It's been a few months now but these 2 losses below just consumed my thoughts and prayers so much I had to get this out. Share your stories so we can all laugh and cry together as a good bowling community does. Send up a prayer for my fallen teammates. I hope there's a strike and a beverage in heaven for them.
Dean Kimple had (2) 300's in the 1970's and and 800 while he was in his 70's. He got into the local hall of fame just before his death. His induction speech included telling a story about a partner that threw out his back pocket and told Dean to just grab on because he's going to carry his butt to big money at the ABC doubles. Dean lost his train of thought and didn't get to the punch line where his partner only had like 125 the next game. His bowling accomplishments don't tell all though as he was the kind of guy that everybody liked. His wife, Carolyn, seemed like she walked into the room with a smile and it just spread throughout the room. Deano, you made your teammates better just being there for us.
Even deeper was the loss of my father-in-law, Ron Boomershine. My wife and I met while coincidentally getting teamed up in a league together. We bowled with her dad and my dad and a friend. Toward the end of the first season, Ron turned to our friend and asked if there was something going on between his daughter and me. Our friend just bust out laughing as he couldn't believe Ron didn't see anything before then. Ron is also in the local hall of fame. During one of the banquets, HOF members were asked to list their greatest accomplishment. Ron didn't know what to put because he was a fringe member and didn't compare to some as we have PBA champions and Eagle winners among the ranks. I reminded him of winning the fishbowl. He was pretty broke with a baby (my future wife) on the way. He struck out in the 10th to win something like $750 or a $1,000 back in 1975. Can't compare to a PBA title, but it was personal and others in the room nodded in appreciation as they could remember similar times themselves. My wife recently had the front 10 but missed in the 11th. She's never had a 300 even though she's plenty good enough and has been close a few times. She was using 1 of her Dad's old balls even. Tears couldn't be held back as she wanted to share what she did with the person who got her started in the game but couldn't.
