Tag Archives: Robert “Bobby” Funk

Renting the House (Gladys)

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April 26, 1944 envelope

April 26, 1944, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Kentland, Ind.
4-26-44

Dear Daddy,

In a manner of speaking you had better get us a place to live – I have taken the first step in renting our home – Now this is the situation – I saw Ira Dixon, was looking for Al but thought Ira would know whether Smiths have a house – and according to Ira the “powers” were very much worried about the housing situation for the new Supt. And said if we would rent ours it would help them out a lot. He also said there was only Mr. & Mrs. Since the daughter teaches school and isn’t home. I told Ira we didn’t know how long you would be on the present duty but thought it would be for a few months at least. He said there was to be a school board meeting tonight and he knew they would welcome this news. Financially speaking

April 26, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] it would help us out about $45 or $50 a month. How much should we ask if we do rent?

Both J. & M. are doing home work and both jiggling the table. Mark explodes once in a while and makes the table move. He has so much trouble with the arithmetic. He thinks the book is off – not him. He mowed most of the lawn this evening. Link was out mowing and hired Mark to do his the next time. Said he would give him a dollar. It finally cleared off and I washed white clothes. I put your Christmas presents in and except for a few spots are in pretty good shape. I didn’t soak them in bleach but put the stained pieces on the grass and the sun did a good job bleaching them. I got the pictures back we took Sun. I am enclosing one of David and two other pictures of the rest of the family.

April 26, 1944, p. 3

[page 3] I am still going without glasses, but hope to get to Laf. some time this week. Dorothy is going Fri. – I presume, to see Dr. Cole. Said she had to be there by 1:45. I would like to go sooner but if I can go with her think I should save the car, tires, gas, etc., for possible driving this summer.

Lucile called me today. Jimmy is all over his measles and they have put him down again. Said if it is warm tomorrow will take him out of doors. She didn’t want to take him to Laf. tomorrow – thought it too soon to take him with other people. Dr. said he might expose someone. David hasn’t shown the slightest sign of measles yet but he could start any time now. I took him out for a long time today just in case he starts

April 26, 1944, p. 4

[page 4] anything he will have had today out. Mrs. Zell offered to keep him so I could attend club but I told her to go and I would keep Martha, so she did. I took David & Martha out and Bobby joined us for a while, then he turned “nasty” and I told him to go home. He seems to get along nicely for a while then as Beulah says he goes “bosoik.” I think a little or a lot of applied psychology at the right times would help the little man a lot. I know that old touch system still works here with David. I ask him if he wants me to spank and he says “no.” I put training panties on him today and he got along pretty good. He was wet both times when I brought him in from playing but that wasn’t his fault.

I didn’t get much done today so am going to try and work some this evening –

Love Mother

Wed. a.m. It is cloudy and forecast is rain. Mark is out now mowing – he didn’t finish last night.

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/01/31/renting-the-house-gladys/

Cut Lip and Puffy Nose (Gladys)

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April 24 & 25, 1944 envelope

April 24 & 25, 1944, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
4-24-44

Dear Daddy –

Will start writing this evening while I have a little time – not that I am rushed any time, but just finished dishes and John is working on another “dangerous room” so will sit here at the table where he is working & write. Mark is upstairs working on Bobby’s plane. David isn’t asleep yet, but has had a bad time. While I was starting supper he came running into the kitchen and fell face down. He cried like he was hurt and upon examining his face saw he had bursted his upper lip and made his nose bleed. His lip is hanging over and his face is a little swollen. I wouldn’t be surprised if his nose is broken the way it looks. Is there anything to do in case it is? He looks a little funny with his lip hanging down and puffy nose. I couldn’t see anything in the doorway he could trip over but he trips easily and where the linoleum ends there may be a rough place he could catch his shoe on.

I went to town and mailed Mrs. Stanish a money order and incidentally cashed the M.O. I took from you. I may need that to buy new glasses. Mr. Rinard said he couldn’t fix my glasses and didn’t have any frames like them. So far I haven’t had any headaches but haven’t done any close work yet. My eyes feel a little tired. While in town saw Geo. Monroe and he had been out here after I went to town, but he looked at the belt and it is about ready to break. He has ordered a new belt – I hope it doesn’t break before the new one comes – unless it gets warmer. It is very cool here and must be positively cold where you are. I was going to put my fur coat in storage if I went to Laf. but unless it warms up will need to wear it.

