Tag Archives: Donald Everett Funk

A Stone Fence

Letter transcription:

November 14, 1965

Dear David and Bonnie:

Your last “line” received.

Today I had to attend a meeting at the church in the afternoon and since Dad was on a baby case at the hospital and the recorder was on I stopped to see Mrs. Myers for a few minutes. So far she hasn’t worn anything since her return from the hospital but pjs and housecoat. She said she has an appointment for a shampoo Monday, so she will get back into her clothes again. She complains of weakness and I know she isn’t very strong. You don’t need to mention anything in your letters to her about what I write about her, but I think she is going to have to go to a nursing home sooner or later. Mrs. Borman is getting ready to open a home in the place where Krulls used to live (where Funks office used to be). Mrs. M. was asking me about it today. I think she would be much better off to go to a Methodist Home like Wesley Manor. Regardless of where she goes, I think it is going to come to that, simply because she is not able to be alone. You know she has all her eggs in one basket, namely AT & T and there has been some unpleasant news in the papers recently about the company and the stock has declined in price some, however, not enough to alarm a person. She told me today she was upset about it. She even contemplated selling, but I told her the capital gains and taxes would not leave her much. Harold had told her the same thing. I told her if she wanted to secure her future, she could go to a nursing home like Wesley and she would be taken care of, regardless of the stock market. It would cost her something to enter and she would have to pay something to stay there, but if she signed her stock over to the home they would take care of her. There is a home at Earl Park that is very nice and only a person with her means could afford to enter. I don’t know what her decision will be, but I feel she is trying to decide what to do. In the past she has been very adamant about entering an institution, but I think she is beginning to realize that is what she needs. Now don’t mention any of this in your letters to her.

We are still studying the stereo situation. While Dad was at the hospital this evening and after I had had a siesta, I listened to one record of Cosi Fan Tutte—then Dad came home and we had a snack. We decided we didn’t need much to eat today. We have been eating walnuts. The Mercurios gave us canned fruit, fresh apples, almonds and English walnuts and I have been shelling the nuts and the result has been—too many nuts eaten.

Next Sunday the parsonage will be consecrated. Since I am on the Commission of Worship I had to help plan the program. Dr. Bailey will be here to preach in the morning and be present at the open house and consecration service in the afternoon. You know, or you will in time, a consecration service cannot be held until a building is paid in full.

Joy Funk is going to be married Jan. 15. Some of Arlene’s friends had a shower for her Saturday. I saw Nancy at the shower. She and Don are living in Rensselaer. I told her you and Bonnie will be home for Christmas. I suppose you and Jim and Chuck and some of the crowd will want to have a party sometime during the time you are home. Jim tried six times, his mother told me, to call you the day he was in Boston.

The McClures and Bob and Ruth Ford and Dad and I are going to give the Johnson’s a house warming next Thursday night. We have been wanting to have it since they moved, but since we were away the month of Sept. and too busy in Oct., it had to be put off until next week. I suppose you know they live on N. 6^th Street (where Jack Spencer used to live).

Dad bought a new humidifier for his office and brought the old one here to the house. It runs constantly and is quite noisy, but I am getting used to it. Since it makes the air so much better (so they tell me) I won’t complain.

This morning I took my tape recorder and gave R. Zell’s class the first lesson in “Acts, Then and Now.” I couldn’t do much today but that, because there wasn’t any foundation for discussion. I handed out the books and questions today, but if they are as responsive next Sunday as they were today, I may give the tape to Russ and tell him to run the tape or do anything he wants to do with it. When I came home after Sunday School I asked Dad if he had even talked to a stone fence. I said that was the feeling I had talking to that group. They were about that responsive. I could use an hour or more giving those lessons,

[page 2] but while we were away in Sept., someone decided an hour was too long for a S.S. class, so they decided to cut it back to 45 minutes, and have a closing service. When we got the order of service changed to church first, we eliminated the opening of S.S., which to my way of thinking was not necessary—then someone had to get this closing service thrown in, and for what reason I have yet to discover. Had we not been away, I think they would not have succeeded in making that change. I wasn’t here to keep the hour for S.S. lesson.

