The Singing Plumber who shaped my life…

Have you ever stumbled on a box of old family photos and wondered about the stories behind those black-and-white faces? The ones who came before you but somehow shaped who you are today?

One of those people for me is a man that I never met…"Herman the Singing Plumber". The other was his wife, my Grandma Montrue.

Yep, exactly what it sounds like - the guy would fix your pipes while belting out tunes that could make the bathroom tiles vibrate! 

He didn't just unclog drains; he entertained while doing it. Talk about unique customer service!

L.B. Jennings gave him the Moniker of "The Singing Plumber".  When asked why he sang so much, he replied, "When I sing, I don't swear."  

Herman the Singing Plumber was my Grandfather. I never met him because he and his brother died in a private plane crash in 1948 when my Dad was just seven years old. 

My Grandma Montrue received a knock at her door that would alter her life in unimaginable ways…she learned she'd be raising six small children all by herself. 

She had already lost one baby, and would lose another little boy just one year later...

Can you imagine? I've read the history many times, and I cannot. But it's what happened. 

On Memorial Day, many of us begin thinking about Grandpa Herman and folks like him...but luckily I don't have to wait until the end of May. 

Our building sits directly across the street from the St. George cemetary and as many of you know, Max the Tripawd (pictured) and I routintely visit the graves of my Grandparents and other Ancestors. 

Herman's “Singing Plumbing” service was brought back to life in 1967 as “Larkin Plumbing and Heating”, by my Father and his brother Grey. But I don't think they kept the singing part…

Their lives were shaped by the example of their deceased Father and heroic Mother, and my life was shaped down the line. 

Was it tragic to lose a husband and Father? Of course. At the time, it was a devestation for the entire tiny town of St. George. 

How would their lives be different if Herman had lived another 30 years? What about mine? 

What if that loss was the impetus for his children and grandchildren stepping into their greatness? 

It's wild to think about, right? The choices our ancestors made, the challenges they overcame - all these things ripple forward through time and touch our lives in ways we might not even realize.

Do you have a “Grandpa Herman” or “Grandma Montrue” that shaped your life? Please reply! I'd love to hear from you. 

Until then, I hope you take a moment to remember the folks who came before us. 

-Jeremy "Still can't carry a tune like Grandpa" Larkin

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