Paul McGlothlin was my dad, I never really knew him. I was told all my life he died when I was young. I started out with a name, only one photo and a tie clip from his job on the Long Island Rail Road. I had no idea who his parents were, where he was born and raised, nothing no dates of birth or death, no marriage records to my mom. I was told as a child he had a very bad heart and died when I was a child. I learned in 2012, that was a lie.
Originally I thought Paul had died sometime around 1966. I found out however, he didn't die until 30 years later. None of my questions growing up had a direct answer and something inside me always drove me to wanting to know. There is something to the phrase, be careful what you ask for, because you might just get it. Well, I did.
In 2012, I was on ancestry.com and as I always did I searched for his name. Same old names and dates that I had investigated years before. The last time I searched however, a hunch led me to photos and I ran across one that made me shake. I had only one photo of my father, and this photo was a man considerably older, I made a copy of that photo and sent it to a cousin and a boyfriend, who had been a photographer. They agreed that the man in both pictures could be the same man, 30 some odd years later.
I was able to contact some of his relatives through Ancestry and Facebook, sending the photo of my dad and I to them, they confirmed the man is the same in both photos.
I have got to know of his life since then, not sure why he was not in my life, why he seemed to think he wasn't needed or wanted in my life. My mom, never once said anything bad about him, never made me feel as if he didn't want me. Just the opposite, she built him up in my mind, so that little girl he didn't have much, if anything, to do with, grew up to love her dad.
Paul McGlothlin was born to Sarah Combs and Davis McGlothlin. He was the youngest of the three sons Sarah and Davis had. Greer was the oldest, followed by Clyde and then Paul. He has in the US Army during WWII and did work for the Long Island Railroad, retiring and moving back to his home state of Virginia. He was married to Madge Dye. From information from his nieces he never had any other children, but they did not know about me, so I have to wonder if there were not other kids, that he just never bothered to mention as well.
I wondered growing up about my dad, I mourned his loss and wondered if my heart also had the same problems his supposedly had. As I got older and asked questions I was frustrated with the little information anyone, from my mom, grandparents, and older family members would or could give me. Once the Internet came into use, I was able to search, but not having dates most of what I found were dead ends. Of course I was looking for someone that died in the mid-60s not the mid-90s.
Over the years on Find A Grave I added updates to keep track of my progress, I could delete them now that my search is over, but I think for now, I am going to keep them. As I said earlier, be careful for what you wish for, but I did want to know, and even if I will never have all the answers, I still find myself loving my dad. My mom wanted me to, and I do, but it was his loss not being a part of my life, not mine, because I believe what my mom thought was you can't miss, what you don't have, and deep down I haven't missed a thing.
My updates:
Update Aug 21, 2006. Daddy, today I've given up my search. I did all I can to try and locate you. I've fought and begged and pleaded to get information and there is no one that can help now. I just pray that where ever your family had your body buried that someone cares, that there is a flower planted every now and then for you. Please know if I did know where you were buried I would be visiting and putting my own flowers on your grave. Every time I put a flower on a strangers grave I will pray that one is placed for you by another stranger. I'll always love you dad, but I know when its over. Rest well.
Update June 2010. Dad, We had a little family reunion recently, it was just the four cousins. Jane, Corky and Eric and I. Every time I had asked Jane about you, she really had no recollection of you. She even mentioned that her mom had doubts about you. Well, Eric and Corky remembered you. I should have known my two male cousins would remember the railroad. They told me they don't remember a lot, but remember you in their kitchen dressed as a conductor and you showing them your change maker. That you seemed so very tall, just as mom had always said. It wasn't a lot, but it meant so very much to me. Maybe one day they will remember more, or just keep my spirits up enough to continue my search. I don't know if you knew Jackie, but he did his best after mom was left with me to be there for us both. I lost him young too, you , grandpa, Jack, its so good to have Eric and Corky around now. Just to remind me of just how wonderful grandpa was, and that you were real. I love you. Always.
June 2, 2012....update I believe after all these years I've found my dad. Sadly I had a lot of untruths to deal with until I finally found enough info to finally go by. I will redo the memorial soon, right now I have a long rest and lots of figuring out to do before I can remove the old info. Never give up on what you want...it's out there somewhere.
August 16, 2012. Today I got confirmation that the Paul I believed to be my dad, was in fact him. The search has ended, but the questions remain.
September 17, 2012. Daddy's stone was posted on Find A Grave today. After searching all these years, I have more than I thought I would ever have. I have his birth certificate, death certificate, information about his job on the Railroad and now a burial place, grandparents and his grave stone, with flowers and a flag. I can finally say my search is over, and will update this memorial soon. If you search hard and long enough you will find what you seek.