Love Mother

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/02/21/a-stone-fence/

Sewer Work

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Letter transcription:

November 7, 1965

Dear David and Bonnie:

Sunday evening and I am alone for the present. Dad had to go to the hospital to give an anesthetic. We have had a restful afternoon, which we needed I think I should be able to face next week.

One night last week the weatherman said we would be able to see the comet at about 4 AM, so Dad set the alarm, but since Chicago is on standard time and we are on eastern time, Dad set the alarm too early. At any rate we started at about 4 o’clock to watch and after going out several times, Dad finally gave it up, but I went out one last time and by standing in the shadows of the trees on the north side of the lawn and looking to the southeast I thought I could discern a faint light, like a beacon, so I came back in and told Dad. We both went out again and decided that must be it. We should have driven out south of town and I am sure we would have gotten a better view. There is a good picture taken of it from a mountain in Hawaii – in Life magazine this week. Also Life has an article about Tillich.

I have been stopping to see Mrs. M. almost every day. I think she is gradually getting back to normal, but she still isn’t quite as strong as she was before.

Last summer when attending School of Mission I took the tape recorder along and recorded the lectures on “Acts-Then and Now.” I used the tape in teaching the book in my S.S. class. I became careless one day and said I would give the lessons to R. Zell’s class and they voted today to have me do just that. Now I have to make arrangements to have someone take my class for the next 5 weeks. I feel a little better about the class today than when I wrote last. The attendance was up today and the group was in a discussing mood, which always helps.

We are back where we started from on the hifi. It was too much trouble to keep the records changed at the office and the record player wasn’t being used enough to keep it there, so we brought it back home. However, we aren’t out of the stereo market yet. I think Dad will build one. Bun tells me that is the best way to get a good stereo. I am not interested in buying an expensive piece of furniture, when we have plenty of cabinets in which to place a record player. We brought all the records back home, including of course the new popular records. If Dad can get the parts, we will probably have a stereo by the time you come home for Christmas.

Joy Funk is going to be married Jan. 8^th. Some of Arlene’s friends are having a shower for her Saturday afternoon and I have been invited. It is a linen shower and that means I will probably have to go to Lafayette to get something. Did I write that Don and Nancy were married Oct. 2^nd? They are living in Rensselaer and Don is going to school. Jim Johnson had to make a trip east for the Company he works for and we gave him your telephone number. His dad said he tried all day to get you, but without any success. I didn’t know just when he was going or I would have let you know the exact time he would be in Boston.

The company that has been installing the sewer tile is about ready to leave town. They are supposedly putting the street back like they found them, but all it amounts to is a little strip of paving down the center, or in some cases, one side of the street. Our town still looks pretty torn up from the work this past summer. We never did get anything out our way. I think we will probably be hooked up as is. There is quite a story back of why they didn’t work out here. Seems our neighbor to the east wouldn’t give their consent to have the digging machine go near their back yard. Dad says however, they couldn’t have stopped them if the Company would have gone right ahead and dug. Right of eminent domain. I think the trouble was that our Town Board didn’t quite know what to do. They didn’t secure easements. They just took for granted that they had easements all over the town. Quite complicated. The sewage plant is being built and most of the town will be hooked up to it when it is finished, even if our end of town isn’t.

The United Church Women (I am Secretary-Treas.) had a meeting last Friday. World Community Day and one of the projects was to make sewing kits. I have to get those ready to send in the mail today to Napanee, Ind., so must get busy.

Love Mother

Your check received – sorry I forgot to mention it.

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/02/20/sewer-work/

Local News

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Letter transcription:

Thurs. Nov. 12 – 1964

Dear David & Bonnie –

Yours received. Now let’s hope the weather will be fair Dec. 23.

Yesterday I went to Lafayette and bought evergreens to finish the around the house planting. I drove from Lafayette to Attica and gave a program for W.S.C.S. I showed pictures from Bali. It was guest day so a number of women were in attendance from other towns. Dad got one of the evergreens set out last night. He finished this afternoon. Last week Bill Stenz had his workmen take out the terrace. We have stone all around the house now, so no more weeds to pull. Dad is making stepping stones out of cement at the back living room door. John Janssen is here now cleaning windows. The breaking up of the cement made a lot of dust. Today we had a terrible wind most of the day but by the time John was ready to work the blowing had stopped. This afternoon we made a quick trip to Morocco to get our driver’s license renewed and the fields where corn had been but – along the fences it looked like someone had been decorating for Halloween or a fall festival – the fences were so covered with corn cuttings. It is so dry everywhere – there was a prediction for rain today but so far only wind. We have been watering the new evergreens once a week, but after this fall that shouldn’t be necessary.

