My grandfather, John Franklin Threet, was born on November 18, 1884, just 2 days before his wife, Ada Belle Wesson was born. He died at the very young age of 65, when I was just 5 years old.

He was a member of the United Association of Journeymen Plumbers and Steam Fitters of the U.S. and Canada. These men were the ones who fitted the steam lines to the old radiators that some of us remember using for heat. My photo of him (the only one I have) comes from a meeting of that association in Cleveland, Ohio in 1942.

He also worked for Martin Stove and Range Co., in Florence, Alabama. There is a lengthy 'bio' on this company on the internet. But, as Martin Stove and Range Co. of Florence, AL, it was in business from 1917 to 1953 and manufactured beautiful iron skillets. I have the chicken fryer and 8" skillet he made for my grandmother. Unfortunately, they are not marked. However, I collect this iron, when I can find it, and it is beautifully made.

I do have a few memories of my 'Pawpaw", the most notable being the ones of the summer we spent in Ohio with his 2nd daughter, Erin Threet Kimbrel. He died shortly after that trip.

His parents were William Franklin Threet and Jane Caroline Austin. He had four children, Iona Mae Threet Barkley of Florence, AL, William Oliver Threet, who lived just two years, Erin Louise Threet Kimbrel Hamilton and my mother, Martha Katherine Threet Barber Lyle. He had 11 siblings. His nephew, Alvah Austin Threet, Jr and the son of his youngest brother, Alvah Austin Threet SR, died on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day, at the young age of 19. He is buried in Florence in the family plot of his mother and father Alvah Austin Threet, Sr and Sarah C. Holt. I have seen this grave site and it is so very, very sad.

I wish to invite my twin cousins, the daughters of Erin Threet, to add to this memorial. He died before they were born, but they may have stories to tell about him, just the same.