This book is the first book in a series about the Cromlish and Suggs families of Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania and Belmont, North Carolina, and how they came together as one large family on November 29, 1939. “The Grandfather I Never Knew ~ The Early Years” is about Richard Stanton Cromlish, Sr., who is the author’s grandfather and died a little over one year before the author was born. This book will cover the first thirty years of Richard’s life from 1915 to 1945 and will paint a picture of his being born during World War I, coming of age during The Great Depression, and serving his country during World War II. Interwoven in this narrative will be tidbits and facts pertaining to life in WIlkinsburg, Pennsylvania and life in Belmont, North Carolina. His life was spent learning and living the motto, “Service Above Self”. That’s what the author hopes you the reader take away from this book.