I have read about the anchor Bible. The Chicago Tribune had an article about it. I took the paper to Sunday school and showed it to my class. They didn’t seem too impressed, but after reading about it I was quite interested.

I am hoping the whole family will be home for Christmas. Don’t worry about sleeping arrangements – as suggested we can use the motel. If I could find some air mattresses I would make a dorm in the living room.

I have been invited to a shower for Patricia (Cookie) Franklin, who is to be married to Jerry Carlson Dec. 8. I can’t attend the shower since

[page 2] I have to serve on a committee for a vesper circle meeting that evening (next Wednesday). Monday Dad and I are to give a program for Sheldon P.T.A. – Tues. Dad is planning to go to Lafayette to a meeting and I am to entertain a BC class. Wed. afternoon I have promised to give a program for Raub W.S.C.S. and Wed. evening help at Marge Fisher’s for above mentioned meeting. I half way promised to take Mrs. Myers to Lafayette a week from tomorrow.

Howard Fisher was going to Bob Jones College (I think it is in Tenn.) He was expelled. According to what his parents tell I would think he would be glad. He says they have informers and the first rule of the college is “no griping” and if anyone complains about not liking anything there is always an informer around to run and tell and that was what happened to Howard. He talked to his roommate about something and the roommate was one of the “informers” and in a very short time he was called to the office and told to leave immediately.

I saw Janice Ross this week. She and Bill had been to visit Nancy at Indiana State and Sara and a friend had driven from Bloomington (Sara is going to I.U.) to join them. Joy Funk dropped out of Marquette and has applied for work in Peace Corps. Don is going to St. Joe at Rensselaer and according to his mother has settled down. Jim Johnson was home two weeks ago. His mother says he is getting interested in a girl he has met in Midland Michigan. He works for Dow chemical. He has met a Methodist minister who seems to be making quite an impression on Jim. Karen is back at Hanover and so is Margaret Krull. Bob is still at I.U. and Bud Krull is doing graduate work at Harvard.

Dad had to go to the office to take care of an emergency and he wasn’t too happy about it. He as so “fed up” with a certain case one day this week I think he was ready to take off for a prolonged vacation. He just came in and from what he has said it wasn’t much of an emergency.

Love Mother

Will take some pictures all around the house, now that project is finished.

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/01/21/local-news-2/

Demobilizing the Navy (Gladys)

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August 31, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

August 31, 1945, p. 1

8-31-45

Dear Daddy –

We had quite an electrical storm last night and it’s beginning to blow this evening. The lightning and thunder kept me awake until after 2 o’clock. I would just get to sleep, when bang a crash of thunder would awaken me. I felt a little dragged out this a.m. I am sleep now, so think I’ll turn in pretty soon. Lucile called me today and said Jimmy was so bad last night he couldn’t sleep. They were up with him all night. I told her if she wanted to go someplace with him I would keep Karen. She said they would wait now since the season is so near over. I think the people who go away come back about the second week in Sept. Angus is to come back Sept. 8. Lucile had me buy a toy lamb for Jimmy today and I stopped to leave it when we came home. She had all the doors and windows closed and fans going. Jimmy was lying on the studio couch. Karen was raising a howl, but Lucile just lets her howl. She wants her eats when it’s time and it was just past 6 PM. Now John’s glasses are taken care of. He is to get them one day next week. We took David along and he was a little “dinker.” We bought Donnie Funk a birthday gift – and David could hardly wait to take it to him this evening. We missed his birthday by two days but he was very pleased to get something. Little Joy is growing up as rough & tumble as the boys. She is so short – much shorter than David and

August 31, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] she would run up to David and push him. We measured David & Donnie and David is as tall as Donnie but much lighter. David would soon learn the art of self preservation if he played with those children. They are a lively lot.

The town seems to be going for Bendix laundrys. Nick & Dorothy said they were to get the first and today Arlene says they have one ordered. Bill took Arlene’s washing machine to the Lodge and now she is without one. Coke Foulkes tried to get a B. right after the war started but couldn’t so I suppose she will be ready for one soon. All of those people could have had one when we got ours. In some ways we are smart, eh what?

