Interesting stone-blankety blank!!

[bagpuss1971]

I thought that some of you may be interested in taking a look at the epitaph on a stone over my local cemetery,Tipton Cemetery.

My Dad and his Sister have always been fascinated by a stone over the cemetery,and not so long back we found it again - even the cemetery workers speculate over what the blanks are - the general feeling is that they were not very complimentary!!!
Here is a photo I took,hope you can make it out...
bagpuss

[Isabel H]

That is an interesting one, but why do people think it likely to be uncomplimentary?
 "Think what a husband should be
         _ _ _ _ _ he was that".
What higher praise could a man get?

[tomkin]

What higher praise could a man get?

  He was just like George Clooney!!!


          Tomkin

[Viktoria]

I too think it is very complimentary, in other words he was all that anyone could  think a husband ought to be.There are just not the right words to describe his sterling character.
It is a pity it seems open to misunderstanding.    Viktoria.

[alpinecottage]

This is a common epitaph, usually used for a woman - with "he" replaced by "she" obviously.

If you google the exact words "words are wanting to say what" , you will get loads of hits.

It was used as early as 18th century and Viktoria is spot on with the meaning.

[bagpuss1971]

 :)Wow!
Thanks so much for the replies,I have indeed googled those words and was so surprised to see it that many times.

I think my Dad and his Sister were a little disappointed that all their childhood giggles were for nothing!!!!

I am going to let the workers know too,for future reference!

Thanks again,
bagpuss

[tomkin]

 One of our Vicars noted in 1922 a tombstone with the following:-


   She was-words are wanting to say what:

    Think what a wife should be-she was that..

    I always thought that it was very touching.

    Tomkin