Originally I thought Paul had died sometime around 1966. I found out however, he didn't die until 30 years later. None of my questions growing up had a direct answer and something inside me always drove me to wanting to know. There is something to the phrase, be careful what you ask for, because you might just get it. Well, I did.
In 2012, I was on ancestry.com and as I always did I searched for his name. Same old names and dates that I had investigated years before. The last time I searched however, a hunch led me to photos and I ran across one that made me shake. I had only one photo of my father, and this photo was a man considerably older, I made a copy of that photo and sent it to a cousin and a boyfriend, who had been a photographer. They agreed that the man in both pictures could be the same man, 30 some odd years later.
I was able to contact some of his relatives through Ancestry and Facebook, sending the photo of my dad and I to them, they confirmed the man is the same in both photos.
I have got to know of his life since then, not sure why he was not in my life, why he seemed to think he wasn't needed or wanted in my life. My mom, never once said anything bad about him, never made me feel as if he didn't want me. Just the opposite, she built him up in my mind, so that little girl he didn't have much, if anything, to do with, grew up to love her dad.
Paul McGlothlin was born to Sarah Combs and Davis McGlothlin. He was the youngest of the three sons Sarah and Davis had. Greer was the oldest, followed by Clyde and then Paul. He has in the US Army during WWII and did work for the Long Island Railroad, retiring and moving back to his home state of Virginia. He was married to Madge Dye. From information from his nieces he never had any other children, but they did not know about me, so I have to wonder if there were not other kids, that he just never bothered to mention as well.
I wondered growing up about my dad, I mourned his loss and wondered if my heart also had the same problems his supposedly had. As I got older and asked questions I was frustrated with the little information anyone, from my mom, grandparents, and older family members would or could give me. Once the Internet came into use, I was able to search, but not having dates most of what I found were dead ends. Of course I was looking for someone that died in the mid-60s not the mid-90s.
Over the years on Find A Grave I added updates to keep track of my progress, I could delete them now that my search is over, but I think for now, I am going to keep them. As I said earlier, be careful for what you wish for, but I did want to know, and even if I will never have all the answers, I still find myself loving my dad. My mom wanted me to, and I do, but it was his loss not being a part of my life, not mine, because I believe what my mom thought was you can't miss, what you don't have, and deep down I haven't missed a thing.
My updates:
Update Aug 21, 2006. Daddy, today I've given up my search. I did all I can to try and locate you. I've fought and begged and pleaded to get information and there is no one that can help now. I just pray that where ever your family had your body buried that someone cares, that there is a flower planted every now and then for you. Please know if I did know where you were buried I would be visiting and putting my own flowers on your grave. Every time I put a flower on a strangers grave I will pray that one is placed for you by another stranger. I'll always love you dad, but I know when its over. Rest well.
Update June 2010. Dad, We had a little family reunion recently, it was just the four cousins. Jane, Corky and Eric and I. Every time I had asked Jane about you, she really had no recollection of you. She even mentioned that her mom had doubts about you. Well, Eric and Corky remembered you. I should have known my two male cousins would remember the railroad. They told me they don't remember a lot, but remember you in their kitchen dressed as a conductor and you showing them your change maker. That you seemed so very tall, just as mom had always said. It wasn't a lot, but it meant so very much to me. Maybe one day they will remember more, or just keep my spirits up enough to continue my search. I don't know if you knew Jackie, but he did his best after mom was left with me to be there for us both. I lost him young too, you , grandpa, Jack, its so good to have Eric and Corky around now. Just to remind me of just how wonderful grandpa was, and that you were real. I love you. Always.
June 2, 2012....update I believe after all these years I've found my dad. Sadly I had a lot of untruths to deal with until I finally found enough info to finally go by. I will redo the memorial soon, right now I have a long rest and lots of figuring out to do before I can remove the old info. Never give up on what you want...it's out there somewhere.
August 16, 2012. Today I got confirmation that the Paul I believed to be my dad, was in fact him. The search has ended, but the questions remain.
September 17, 2012. Daddy's stone was posted on Find A Grave today. After searching all these years, I have more than I thought I would ever have. I have his birth certificate, death certificate, information about his job on the Railroad and now a burial place, grandparents and his grave stone, with flowers and a flag. I can finally say my search is over, and will update this memorial soon. If you search hard and long enough you will find what you seek.