Mark went with the Washburns to the Fairgrounds this evening for a little while. I suppose they were taking things out for display. John says he doesn’t care to go at all. I don’t either and certainly don’t intend to take David.

John talked to Smith today about changing his course and carrying two solids he wants to take – (Latin instead of Geography). He would have to take Latin every other class & English likewise, because Jr. Latin & Soph. English meet at the same time. Smith said no – John says he knows he could do it. I wish you could have contacted Smith that day you & John went over there. Maybe you could have helped to iron things out. John is going to play the oboe for band and piano for the Glee Club.

You rec’d a bulletin from the U. of Buffalo on Postgraduates Course for Practitioners – Sept. 24 & 29. You also rec’d some adv. from Cole Chem. Co. on Derfule, etc., etc. Those companies are not going to miss an opportunity if they can help it. Seems good tho, to get things thru the mail for Dr. Y.

Love Mother

August 31, 1945, p. 3

I’ll finish my letter on this. Yours of Aug. 29 came today. We heard some good news this afternoon. Adm. Denfeld – head of demobilizing the Navy talked on a program. He said 11,000 officers would be released in Sept. – I wonder if you will be in the first group??? At any rate so many more will be released

August 31, 1945, p. 4

each month – the number to be increased every month and by Navy Day in Oct. a huge figure. 24,000 is the goal for Dec. Those are some of the figures I caught. Maybe you heard that broadcast too. It’s logical to assume that as the force is decreased the Drs. will be too. Had a letter from Ruthie Y. They haven’t gotten their apt. yet, but living in a room at

August 31, 1945, p. 5

the Methodist minister’s home. She went to Dr. Kizer for a check-up. He said not so much any one thing as a number of things – low blood count – low blood pressure. He is giving her medicine and she is to rest every day. Her chest hurt so they made an Xray

August 31, 1945, p. 6

but everything was OK. I think she must have the chest pain like I had from a run down condition. I have to go with Mrs. Wood to the church at 4 and it’s 3:45 now. Here’s hoping for your early return

Love Mother

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/04/30/demobilizing-the-navy-gladys/

Cokes Would Be In Order (Gladys)

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June 4, 1944 envelope

Letter transcription:

June 4, 1944, p. 1

Kentland Ind.
June 4 – 1944

Dear Daddy –

Will start a letter this evening and maybe I’ll have something to add tomorrow – Howard & Ursula came to see me this afternoon. Helen is home and is going to come over and see me. She lived in Kansas City, Mo., 10 yrs. If she comes tomorrow I’ll tell you anything that might be of help to us. Howard asked me if we would rent our house. I told them our little attempt with Smiths – They agreed with me our house is well worth $45.00 – said they were getting $40.00 for theirs in the country. Mrs. W. said she thought our house should be worth $50.00 – The new

June 4, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] Ag teacher is looking for a place & Mrs. Z. asked me if we were considering renting. I told her I didn’t know yet – we would have to see about “Mo.” first.

Arlene came up and Lucile brought Jimmy so we really had “open yard” this afternoon. Mark got the idea cokes would be in order so he & Virginia loaded up some bottles and went to the Station and bought cokes with his money – without consulting me. I had the same idea so was glad he had acted before I told him to. Jimmy Ed & David both got a share of their mother’s cokes – Jimmy is a veteran coke drinker but David seems to like the stuff pretty well too – Arlene has a new girl – one that seems to be the answer to all her desires for a helper – She even lives there and so Arlene has a little more time off.

June 4, 1944, p. 3

[page 3] When Arlene loaned us the “Thum” bottle, she decided to pour a little out in something in case she might want to dab a little on Donnie “in case” – The only thing she saw at the time was a “shot glass” so poured some in it. She told Bill what she had done and he told everyone she was trying to break him by putting “Thum” in his glass. I am certain that would break anybody of anything – after getting the tiny bit in my eye.

I wrote to Ruth M. today. You should drop your folks a line now and let them know you are in your new location. As soon as I get news from you of a house I’ll call for train reservations.

