A very touching tribute to an obviously great man. You did him proud.
That was an eloquent synopsis, AFG. You were truly privileged to know him, and I wish I had known him, too.
So sorry for your (any everyone’s) loss.
I may seem like a dickhead saying this but…
A few years ago my newborn son died within a few days of his birth. Whenever people mentioned “losing” my son, I felt like killing them. If I had “lost” him I would simply have found him again - he died, there was no way to bring him back.
You are obviously comfortable with the euphemism but I think that talking about “losing” people or people “passing” denies the reality of what has happened.
I think you could die a happy man if you knew this OP was coming:
He was desperate for a job, and they originally hired on the ship as a cook, but - he didn’t know how to cook. At all. I remember him saying with a grin that he realized he had to learn how to cook, and fast, before they threw him overboard.
That’s just unforgettable.
Awww, you were just telling me about him a couple of days ago, AFG.
I’m sorry for your loss. 
Adam
I’m really sorry, AFG. That post brought tears to my eyes. {{{AFG}}}
Thanks so much you guys. I really appreciate all the kind words.
Everyone we’ve told so far about his passing has remarked how much they loved him. He would be so happy to hear that. The funeral is on Monday. Since today’s his birthday, I got an idea to pick up a birthday card to write some personal effects in and put in the casket with him. I told my mom about this and she said, “You know what? That’s what I decided to do too!”
I have a feeling that the funeral will be more a celebration of his life than a mourning of his passing. 
i’m sorry for your loss as well.
shouldn’t all funerals be a celebraiton of life? instead, we take the easy rounte and reflect on the death at hand. then again, the body in the room doesn’t help, but oh well.
Amazon Floozy Goddess, I’m so sorry for your loss.
So sorry for your loss AFG.
He sounds like a wonderful man, and his passing sounds like the way most of us would like to go- surrounded by the people we love.
AFG, you wrote a fine tribute to a man who sounds like he deserved it. Your love for him shines through.
He was a fortunate man to have had you for a granddaughter and to have been loved that much. You words are very moving and have made him real for me.
When you mentioned messaging his feet with lotion, my heart was there with you. That was the last thing that I did for my father.
Love for an old man is a gift that will stay with you always, I think.
Can you tell me what your mother sang?
That must have been just right.
Thanks so much, all.
The funeral service was lovely. My mom and uncle sang and two of my uncle’s friends played guitar. Quite a tear jerker of course but there was no lack of love in that room, that’s for sure.
Zoe, my mom had sung the Lord’s Prayer to him. My grandpa wasn’t particularly religious, but he had always had a strong faith in God. It think it helped give him the strength to let go at the end.
AFG, what you have described seems to me to be just about as comforting as it could possibly be for anyone who is dying. Peace be with you all.