Paul McGlothlin was my dad, I never really knew him. I was told all my life he died when I was young. I started out with a name, only one photo and a tie clip from his job on the Long Island Rail Road. I had no idea who his parents were, where he was born and raised, nothing no dates of birth or death, no marriage records to my mom. I was told as a child he had a very bad heart and died when I was a child. I learned in 2012, that was a lie.
Originally I thought Paul had died sometime around 1966. I found out however, he didn't die until 30 years later. None of my questions growing up had a direct answer and something inside me always drove me to wanting to know. There is something to the phrase, be careful what you ask for, because you might just get it. Well, I did.
In 2012, I was on ancestry.com and as I always did I searched for his name. Same old names and dates that I had investigated years before. The last time I searched however, a hunch led me to photos and I ran across one that made me shake. I had only one photo of my father, and this photo was a man considerably older, I made a copy of that photo and sent it to a cousin and a boyfriend, who had been a photographer. They agreed that the man in both pictures could be the same man, 30 some odd years later.
I was able to contact some of his relatives through Ancestry and Facebook, sending the photo of my dad and I to them, they confirmed the man is the same in both photos.
I have got to know of his life since then, not sure why he was not in my life, why he seemed to think he wasn't needed or wanted in my life. My mom, never once said anything bad about him, never made me feel as if he didn't want me. Just the opposite, she built him up in my mind, so that little girl he didn't have much, if anything, to do with, grew up to love her dad.
Paul McGlothlin was born to Sarah Combs and Davis McGlothlin. He was the youngest of the three sons Sarah and Davis had. Greer was the oldest, followed by Clyde and then Paul. He has in the US Army during WWII and did work for the Long Island Railroad, retiring and moving back to his home state of Virginia. He was married to Madge Dye. From information from his nieces he never had any other children, but they did not know about me, so I have to wonder if there were not other kids, that he just never bothered to mention as well.
I wondered growing up about my dad, I mourned his loss and wondered if my heart also had the same problems his supposedly had. As I got older and asked questions I was frustrated with the little information anyone, from my mom, grandparents, and older family members would or could give me. Once the Internet came into use, I was able to search, but not having dates most of what I found were dead ends. Of course I was looking for someone that died in the mid-60s not the mid-90s.
Over the years on Find A Grave I added updates to keep track of my progress, I could delete them now that my search is over, but I think for now, I am going to keep them. As I said earlier, be careful for what you wish for, but I did want to know, and even if I will never have all the answers, I still find myself loving my dad. My mom wanted me to, and I do, but it was his loss not being a part of my life, not mine, because I believe what my mom thought was you can't miss, what you don't have, and deep down I haven't missed a thing.
My updates:
Update Aug 21, 2006. Daddy, today I've given up my search. I did all I can to try and locate you. I've fought and begged and pleaded to get information and there is no one that can help now. I just pray that where ever your family had your body buried that someone cares, that there is a flower planted every now and then for you. Please know if I did know where you were buried I would be visiting and putting my own flowers on your grave. Every time I put a flower on a strangers grave I will pray that one is placed for you by another stranger. I'll always love you dad, but I know when its over. Rest well.
Update June 2010. Dad, We had a little family reunion recently, it was just the four cousins. Jane, Corky and Eric and I. Every time I had asked Jane about you, she really had no recollection of you. She even mentioned that her mom had doubts about you. Well, Eric and Corky remembered you. I should have known my two male cousins would remember the railroad. They told me they don't remember a lot, but remember you in their kitchen dressed as a conductor and you showing them your change maker. That you seemed so very tall, just as mom had always said. It wasn't a lot, but it meant so very much to me. Maybe one day they will remember more, or just keep my spirits up enough to continue my search. I don't know if you knew Jackie, but he did his best after mom was left with me to be there for us both. I lost him young too, you , grandpa, Jack, its so good to have Eric and Corky around now. Just to remind me of just how wonderful grandpa was, and that you were real. I love you. Always.
June 2, 2012....update I believe after all these years I've found my dad. Sadly I had a lot of untruths to deal with until I finally found enough info to finally go by. I will redo the memorial soon, right now I have a long rest and lots of figuring out to do before I can remove the old info. Never give up on what you want...it's out there somewhere.
August 16, 2012. Today I got confirmation that the Paul I believed to be my dad, was in fact him. The search has ended, but the questions remain.
September 17, 2012. Daddy's stone was posted on Find A Grave today. After searching all these years, I have more than I thought I would ever have. I have his birth certificate, death certificate, information about his job on the Railroad and now a burial place, grandparents and his grave stone, with flowers and a flag. I can finally say my search is over, and will update this memorial soon. If you search hard and long enough you will find what you seek.