Love Mother

June 4, 1944, p. 4

[page 4] Monday afternoon –
So far I haven’t talked to Helen. I saw Coke this morning and strange as it may seem they haven’t any K.C. connections. I thought perhaps they would know someone there.

I cleaned half the basement this morning – Try to finish the other this evening. David got an ink bottle this morning and spilled ink from davenport to kitchen so J. & M. cleaned living room & dining room floors – however it needed to be done. The house looks like the one at Lake Forest – I have rugs all over the place to catch the black marks –

Hoping to see you soon –
Love Mother

David, Jimmy Ed Johnson & Donald Funk, dated June 4, 1944

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/02/21/cokes-would-be-in-order-gladys/

Ice Cream for Supper (Gladys)

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April 27, 1944 envelope

April 27, 1944, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
4-27-44

Dear Daddy –

No letter this morning – I suppose the train was late or for some reason or other it didn’t make connections. It is very windy and I hung drapes out to air. I am not sure I will hang them again. I should have washed those other woolen blankets. The sun has been shining but the wind is very sharp. Lucile walked out with Jimmy but didn’t stay long. Then David & I walked down to the highway, then back to Mrs. Krull’s. Louise is here this week with her children. Mrs. Krull is sewing for Louise so can’t make a suit for me for some time. I looked at B & B for a suit for John

April 27, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] this morning, but they haven’t much selection. I took David to the Dr. this a.m. – he said to bring him back today. He said it looked good (that is as good as it could after what it had been thru – the lip of course). He said to bring him back in two days to have stitches out.

Dorothy is going to Laf. tomorrow and I plan to go. I am going to take David along. I don’t want to leave him with anyone with such a lip. He may get it bumped with me but I don’t want that to happen for anyone else.

Had a letter from your Mother. Eel river is out and the road north is under water. I suppose by now it is going down. Uncle Geo. had a stroke and Dad and the boys went up to see him. He is better now.

April 27, 1944, p. 3

[page 3] John is at a wiener roast at school. He came home to get cokes out of the refrigerator and said it was so windy they were going inside to have their party. They had intended having it out on the grounds. I told him they should come over and use our fireplace and he reminded me that it is full of clinkers.

Mark wants us to have something “extra special” for supper since John is having a picnic supper. He suggested ice cream and make sodas. We have some cokes but I told him he could have the soda. I have had one coke today and I believe that is enough. Arlene had Donnie & Bobby in the wagon – had been to the filling station for cokes – and David and I were walking along and she asked me in for a coke.

April 27, 1944, p. 4

[page 4] David wanted a taste but that was all. He kept saying words and they thought he was progressing very well in his talking. He closed the nursery door and Donnie said, “You’re bad.” They said he says that to everyone about everything. David made a puddle on the nursery floor (at home) and took me to see it. He has seen me mop up his puddles and thought that was what should be done.

Mark is wanting to go to town to get his ice cream so will let him go and mail this and get the paper.

Hope you have found us a place to live. Wish I could be up there to look around but you & Joe together should be able to find something –

Love Mother

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/02/04/ice-cream-for-supper-gladys/

A Split Lip (Gladys)

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April 27, 1944 envelope

April 27, 1944, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
4-27-44

Dear Daddy –

The fall David had Monday was minor compared to one he got this morning. I was upstairs and sewing in the little room. He would play around the machine then go into J. & M.’s room – was closing their door, etc. He came in where I was then ran into their room and the next thing I knew I heard a crash and ran in to see – He was lying under the radio. I don’t know how it happened, but he must have climbed up on one of the beds and then over to the radio and pulled it over on him. I suppose there was something on the radio he wanted. He sustained a jagged gash across the upper lip that took two stitches to close. The cut almost went thru. The inside was cut, both upper and lower but no teeth loosened. There was a small place on the left eye lid but not bad. I noticed this afternoon one finger on the left hand is bruised at the end. He was bleeding and crying and I couldn’t take him in the car by myself

April 27, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] so we called Dorothy. She came out and we took him down to Dr. M. Dorothy W. had the table ready (I had called the Dr.) and she wrapped a sheet around him to keep his arms down and started to work cleaning the places and finding the extent of the cut. After finishing with the stitches Dr. M. examined him all over for possible broken bones, but found nothing else wrong. When I got back to the house J. & M. were home for lunch. They had gone thru the house looking for me and found the overturned radio. David went to sleep and slept until about 1:30 – I tried to feed him but he wouldn’t eat much. The bandage got wet and when I put a dry one on I thought Dr. M. had done a pretty good job closing up the opening. After his nap I took him out for a walk. He seems to feel pretty good in spite of everything. His upper lip is swollen at least twice its normal size. He keeps drooling and I have to keep a bib on him. He isn’t sucking his thumbs – but he

