Here is what others had to say about their dads:
“King”
Father: Harold Fields Jr. of Dayton
Children: Shanae Robinson, Dwayne Donlow Jr., Kazan Cox and Marvellous Fields of Dayton
“Loving”
Father: the late Earl M. Champ Sr. of Dayton
Daughter: Jackie Lawrence of Dayton
“Honorable”
Father: the late Emerson Distin of Syracuse, N.Y.
Daughter: Barbara Files of Springboro
“ATM”
Father: Bill Hoogsteden of Dayton
Daughter: Carolyn Hoogsteden of Dayton
“Reliable”
Father: Charles A. Bryant Jr.
Son: Chaharazade Bryant
“Unforgettable”
Father: the late Lima Fire Chief Walter L. Hydaker
Mother: Marolyn Hydaker Ray of Centerville
“Unselfish”
Father: The late Rafael Lugo of Marietta
Daughter: Crystal Lugo of Clayton
“Buddy”
Father: Duane Edward Smith of Eaton
Son: Brayden Riley Smith (age 3) of Eaton
“Dedicated”
Father: Hezekiah Carpenter of Dayton
Daughters: Diane, Dionne and Denette Carpenter of Dayton
“Spectacular”
Father: Joe Krug of Springboro
Daughter: Ellie Krug of Springboro
“Mine”
Father: Carl Gene Willeford of Union City
Daughter: Anita Smith of Eaton
“Wonderful”
Father: Daryl Smith of Dayton
Daughter: Regina Smith of Dayton
“Courageous”
Father: the late Durward Lewis of Washington Twp.
Daughter: Jill May of Brookville
“Awesome”
Father: William Ray Keith, 96, of Centerville
Daughter: Jeanne Hart of Centerville
“Integrity”
Father: the late Verlie Cook of Dayton
Daughter: Cindy Krapf of Miamisburg
“Inspiration”
Father: Mark Schaefer of Centerville
Daughter: Jessica Schaefer
“Magnificent”
Father: Maurice Winston of Clayton
Daughter: Anjanette Winston of Dayton
“Magnanimous”
Father: David Smith of Washington Twp.
Son: Kenny Smith of Southern California
“Compassion”
Father: Phil Shupert of Miamisburg
Daughter: Kimberly Shupert of Miamisburg
“Spectacular”
Father: the late Harold Greenwood of Norton
Daughter: Leslie Short of West Carrollton
“Loveable”
Father: Larry Skolnick of Oakwood
Daughter: Sophie Skolnick, 8, of Oakwood.
“Remarkable”
Father: the late Charles Edward Brush of Troy
Son: Michael Brush of Washington Twp.
“Driver”
Father: Jack Smith of Clayton
Daughter: Stephanie A. Smith of Clayton
“Devoted”
Father: Mitch Smedly of Sabina
Daughter: Michelle Wagers of Dayton
“Humble”
Father: Donald D. Denlinger of New Lebanon
Daughter: Nancy Lenhart of Fort Loramie
“Unselfish”
Father: George Dillhoff of Vandalia
Daughter: Nicole Harestad of Vandalia
“Loving”
Father: Ritchie Thomas of Olympia, Wash.
Daughter: Laura Thomas of Moraine
“Dynamic”
Father: Don Bohannon of Riverside
Daughter: Pam Akers of Riverside
“Thankful”
Father: Edward Kaiser of Fort Recovery
Daughter: Margaret Bergman of Celina
“Devoted”
Father: John Sheidler of Kettering
Children: Rachel and Luke Sheidler of Kettering
“Missed”
Father: the late John Evans of Englewood
Daughter: Kim King of Centerville
“Awesome”
Father: Shannon Hunter of Trotwood
Children: Sammy, Kaylee, Symon and Luke Hunter of Trotwood, ages 10, 11, 7 and 21, of Trotwood
“Amazing”
Father: the late Lt. Col. Salvador Ramos of Beavercreek
Daughter: Danielle J. Ramos-Smith of Beavercreek
“Wonder”
Father: Clarence William Lenk of New Lebanon
Daughter: Mary Jo Spitler of New Lebanon
“Hero”
Father: John Eugene Wright Sr. of Lima
Son: Timothy Wright of Clayton
“Sweet”
Father: the late Rev. Wendell R. Gibbs of Miamisburg
Daughter: Barbara Young of Miamisburg
“Loyal”
Father: Bob Guerra of Englewood
Daughter: Terry Guerra of Englewood
Devoted, humble, cheapaholic.
Those are just a few of the words area sons and daughters think of when their thoughts turn to their fathers.
In advance of Father’s Day on Sunday, we asked readers to submit a single word that describes their dads.
Dozens chimed in with sentiments about fathers both living and dead.
Several had a hard time coming up with just one word to describe the men who gave them life and in most cases, unconditional love.
Kay Binzer of Beavercreek picked “Daddy” for her stepfather, the late Kenny Wolford of Beavercreek. She said her biological father, Frank Feller, was killed in action in WWII just months before she was born. Two years later, Wolford came into her life.
“This man raised me like I was his very own biological daughter, and I cherish the years he was my ‘Daddy,’ ” Binzer said. “This is what a real father would do and he will always be mine. Love him forever.”
Esther Borders of Englewood described her father, Phillip D. Howard of Huber Heights, as “fearless” after he went against a group of doctors who told him he wasn’t a candidate for transplant surgery and ordered him into Hospice care. Howard, a Vietnam vet, sought a second opinion and underwent a successful liver and kidney transplant.
Carl E. Foley of Kettering was described as “determined” by his daughter, Karla M. Foley of New Carlisle. He lost his central vision eyesight when she was 9, but still started his own business selling a closed-circuit television system.
“Sadly, my dear dad, who taught me how to drive —even though he was legally blind — now has Alzheimer’s. Grief overcomes me sometimes,” she said.
Don Welsh of West Carrollton was described as “fixer” by daughter Jill Day of Oakwood. She said her father is a retired plumber; but he can repair, rebuild, refurbish and get almost anything broken to work.
“When I call home and ask for Dad, my Mom knows something’s not working at my house,” she said. “He is also pretty handy with a hug and the occasional corny joke.”
Helen Rickelle Price of Kettering took a more humorous approach to the question.
He (Harry “Rick” Springer of Kettering) has always worked two jobs to provide for our family in my 20 years of living. We live a comfortable life, yet the word that best describe my dad is ‘cheapaholic.’ ”
And Jacob Rhoades of Brookville said his dad, David Rhoades, is “thoughtful.” The family has been through tough times the past few years. David lost his job at General Motors; he lost his mother, whom he was caring for and went through a divorce. Last year, Jacob’s brother and David’s son, Michael, was killed in a car wreck.
“Even with all that has happened to my Dad in the past four years, he is still a very thoughtful man. He thinks of others before himself,” Jacob said.
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