Bud

My cousin Bud Tipton and (skinny) me - 1953

 Edward "Bud" Tipton was one of my thirty-six first paternal cousins. 

Of all my cousins, my Uncle Ed and Aunt Mabel had the coolest children. 

They lived in the country. We lived in town. 

Almost every Sunday during the late Forties and early Fifties my parents would take us for a Sunday ride to "Ed and Mabel's." This was before all the developments, it was all country with an occasional farm.

Ed and Mabel's home in the country did not have electricity, plumbing (outhouse) or running water (they had a hand water pump with a well). But those days "in the country" were pure bliss for us "city kids." As you see in the photo above, there are some happy kids. From left to right in the back are my (late) brother John, cousin Janet, my other brother Isaac, Bud and me. Check out the "muscles" on me. Damn I was skinny. At that time (1951 I think) I was the tallest of my brothers but they eventually overtook me as we progressed into adulthood.

Bud was the oldest with his twin sister Sis. He also had three  younger sisters. 

Back in those days we were viciously poor. But I think just about everyone was poor so we really weren't that conscious of how poor we were. All we knew was we always had a fabulous time when we visited Ed and Mabel's and all played in those innocent days of the Fifties summers. I think Bud was glad to see me and my brothers come over, what with all those girls in his household.

Bud never married. He was always very private about his life. 

In the later Fifties his family moved to a house closer to Downingtown, where me and my brothers lived. Those Sunday visits with Aunt Mabel's fabulous fried chicken and biscuits ended. However we all still remained friends over the years, although we didn't visit as often as I would have liked.

I always felt I had a special connection with Bud and his family as did my father with his brother Ed, Sr.

One day in 1951 my father and his brother Ed took me and Bud to a fishing rodeo in West Chester. I had fished a few times but wasn't a "fisherman." Bud was the fisherman. Of course, wouldn't you know it, I won the fishing contest for catching the biggest fish (a 13 inch bass).

9-1-1951 Ronnie and Bud Tipton West Chester Fishing Rodeo

This is a picture of my Uncle Ed and my father Ike Tipton at the same fishing rodeo.

Here are some more pictures of our Sunday outings at Ed and Mabel's from he late Forties to the early Fifties.

Me on let with arms folded, and my brothers John and Isaac. My Aunt Mabel is behind me and next to her is my Mother

I'm standing in the from with my arms folded. Bud (he was born with a permanent tan) is too my right. My two younger brothers are to my left. The rest of the kids are Tipton cousins and other aunts and uncles in addition to my Mother. I think my father took the picture because he isn't in it. This was about 1951.

And I will end with the priceless picture of our earliest visit to Ed and Mabel's. This picture had to be taken in 1946 considering how little me and my brothers are.

Me in the center with the big smile and the combed hair. Bud is to my left. 1946

Me with my cousin Bud Tipton 2005

I wish I had kept more in touch with Bud and his family but you know how "life" takes over. 

A few weeks ago I called his sister. She had received my Christmas card where I stated I was now Bill's caregiver. She had left a message on my iPhone that she wanted to talk to me. When I called she told me that she was now Bud's caregiver. She said he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's about three years ago. Last week she called to tell me Bud was in the hospital with a respiratory infection. This morning she called to tell me Bud had passed last night. 

I am going to move Heaven and Earth to go to his funeral service. Wish me luck. 

High School graduation Day for Tipton Cousins 1959 From left to right me, cousin Joan "Sis" Tipton (Bud's twin sister), Cousins Louise and Bud. We had the world before us.