April 27, 1944, p. 3

[page 3] had quit the thumb habit before his fall. I decided to give “Thum” a try. Arlene said she used it once on Donnie and he quit. She had the bottle she bought for Donnie and wanted to send it up so I thought it was worth a try. I profited from her experience. She told me not to put as much on as she had (she had coated both thumbs) so I just put a small spot on both thumbs and that was enough for a taste – David got one small taste and kept his thumbs out. I put the first on one evening when I was getting him ready for bed. The next morning I heard him sucking his thumb – I got up and took him to the toidey and told him I would put more stuff on his thumbs so he didn’t put them in his mouth again. Yesterday noon I spotted both thumbs and he wouldn’t get his hands near his face – Last night after his bath I

April 27, 1944, p. 4

[page 4] put a spot on each thumb again and this morning he wasn’t sucking his thumbs or hadn’t been until his fall. I hadn’t mentioned the Thum experiment because I wanted to wait and see what the results would be.

Seems this letter has been mostly about David, but he had a lot to talk about. Mark has gone over to the High School to a track meet and John has been busy getting things assembled for a party his class is having. He is Treas. And has to spend the class money for them.

I am enclosing a V-mail that came from Ed Lentz.

About that $150.00 house – I hope we don’t have to pass up many offers. Was it a furnished house? Could we have kept roomers? Did you talk to Joe about sharing the house? This sounds like a lot of questions in a row but I am interested in finding a house – and I am ready to move anytime. – Of course the boys should get a least two more weeks of school but could miss the last few days.

Love Mother

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/02/02/a-split-lip-gladys/

Four Pages With What Have You (Gladys)

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April 15, 1944 envelope

April 15, 1944, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
4-15-44

Dear Daddy –

Your letter written the 13^th and post marked 4 PM Apr. 14 came this a.m. I sent out a letter yesterday and hope you get it by today. When your letter came the boys gathered around to listen and got quite a “kick” out of the 23 little men. John decided we needed a cake, “now that Daddy is gone,” and is mixing one now. Mark is putting bon ami on all the windows. It is raining and he can’t play out so I thought this would be a god job for him. He (Mark) slept with me last night. This a.m. David was awake and very insistent about some attention. Mark brought him to me and he was wet and had had a B.M. which was very soft and extensive. I suppose he had too many green beans yesterday. Mark got up and went to the store and got a few things we needed – and a qt. of cottage cheese. I gave David some and will give him some each meal today. That has always acted as a “builder upper” for him. When I

April 15, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] started to dress him after breakfast he reached into the drawer and got out the pink knitted suit I made for him last year so he looks a little like a sissy in his pink and needing a hair cut.

The weather cleared up about noon yesterday and we had sunshine long enough to get two washes out to dry. It is raining this a.m. so no washing today. I ironed and ironed yesterday and finally got it all done. I even got what was washed yesterday ironed. I was so tired last night I was afraid maybe I had worked off some of my excess fat but this a.m. I still balanced the scales a shade under 100. I won’t work so hard today now that I am caught up on the washing & ironing. I promised Mark we would make a batch of cookies after John gets thru with the cake.

Mark said Geo. Dinwiddie called his drawing “corny” so our Mark comes back with, “well we are going to live with Daddy this summer and I am going to Chicago and take drawing lessons.” The little Sammons boy and one or two others took up the discussion and said it wasn’t essential and Mark couldn’t drive to Chicago to take lessons. From there on I don’t know what was said, except that in all probability our Mark had

April 15, 1944, p. 3

[page 3] the last work. I had a good notion to tell Mark to tell Jimmy S. that it wasn’t essential for his parents to take a trip to Ga. or wherever it was they went this winter. However I didn’t make any comment. Yesterday after school Mr. Zell asked John & Mark to help him roll his yard. Mr. Z. was a little on the touchy side and Virginia said to Mark, “I’ll bet your Daddy isn’t grouchy.” I asked Mark what he answered – he said, “I just kept my big mouth shut.”

