About 1928 as a young man was on his milk delivery route one morning he stopped to offer a ride to a student walking to a rural school. They drove on towards the school and the student suggested they stop to offer a ride to a young lady also walking to school. This young lady was the teacher. A wonderful suggestion!
Dad was driving a milk delivery truck, living in Missouri to finish school, as his parents moved to Arizona. Mom and Dad were married January 1, 1933. They lived always in Missouri and raised four children.
Dad started work with the Frisco Railway in 1935. We lived in town for several years before buying a small acreage outside of town. While working full time for the railway he managed to keep up the "farm" with it's cow, horse, chickens and rabbits and huge garden. Most of the time he worked either late afternoon or night shifts so he could have some daylight time for work around the place. He was a hard worker and a good provider.
I don't remember very much punishment for wrong doings but his stern look and a couple of words kept me, at least, in line. The worst punishment I ever remember was having to sit on a chair for a certain length of time! I remember lots of fun, baby chickens, rabbits, kittens and a little black and white terrier, Happy. Despite having to be quiet while Dad slept because of the night shifts of work, we had a great time and had lots of space to roam and play. The huge garden provided us with not only delicious food year round but Mom's beautiful flowers.
Dad we knew could fix anything that needed fixing from a doll buggy to an automobile. He was always 'puttering' with something and kept the place running smoothly. On the farm and after we moved into town he had to be busy. Dad was a member of the school board of the one room school we attended. When the rural schools were closed by the county we moved into town to be nearer schools and college. The big two story house in town was always a gathering place, especially for holidays, with our expanding families.
Health problems followed too soon and required his retirement from the Frisco but he was never without something to do. To keep busy he opened a saw and knife sharpening shop for several years. He and Mom were very active in church activities and volunteering. Dad did some woodworking, took care of any repairs around the house and always was whistling. His whistle started out with one song, usually a hymn that merged from one into a next, all while he was working on one project or another.
Dad loved his children and grandchildren and would have had such fun with the additional grandchildren and great grandchildren. He always was and still would have been so proud of all his family.
Dad, we all love you and miss you very much.
