering,etc., will need to be acquired by bride.

I usually have flowers of some sort in bloom from early Spring until hard frost in the Fall. Several places to take great pics.
Take a look at my link to more photos:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=126fzz0o.5tn6m8c8&x=0&y=-r6fubo

Hillary Clinton for President.....she whines too much!

News front page.......Hillary Clinton Chokes Up on Eve of Big Vote
She's No Longer Front-Runner....

OK, on my soap box! This is the second time in the last few months that Hillary has shown why a woman should NOT be President! During one of the debates when the heat was on she threw a tantrum and said the others were "picking on her"!! COME ON!! Now she is crying because she is behind in the Polls!!

I say, Put the big girl panties on and jump in there fighting, no more tears, no more whining that something isn't fair, or someone is picking on you!

Otherwise, jump into those fuzzy slippers, flannel pj's and curl up in the rocking chair beside of your loving husband! (Lordy, I can hear her whining from here with that thought!)

We need someone as President who will stand up and protect us no matter how much picking, name calling or low in the polls he may be!

I know two things....Hillary isn't good for the country and we are FOOLS to vote for Obama....hasn't anyone been watching Extreme Makeovers?!?! Obama could very well be Osama!! Look real close and he is kinda simple so they didn't change his name very much so it would be easy to remember!!!

I say vote for Daffy Duck!

Morgan's New Camera

Make a free ecard - it's easy!

Smokey Winstead and Bull Run Grass

The Sounds

of

Bluegrass

Traditional, Contemporary & Gospel Bluegrass
Smokey and his band play a wide variety of classic Bluegrass to foot stomping fun songs. Good entertainment for the entire family.

You'll be entertained with a classic such as "Cripple Creek" and tickle your funny bone with, "I met my Baby in the Porta-John Line".


Smokey is married to a "Whorton Girl", Linda. Their son, Carson also plays in the band and he accompanies his father in singing.


Instruments played are Banjo, Bass, Mandolin,Dobro and Rhythm Guitar.

If you, or someone you know would like to book a show please contact their "Promoter" Vickie at realtorvwatts@aol.com.

Birthdays

Linda 2/12 Jim 3/ (a.k.a. Smokey)
Jackie 6/15 Marke 4/27
Frank 12/07 Judy 3/
Vickie 9/23 Riley 9/02
Papa 5/03
Nanny 5/17

I never get Jim & Judy's correct! Somebody help me!

Grandchildren:
Carson 1/21
Heather 5/14 ;Missy 3/23 ;Bubba 5/16
Jessica 3/17 ( St.Patrick Day Baby!) ;Nathan 12/19

Great-Grandchildren: Someone please post with b-dates.

Where has the Army taken Bubba today?

It was great to see Bubba for the Holidays! I hope this will be a way we can all stay in touch with him.
Does Bubba have an email, if so please forward this site to him so he can post back to us.
Thanks!

To Bubba, we are praying for you & hurry home!! Love ya! A.Vic & U.Riley.

OK, so far no one has update Bubba's whereabouts or what he is up to these days. Maybe it's hush-hush...so here is a look back at Aunt Linda's Holiday Party 2006.....

click on the photo to see larger view.

Scrap Booking Ideas

I am so excited about the scrap booking software that I used for the christmas books I made for my kids.
If anyone wants to borrow my disc, you are welcome to it.

I just saw a show today about a medium that will make your fabric do whatever so that you can run it thru your PRINTER to make quilt squares, etc! The demo was showing how basically you'd create your quilt square on the PC just like I did the scrap book pages, but then she printed the square on the fabric. The demo was using a theme from a vacation in Africa and Hawaii. She had awesome pics of flowers and animals. The quilt was sooo vibrant, washable and seemed really easy to do!
I didn't catch the name of the medium for this process, has anyone heard about it? If you ever see it for sale somewhere...let me know! Thanks!

Your Favorite Recipe

This one sounds good! I snagged if off of Heather's family website!

Title: Banana Split Pie

Description:This really tastes just like a Banana Split. This light dessert is perfect anytime of year.

Ingredients:2 Bananas Sliced1 Prepared Graham Cracker Pie Shell8 oz. pkg. Cream Cheese (softened)1 1/2 C. Powdered Sugar1 1/2 tsp. Vanilla1 C. Crushed Pineapple (drained)1 8 oz Container Whipped Topping1/2 C. Chopped Pecans6 - 8 Maraschino Cherry's (drained)Chocolate Syrup ToppingDirections:Line bottom and sides of prepared pie shell with sliced bananas. Whip cream cheese with a blender and slowly add powder sugar and vanilla. When the powder sugar and cream cheese mixture is fluffy, stir in drained pineapple, and mix well. Carefully fold in whipped topping in cream cheese mixture. Pile whipped cream cheese mixture in pie shell. Sprinkle nuts on top and place drained cherry's on top of nuts. Drizzle chocolate syrup on top of pie. Chill pie for an hour before serving. This is a must for banana split lovers.

Holidays over at Casanova, Happy New Year!

Latest from Casanova...ever noticed how Christmas wrapping paper is a lot like Easter grass? Just when you think it is all in the trash, another piece comes floating out of no where. If only we could figure out how to make money do that too!

The Holidays was the same as usual...somewhat reminds me of the George Jones song..."Well The Race Is On"....
We finally breathe a sigh of relief once the New Year was here.

We first spent Sunday 12/23 with Riley's family in Paris. We had a great afternoon of visiting and food. Afterwards, we drove on to W.VA to visit Uncle Minor & Aunt Dora. On 12/24, we had dinner at home with our kids and grandkids. Christmas Day, Brieanna (our grand daughter for any of you that has been under a rock for the last 15 years) was awake and looking for Santa gifts by 6:30AM. We had a great time watching her be surprised....yet not really surprised!
We spent Christmas Lunch/Dinner at Mom& Dad's at home. Everyone was there and the food was great.
Finally, the grand finale at Linda's for the "Last Supper". What fun listening to everyone's favorite memories from the Holiday season.
I had only shared about playing with Dad's new fly fishing pole and pulling over the Christmas tree, but my really best memory with family is when we'd hear someone say....Aunt Betty & Uncle Pressley are HERE!! Then the party really started!
How on earth did Mom & Dad's little house ever hold ALL those people?? But what fun it was!!

Now it's on to the New Year. My Christmas tree is starting to lean and with it tied off to the window I am afraid if I don't soon take it down it will break the window loose from the sill and then I'll have a flying window thru the house!
My lighted, flapping winged Angels have been blown over by the high winds, my lights are drooping and my garland is limp.
The taste test in the refrigerator didn't go so well today either, so Yep, it's time for new beginnings.

I didn't send out a Christmas card this year, I kinda felt a little like the Merle Haggard song..."If we make it through December, we'll be alright".
We sat and watched the ball drop and made it through December.....

Happy New Year!!!!

Welcome to Whorton Presidentials

Welcome!
I hope this will become a great way to keep everyone posted of current events, thoughts and plain ole gossip! :)

Please forward this blog addy to anyone in the family or friends that you think will enjoy keeping in the loop.

Creator of Blog: Vickie "Whorton" Watts