Haven’t heard from Jim yet. All that came Thurs. & Fri. was the Kent papers. Your letter & a letter from Wayne Pharm. Supply Co. was all that came this a.m.

I was thinking about a radio last night and wondered why you didn’t take the kitchen radio with you. We could get along with the one in the living room. If you want it and I come up with Dr. Joe I’ll bring it up. However I hope you get to come home by that time. If not I think I’ll come up as planned.

April 15, 1944, p. 4

[page 4] My hands are peeling off but I can’t close my left hand yet. There are still some water pockets on my left hand but the old places are about gone. I believe the worse is over. I keep my left hand out of the water and am still very careful not to get my right hand in water more than I have to. I keep scaling off all the time. Now believe me I will not touch tomatoes in any form again (soon).

I haven’t been away from home since you left, but have been busy doing things. I would take David for a walk today but it is too wet and I have been taking him out in the yard the past two days and he doesn’t want to come in when I do. Arlene was looking for Bobby Thurs. afternoon and I told her I would keep Donnie out with David but she declined. She looked so tired and said she was having Carl & Rosemary come for dinner. They (C. & M.) are having their house painted (inside). I am afraid Arlene isn’t getting enough rest so soon after she had that repair work done. She has a girl from John’s class come after school and help I think. Louise is past helping her now.

John got into a little difficulty with his cake – he forgot to add the milk and it was so thick he couldn’t pour it into the pans.

For no news I have pretty well filled four pages with what have you. Maybe one of your 23 helped me.
Love – Mother

P.S. John got his report card Thurs PM A+ on hist., arith. & Eng. – A on all the rest except shop B+

Chicken-Pox (Gladys)

1 Reply

: February 24 & 25, 1944 (envelope front)

: February 24 & 25, 1944 (envelope back)

February 24 & 25, 1944, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
2-24-44

Dear Daddy –

Another beautiful sunny day makes me think spring is just around the corner but I know we have March yet and any kind of weather may come then. This kind of weather makes me want to get out & dig.

I started out with David yesterday and stopped at Funks. Arlene said Joy had chicken-pox. I went in and looked at her and could only see a slight rash – I asked Arlene is she knew what chicken-pox looked like – she said “no.” Well, if Joy has chicken-pox I don’t know what they look like. I asked her if she had had temp. or felt cross the past few day and evidently Joy has been perfectly normal. I think she has a rash. Arlene was puzzled how Joy could get anything, since she hasn’t had her out of the house recently.

Jack Byrnes (Art’s druggist) has two youngsters and last winter they had measles and scarlet fever and now have chicken pox. The little boy is just a little older than David. So far David hasn’t had anything except colds. He seemed to hold on to a cold most of the winter. It seems to come and go. I wonder sometimes if it isn’t an allergy. He has been coughing a little more than usual the past few days, but it doesn’t bother

February 24 & 25, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] his appetite in the least. I have been taking him out every day. It is too nice to stay in.

Sat. is Mark’s birthday and I want to have a party for him. I think I’ll have the neighbor children in for cake and ice cream. I don’t want to have too many because of David. The children around here are all in good health now, so don’t think there will be any danger of them carrying any contagious diseases.

A window light in the basement was blown out the other day when we had a high wind. I got another one yesterday, but haven’t tried to put it in yet. I must get it in, so if we have a cold spell, it will be in. If I could find someone to do the work I would have the partition around the furnace finished to keep the dirt in one place. This untreated coal is so dirty, our basement can’t be kept clean now.

I rather expect Lucile to come out with Jimmy this afternoon. Jimmy and David make a good team. They are almost the same size – – After David woke from his nap I put his sweater & cap on and took him out in the sunshine. I went over to Statons to tell Irene about Mark’s party Sat. When I started out again I saw Lucile coming. She wanted to stop and see Joy Funk so I kept our boys out in the sunshine while she visited with Arlene then I walked to the corner with her when

February 24 & 25, 1944, p. 3

[page 3] she started home. Come back and Arlene had Joy & Donnie out in the yard. She had Joy in her basket. She was sleeping soundly and absorbing sunshine. Donnie was running all around the yard. I was so warm it made us think it was spring. I didn’t finish this letter yesterday and now this is the 25^th. I am not making a habit of this so don’t get alarmed. I am out of V-mail at present or would have written v-mail yesterday. The boys got out of school at 11 a.m. today. It has rained all day and David didn’t get to go out any. The speed burner on the stove was out of order so the serviceman came out to fix it – Ed has ordered a new switch but Michaels said the new switch wouldn’t work, so Ed came out with him. They both worked on it a while and said it was ready for use. I tried it when getting supper and couldn’t get it to turn off, so Ed came out and put a new button on. If that doesn’t work he will put in the new switch.