Originally I thought Paul had died sometime around 1966. I found out however, he didn't die until 30 years later. None of my questions growing up had a direct answer and something inside me always drove me to wanting to know. There is something to the phrase, be careful what you ask for, because you might just get it. Well, I did.
In 2012, I was on ancestry.com and as I always did I searched for his name. Same old names and dates that I had investigated years before. The last time I searched however, a hunch led me to photos and I ran across one that made me shake. I had only one photo of my father, and this photo was a man considerably older, I made a copy of that photo and sent it to a cousin and a boyfriend, who had been a photographer. They agreed that the man in both pictures could be the same man, 30 some odd years later.
I was able to contact some of his relatives through Ancestry and Facebook, sending the photo of my dad and I to them, they confirmed the man is the same in both photos.
I have got to know of his life since then, not sure why he was not in my life, why he seemed to think he wasn't needed or wanted in my life. My mom, never once said anything bad about him, never made me feel as if he didn't want me. Just the opposite, she built him up in my mind, so that little girl he didn't have much, if anything, to do with, grew up to love her dad.
Paul McGlothlin was born to Sarah Combs and Davis McGlothlin. He was the youngest of the three sons Sarah and Davis had. Greer was the oldest, followed by Clyde and then Paul. He has in the US Army during WWII and did work for the Long Island Railroad, retiring and moving back to his home state of Virginia. He was married to Madge Dye. From information from his nieces he never had any other children, but they did not know about me, so I have to wonder if there were not other kids, that he just never bothered to mention as well.
I wondered growing up about my dad, I mourned his loss and wondered if my heart also had the same problems his supposedly had. As I got older and asked questions I was frustrated with the little information anyone, from my mom, grandparents, and older family members would or could give me. Once the Internet came into use, I was able to search, but not having dates most of what I found were dead ends. Of course I was looking for someone that died in the mid-60s not the mid-90s.
Over the years on Find A Grave I added updates to keep track of my progress, I could delete them now that my search is over, but I think for now, I am going to keep them. As I said earlier, be careful for what you wish for, but I did want to know, and even if I will never have all the answers, I still find myself loving my dad. My mom wanted me to, and I do, but it was his loss not being a part of my life, not mine, because I believe what my mom thought was you can't miss, what you don't have, and deep down I haven't missed a thing.
My updates:
Update Aug 21, 2006. Daddy, today I've given up my search. I did all I can to try and locate you. I've fought and begged and pleaded to get information and there is no one that can help now. I just pray that where ever your family had your body buried that someone cares, that there is a flower planted every now and then for you. Please know if I did know where you were buried I would be visiting and putting my own flowers on your grave. Every time I put a flower on a strangers grave I will pray that one is placed for you by another stranger. I'll always love you dad, but I know when its over. Rest well.
Update June 2010. Dad, We had a little family reunion recently, it was just the four cousins. Jane, Corky and Eric and I. Every time I had asked Jane about you, she really had no recollection of you. She even mentioned that her mom had doubts about you. Well, Eric and Corky remembered you. I should have known my two male cousins would remember the railroad. They told me they don't remember a lot, but remember you in their kitchen dressed as a conductor and you showing them your change maker. That you seemed so very tall, just as mom had always said. It wasn't a lot, but it meant so very much to me. Maybe one day they will remember more, or just keep my spirits up enough to continue my search. I don't know if you knew Jackie, but he did his best after mom was left with me to be there for us both. I lost him young too, you , grandpa, Jack, its so good to have Eric and Corky around now. Just to remind me of just how wonderful grandpa was, and that you were real. I love you. Always.
June 2, 2012....update I believe after all these years I've found my dad. Sadly I had a lot of untruths to deal with until I finally found enough info to finally go by. I will redo the memorial soon, right now I have a long rest and lots of figuring out to do before I can remove the old info. Never give up on what you want...it's out there somewhere.
August 16, 2012. Today I got confirmation that the Paul I believed to be my dad, was in fact him. The search has ended, but the questions remain.
September 17, 2012. Daddy's stone was posted on Find A Grave today. After searching all these years, I have more than I thought I would ever have. I have his birth certificate, death certificate, information about his job on the Railroad and now a burial place, grandparents and his grave stone, with flowers and a flag. I can finally say my search is over, and will update this memorial soon. If you search hard and long enough you will find what you seek.
Inscription
Paul L.
1919-1996
Veteran of World War II
