His health beginning to fail over the past year or so, Bill Caulkins occasionally would lose his balance and tumble to the floor. As these frightful falls became more frequent, his family made sure to have someone watch over him as often as possible.
A few months ago, and immediately following one such fall, that day’s caregiver knelt beside Caulkins, hoping to help him quickly to his feet.
Looking into the caregiver’s eyes, his own eyes filled with their characteristic twinkle, his mouth breaking into his comforting smile, Caulkins grinned and asked, “May I help you up?”
If anything could sum up the goodness and graciousness of Wilford “Bill” Caulkins III, who died last Friday at the tender age of 87, it might be that story.
Of course, there were lots of stories worth repeating inside the Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church sanctuary during the Tuesday morning celebration of Caulkins’ remarkable life.