Residents recognize their fathers

    Father?s Day will be celebrated all across the country this Sunday. Some Washington County residents have made special plans for the weekend. Allen Griggs, who lives in Dublin, nine miles west of Washington, said he goes to one event in particular every Father?s Day. That event is the Snake Alley Art Fair in Burlington.

    ?They have an arts and crafts show on Father?s Day every year,? said Griggs. ?My wife and I weave rugs, and we have a booth at the art fair. We weave the rugs on a loom. Some people at the fair make jewelry. We have a friend south of town who makes pillows.?

    Griggs said this will be the fifth year in a row he and his wife Beverly will have gone to the art fair. He said they plan to travel to Burlington Saturday night because they will have to set up at the fair at 8 a.m. Sunday.

    ?We have a daughter and an uncle who live down there, and we?re going out with them for supper Saturday night,? said Griggs.  

    The weekend will be an especially festive time for the Griggs because Saturday is Beverly?s birthday.

    The Griggs have four children and eight grandchildren. When asked what his grandchildren think of him, Griggs responded, ?They think I?m the most wonderful person on earth.?

    Dean Garrett, who lives in the United Presbyterian Home, said his son from Marion will visit him on Sunday and that they will eat in the UP Home?s dining room. Garrett said that when he was growing up, his family usually got together for a celebration on Father?s Day. He said his favorite activity to do with his father was to go fishing.

    Washington resident Ed Raber said he is going to the play ?Annie? on Father?s Day. His daughter Meredith plays an orphan in the play. Raber said that, as a child, he played golf with his dad on Father?s Day.

    ?I enjoyed it, but when I look back, I think it must have driven my dad crazy,? said Raber. ?We played this par-3 golf course in Anthony, Indiana.?

    Wayne Wagner, another resident of Washington, had three of his children come from out of town to visit him Thursday and Friday. Gary Wagner, one of Wayne?s sons, flew from Cottonwood, Ariz. earlier this week to do business in Des Moines. He then traveled to Washington to visit his dad for Father?s Day. Bill Wagner visited Wayne on Thursday and drove from Morning Sun. Carl Wagner and his wife Sandy drove from Leland to visit Wayne. Carl said he is glad his dad is still active at his age.

For more, see our June 18 print edition.