The Summary of A Life
Dickens Plumbing, Inc. is proud to be a local company that provides quality service, but if you know us, you know it goes so much deeper than that. Each business has a story, and the man behind our story is Lance Dickens. If you ask him though, he'll credit his dad, Paul, with his success. We are sad to have recently had to say goodbye to Paul after a long illness and hard-fought battle. His passing, and writing a tribute for him, has forced us to contemplate how you summarize a life well lived. We think we finally found the answer.
You don't.
There is no way to adequately summarize the 78 years that Paul lived. In fact, we don't need to, because in a way, he'll never be gone since he lives on in the lives of his much-loved children and grandchildren. He valued hard work, and instilled a strong work ethic in each of his children. His own work history included picking fruit before moving on to Homes of Merit for 27 years, and while he was always thankful for the ability to work hard, if you asked him what really mattered in life, he'd tell you:
"Spend time with your family. When they're gone, they're gone."
Paul's family was the highlight and focus of his life, although he'd never turn down a good day of fishing or heading out into the woods to hunt. "Things" weren't important, and he could likely narrow down his important objects to fit into one suitcase. He was a straight-laced, honest man who lived a simple life, but left behind a long-lasting legacy. Lance was often told by his dad, "Go after your dreams. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't do something. If you don’t try you’ve already failed. Don't give up, and don't be scared of anything...and remember to take care of your family." This advice left an impression on his son that will live on through each of his children, his grandchildren, and their endeavors. We are thankful to have had the opportunity to know and love him, and hope to represent him well as we move forward.
We will always miss you!
In Memory of Paul Dickens, 05/20/1940 - 7/10/2018