Mr. Robert Wiltshire's Obituary
Let me tell you a story. Those are the words I heard, Robert Wiltshire, my granddad, utter so many times. Those words would light up his face and make his blue eyes bluer. My Granddad was one of the greatest men I have ever known; and I will miss him very much. If there could be a perfect person to speak at this service it would be him without a doubt. He had a true gift for telling stories. He did not just tell stories, he transported the listeners to another time and place. He remembered details that the average person would overlook. When he was speaking, his audience would let their cold drinks become warm and their hot food become cold. He was that intriguing. He lived a rich life, not in the monitary sense, but in the sense that he lived with a purpose and a passion. His purpose and his passion were people. He did not allow strangers to be strangers. He did not keep his warm smile reserved for special occasions, and that smile was contagious. He reached out to every person he met with a genuinely kind and humble approach. I don't believe he had a shy bone in his body. I remember watching him talk to the wait staff in restaurants and nurses in the hospital. It did not matter how good or bad he was feeling, he would always want to know how the people around him were doing...what their situation was, were they having a good day? Those strangers, those perfect strangers, would always react to his kindness in the most amazing way. The hard lines on their faces would soften and the tone of their voice would get higher. They were suddenly at ease in his presence as though they had known him for as many years as I had. His kindness was a gift. God gave him this gift, and he shared it with everyone. Sadly, I was not able to be there for his last moments on this earth; but I am certain that this is one thing that never changed about him. I know our family will miss him always; but I am comforted in the knowledge that this great man with such a loving spirit is now meeting up with Jesus and his beloved wife, Delores Wiltshire, who passed too soon before him. I love you, Granddad.
What’s your fondest memory of Robert?
What’s a lesson you learned from Robert?
Share a story where Robert's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Robert you’ll never forget.
How did Robert make you smile?