April 24 & 25, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] Mrs. Dixon is on a committee with me and I called her today. She had just returned from Fla. – arrived this morning. She knew you were back and said she supposed she would miss seeing you. She and Nettie were in Fla. three months and would come back in weather like this.

Tues. a.m. – I am sitting in the “powder room” on the hamper. David is on the throne and I am trying to keep him quiet. His upper lip still hangs down some but his nose looks quite natural. He seems to feel pretty good so no measles yet. He woke me at 6:30 and I took him up and put him on the toidey. He had gone thru the night dry. So far this morning he is still wearing same pants. – – A pause to dress David. I put panties on him – I hope I am not too optimistic.

It is still cloudy today but looks like it may clear off. I will have to wash and dry things indoors if this rain keeps up. The grass has grown so much this week it will have to be cut wet I am afraid. The back yard is quite “thick” looking. I broke the news to the boys but didn’t get much reaction. I suppose I will have to take the lawn mower down to John Krug and have it oiled and sharpened. He keeps the old “hunk of junk” in pretty good shape.

I noticed we have one tiny blossom on the Forsythia bush. That is the yellow flowering shrub we see early in the spring usually, but it is late this year. The Lilac bush Onargo set out for me last fall is showing signs of life. The Spirea has opened out since you were here Sunday. So much for the horticulture.

If it keeps clearing, David will get to go out in the yard while I hang up clothes. It was too cold yesterday to take him out. I am going to watch him closely for signs of measles and I don’t want him to get cold or get a cold if he is having measles (or otherwise).

The sun is out now so must get a tub started.
Love Mother

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/01/29/cut-lip-and-puffy-nose-gladys/

Walk to Town (Gladys)

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April 19 & 20, 1944 envelope

April 19 & 20, 1944, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
4-19-44

Dear Daddy –

I wrote one letter this morning but thought I would start one this afternoon while I was thinking about what I wanted to write.

I took David out for a walk and he kept going until we were on Main street so I got the paper & a few articles I needed at the drug store. I saw Coke and she wanted to know about when you would be home. Said they wanted to see you, etc. I asked her about Dr. Baer and he is a MacIntyre. They live in a town close to Great Lakes, but it isn’t Lake Forest. She told me the name but I don’t remember. Maybe it was Highland Park. I am not sure. At any rate coke wants you to see Dr. B. He is a Commander now. I saw Alma and she said the evening we tried to call them was the only evening they were away from home, and on Wed. evening

April 19 & 20, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] before you went to G.L. they didn’t go to the show, but were downtown. We just didn’t see them.

I stopped to see Mrs. Krull and she says the suits wouldn’t make over for John. Says she wouldn’t tackle the job and a tailor would charge $15.00 to do the job. I was wondering if Ralph or Clarence could use a suit or two. Mrs. K. just made one of Nick’s old suits over for Dorothy. I wish I had used one of yours for myself instead of buying the one I did. I still would like to have a black suit and could take the pin strip and have one made for myself.

I stopped at Johnsons and Jimmy had been sick. I saw someone sitting in the living room and opened the door and David ran in. Lucile came and said Jimmy had been sick but was feeling better and temp was normal. He was quite sick last night and had a temp of 104 4/10 (rectally). He had a convulsion last night

April 19 & 20, 1944, p. 3

[page 3] but seemed perfectly normal today. The Dr. thought he might be taking measles or something but evidently not or he would be breaking out. His throat was sore and the Dr. swabbed it. David was with him Sun. & Mon. afternoon and Lucile thinks he was starting a temp Mon. so if he has anything D. has a good chance of getting it from being with him Mon. Of course at the time Lucile didn’t know he had a temp, but we were in the restaurant together and before that she had Jimmy out here, and when she started home from the restaurant with Jimmy, said he got fussy and she had to carry him home. I hope he doesn’t develop anything. Are children who are subject to allergies more apt to have convulsions than others? The thought just occurred to me, because of Jimmy and the Wilson baby, Michael, was like Jimmy when he was small (covered with eczema) and he is subject to convulsions. Or is it due to the high temperatures?

April 19 & 20, 1944, p. 4

[page 4] Bobby came up with 25₵ and asked Mark to buy him a plane to build so Mark is at Funks now making Bobby a plane. John asked me if he should go to a party Sat. nite, since you were planning to come home he wasn’t sure it would be the thing to do, but I told him he could see you Sun. and I thought he should attend the party since he stays home most of the time.