Cosmopolitan was at Cost’s this afternoon, and being vice-president I went, because the Pres. Called and asked me to, she was going to be out of town.

February 24 & 25, 1944, p. 4

[page 4] Coke, Cecil D. & I called on the Wilsons when we left Casts. Their new baby arrived the 23^rd without the services of a Dr. Ellsworth officiated. He said he was going to run an ad in the paper for his services – However he will probably soon be in the Army, his notice came today along with 49 others. Among those I understand Bill Nugent got his call. When asked what the new baby’s name is, he said he hadn’t decided yet. Doris said if he didn’t choose a name by tomorrow she was going to. Coke said, “do you name all the children?” He said since he couldn’t have them the least he could do was name them. Doris said she would gladly change jobs with him.

The Zells took Mark with them to the show tonight – John is practicing and David is tucked in, or I should say he is in bed because he is probably on top of the covers. He sleeps on them, rather than under unless I get up and cover him several times during the night.

John is going to take this up to the hotel to mail for me.

No mail from you today, but had a letter from your mother –
“Love Mother”

Grandma Ramp (Gladys)

1 Reply

: February 13, 1944, p. 1

: February 13, 1944, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
2-13-44

Dear Daddy –

Sun. evening and just back from a walk. Mark and I walked to town then over to Johnsons. Lucile said she would keep David tomorrow if I wanted to go to Music Club at Cokes but there isn’t any school tomorrow due to the snow on the roads, so I told Lucile the boys would be home to take care of D. – That is Mark will – John will probably go with me because Coke is going to play the opera La Boheme on their phonograph for the Music Club and he wants to hear it. This afternoon I took David and Mark and walked down the street – We called on Mrs. Krull then on the way back stopped at Funks. Mrs. Krull told me about her mother. Grandma Ramp was here with Mrs. Krull when she died. She wasn’t feeling very well and Mrs. K. asked her if she wanted a Dr. Grandma R. said “if you can call the Dr. you had when John was born,” who was Dr. Van Kirk – so Mrs. Krull called him. He gave her some medicine but told Mrs. K. there wasn’t much to do for her – she had pneumonia. She had been restless all day Wed. and the Dr. came in the evening and gave her a hypo and she went to sleep – and slept. Mrs. K. said she didn’t awaken after that. She was almost 88 year old. When Father Krull died about a month ago, Grandma Ramp wanted to go along to Ohio with Mrs. Krull and the family wouldn’t let her go. Mrs. K. said that made her mad and she

[page 2] didn’t get over it. She told them she was able to go on the trip – but they wouldn’t allow her to go.

While at Funks I said something about coal and Bill said if I couldn’t get any he would send us a load from the seed corn house. We have enough to last just a few days. I called Chet Harlan some time ago and he promised to send us some as soon as a car load comes in which should be now.

Funk’s had to change bedrooms with the children. Their nursery needed more room so the children now have the front bedroom. There is room for Donnie’s play pen (where he plays most of the time) – we folded David’s up long ago. When Joy gets too large for the basket there will be room enough for another baby bed in the nursery. They put the twin beds downstairs and with a bed table between and a chest of drawers the back bedroom looks roomier than the front bedroom used to look with the large bed. The only thing, Arlene loves to move furniture around and she can’t do that now in that bedroom.

The Music Club chorus is coming here to practice before Club tomorrow – so I’ll have to get some dusting done – with this coal dusting is necessary every day to keep the furniture from looking white. I’ll have help tomorrow since there isn’t any school.

Since taking the walk I have had some good sinus drainage – It feels all cleaned out now – It is getting around my bedtime – I am sleepy after that invigorating walk.

Love Mother