It is 6 PM by the living room clock, so that means chow time for David. He should have a good appetite after walking to town and back. I thought maybe he had walked too much and John said, “Do you realize if he had been home he would be walking around here all the time?”

Thurs. a.m. – the mail hasn’t been delivered yet – I am finishing this for Mark to take as he goes to school. It is cloudy this morning and looks very much like it will rain anytime. I did have ideas of washing some but now have a good excuse not to.

Love Mother

P.S. Highland Park is right.

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/01/24/walk-to-town-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+

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/01/14/four-pages-with-what-have-you-gladys/

Tired (Gladys)

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April 13, 1944 envelope

April 13, 1944, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
4-13-44

Dear Daddy,

Just bathed David and taped up the thumbs. John took him up to bed and now John is doing homework and Mark is drying dishes.

I am very tired this eve but thought I would be able to sleep better if I am really tired. I don’t feel quite as low as I did this morning. I started cleaning up as soon as you left. Got the dining room back in order. After lunch I cleaned the kitchen floor and put a washer of clothes in. I was so tired by then thought I should rest. I took a short nap then hung out the clothes. David took a nice long nap. After I finished hanging the clothes I came in and dressed him and took him out in the sunshine. I thought I would sit on the step & read the Dem. but D. kept running around the house. Jimmy and Bobby came over and visited a while,

April 13, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] but they got into a bad quarrel and Jimmy went in the car with his Mother & Daddy. While sitting on the step Bobby said they might get a stone driveway. I asked him “where.” He said where the cement drive is now. I must have looked like I didn’t understand what he was talking about, and he followed with this, “Mommy & Daddy haven’t said anything about it, but I think we will have a stone driveway.” He said he liked the hills on both side of ours. After Mark came home I turned David over to him and Mark said Bobby got in trouble and his mother made him stay home. It was so warm today I hung the clothes out after 3 P.M. and they got dry. The water was very hot so thought I would take advantage of it & the sunshine. I got the clothes line up but it was quite a pull.

I just heard David and I think he is working on a thumb so will go up and see. He was looking out the front door and I said, ”See the robin.” He said “obin.”

I wrote a letter to Ruth M. and John took it to the P.O. I told them they could find a recruiting office either in Joliet or Chicago.

I was looking at the new evergreen tree. It is still damp around there from the recent rains but the tree is beginning to look brown around the edges. In a day or so I will water it if it doesn’t rain. I won’t mail this till morning and if there is any mail or news will add a line.

Love Mother

April 13, 1944, p. 3

[page 3] Fri. a.m.
It is about time for Mark to go to school and the mail hasn’t been delivered yet so no news. It is cloudy and looks like it will rain. I am glad I got one washer of clothes done yesterday. Slept like a log last night but still tired. Going to try and get this mountain of ironing done. Mark tries to use the belt you left but it is too wide. David is full of pep and

April 13, 1944, p. 4

[page 4] going strong. I worked on John’s face last nite with soap & wash cloth & washed his hair. He looks pretty good this a.m.

Love Mother

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/01/11/tired-gladys/ ‎

Mark’s Birthday (Gladys)

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: February 26, & 27, 1944 (envelope front)

: February 26 & 27, 1944 (envelope back)

February 26 & 27, 1944, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
2-26-44

Dear Daddy –

Yours of Feb. 15 came today. So glad you finally rec’d David’s Christmas pictures. He does, I think, resemble your baby picture. So many people around here comment on how much he looks like you. Mark has him out now getting some fresh air and some sunshine – however the sunshine is a little pale now. It was brighter this morning. It is very warm and windy. Last night I was awakened by thunder & hail. It was quite a storm while it lasted. The hail was very bad for a while. The north windows showed the effects of the storm – especially the kitchen windows are covered with dirt.

I am having a little party for Mark at 4 P.M. Buddy is here now walking around with Mark while he pushes David around. I tried to keep the party a surprise but John didn’t know it was to be such and began talking about the party. John wanted to play a trick on Mark, so he sent him a birthday card and signed a girl’s name. This girl is in Mark’s room and according to Mark is poison ivy, or something equally unpopular. He says she is very ugly and he dislikes her very much. He suspected John as the sender and was ready to tear him apart. John told Miss Smith about it and she in turn told him about something she did when in high school. There was a girl who wasn’t very popular

February 26, & 27, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] and didn’t have dates – a certain boy she admired from afar – Well Miss S. sent her an invitation to the prom and signed this boy’s name. She said the girl wrote him a note accepting his invitation – The boy was very angry – but I don’t know whether he took the girl to the prom or not. I think John felt a little badly about sending Mark the card until Miss S. told her story, then he didn’t think he had done as much as she had.

This rain and warm weather is making things look green. The tulips are up so high. I am afraid they will get nipped yet but can’t keep them from growing in weather like this.

I see in the paper the Barces held a reception for Betty & Paul. They spent a week in Missouri on honeymoon. I think Paul has to return to Panama at the end of his furlough.

Kenneth Wood has been in Calif. since he finished his training at Allison, but has been sent to New York. He was in Kent on his way to N.Y. one day this week. Harlan Parr was in Fla. until last fall then sent to Mich., was there a short time, then sent to N.Y. I see in the paper that Frank Morton is working in Nashville. Mildred & Frank Jr. were down to see him. Frank Jr. will soon be in the Navy.

– – The party was quite a success – Two Zell girls, Buddy, Bobby, Jimmy & David Diedam were here. I made a white cake and decorated it will pink candles. John went to the drug store and got strawberry ice cream which carried out the color scheme. I made a punch with grapefruit & orange juice.

February 26 & 27, 1944, p. 3

[page 3] Everybody seemed to have a grand time.

This is Sun. P.M. – I didn’t get to finish this yesterday due to the party, etc. Buddy wanted Mark to eat supper with him after the party and John wanted to go to the show with David Diedam – Mark saw the show Fri. night with Zells – I wanted to take David to the Dr. because of this cough he has had several days. Dr. M. gave him a whooping cough shot and said to bring him back the middle of the week for another. There are so many cough cases and he says the shots are the only thing he has found to help. After seeing the Dr. I went to the restaurant and got my supper. The supper crowd was gone and there was only two or three men at the counter, so I stayed. I wouldn’t have taken David in if there had been a crowd, or several children. David didn’t seem to mind the shot so much. Just cried a few minutes and was able to smile at the Dr. when we left.

According to Dorothy, the reason Doris Wilson didn’t get to the hospital to have her baby (no. 4) she couldn’t find Ellsworth in time. Dorothy said they (several couples) were at Tiltons, after the Bond rally show,

February 26 & 27, 1944, p. 4

[page 4] having refreshments (about 2 a.m.) and Doris called inquiring if Ellsworth was there. She didn’t say why she wanted, so no one tried to find him. He didn’t get home in time to get her to the hospital and the Dr. didn’t get there until after the baby was born. He was expecting her at the hospital. I’ll bet Dr. M. was plenty “sore” about the whole thing. I remember how they started to the hospital when Eddie Ray was born and stopped to see a show on the way.

It was so nice out of doors yesterday – but it’s not quite so inviting out today. The Zell girls, Virginia (11) & Betty (8) are here playing Monopoly with Mark. Martha Jane is the youngest (3) and is home taking a nap. John has been listening to the radio and David in running around the house getting into everything – Just found some of Mark’s cards, so Mark came running to the rescue. David loves to close doors and will close any door in the house he can find that will close for him.

Harold Portteus came yesterday to tell me he might not be able to get a permit to sell us the beef – but I think he will get the permit. If there is any objection I think, I’ll do a little talking. They had had a lot of hospital & Dr. bills the past year and really need to sell. Ruthie was in the hospital several weeks and Harold is just recovering from a hernia operation. He said he was anxious for you to get back. One reason being Jim’s induction into service. He said he was thinking about shots he would have to take and would like for you

February 26 & 27, 1944, p. 5

[page 5] to give them a statement regarding Jim’s reaction to shots. Dr. M. said he could give them a statement but he knew in some instances the examining Doctors disregarded any such statements. Knowing how Jim is, I would think it would be very risky for him to take shots Army or Navy style. Harold says he thinks they will let Jim remain home until late fall because Harold won’t be able to do much heavy work this summer. Jim will graduate this spring. He is getting thru high school and that is better than some. Romaine’s boy friend will have to enter service this fall and has one more year of school. I would think some provision could be made for those boys who want to finish high school, but since they are taking fathers with several children, maybe it’s better to take some of the younger ones. I still think there are some who should be in and are not – but that’s an old story. I wouldn’t be surprised if Floyd is called up for another physical. He is dissatisfied with his job at present and I don’t think it would take much for him to quit. He was rejected, but just between you and me, I think if he wasn’t working for this co. he would be called up for another examination. Do you get what I mean? He was told his rejection was due to his nervousness, but I really don’t think he is that nervous. Well that is my opinion and I may be wrong. This may all sound like I am wanting him to be in Service, but that isn’t the way I feel. If he can do more here raising tomatoes to feed the Army, he should be where he can do the most good. I am about out of space and feel fun down.

“Love Mother”

Mark’s Birthday Party (back row: Buddy Krull, John, David Diedam, Mark holding David; front row: Virginia Zell, Betty Zell, Bobby Funk & Jimmy Staton)

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

Wiggle Worm (Gladys)

1 Reply

: February 7, 1944 envelope front

: February 7, 1944 envelope back

: February 7, 1944, p. 1

: February 7, 1944, p. 2-3

: February 7, 1944, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
2-7-44

Dear Daddy –

Yours of 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 & 28 came today. Also a letter from Pauline and Aileen. Aileen sent a picture of herself. She looked very good, but said she has a cold. She always writes interesting letters. I would love to visit her sometime. I had sent her some pictures and she said I looked as young as I did 18 years ago. I was thinking the same thing about her. She said growing up with a family must be my answer. However I don’t agree with her about me. I can see what the mirror reflects, but that doesn’t worry me.

It was fairly warm (32°) this morning and sun was shining and I hung some white

[page 2] things out on the line. They must be dry by now. I hate to dry white things in the basement when there is any sunshine. It is cloudy now. I wanted to take D. out for a walk but it doesn’t look very inviting now. We started showing him picture books and he seems to enjoy them. I don’t know whether we will be able to get him to sit still long enough to read to him. Martha Jane says he is a wiggle worm. She likes to come over and play with him when Bobby or Jimmy aren’t around. I told Mrs. Zell I had often wondered what you would think of D. He is so very different from J. & M. in his constant urge to move about. J. & M. weren’t lazy or not normal but we could hold them and entertain them without being on the move all the time. You might call it

[page 3] perpetual motion. Maybe it isn’t as bad as that – He does pretty good in church or when we are in the car but when he is home wants to be moving about most of the time. When J. & M. were this age I don’t remember that we had to particularly watch them, but D. needs someone on guard most of the time and added to all the foregoing he has all the charm one little fellow needs to make us all pushovers for him.

I expected Lucile out this afternoon. I am to give Jimmy a haircut. She doesn’t want to take him to the barber shop with so many colds around. I have given him one haircut. His hair is so blond it doesn’t show so much when he needs a hair cut like David’s does. David’s hair is a very pretty shade of brown and still curls when it is washed but the curls flatten when he has a cap on.

[page 4] Glad you have a watch. Did your old one fall apart? Hope this one will do until you can get back and get a better one. I still have the watch you gave me before we were married. I have thought about getting it repaired, but think maybe it would be better to put that much on a new one and I won’t do that now. I don’t want one that much.

I can see Bobby out playing. He is certainly the out-of-door type. He hasn’t a playmate just now but seems busy in their garden. I think Jimmy must be away and Martha for some reason isn’t out with Bobby.

I have to write Ruth M. & your folks, so must get this finished
Love
Mother

P.S. The card you rec’d from Cinda – she was visiting her brother near Bern, until Christmas.

Toddler Terrors (Gladys)

3 Replies

Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
1-18-44

Dear Daddy – Another day without mail but had two letters the 15^th. It is still warm but cloudy so we may get some cold weather in a day or two. Yesterday was like spring – Took a picture of David. He will be 16 mo. old next week so will take this roll by the 23^rd. He is so full of pep today I can hardly stand it. He wants to get into everything. I have him in the nursery now with both doors barred. He would run me ragged if I didn’t keep him in one room. He just goes around looking for something to do he shouldn’t. I put him up in his bed for a while. He threw everything out I had given him to play with then tried to tear the sheet off. He took me to the closet once and said bye-bye – I suppose I will have to take him out for a while. I have been taking him out every day, but it is a little windy today & not much sunshine so didn’t care to go out, but think I had better get him out before he breaks something. Went to see the new Hufty baby last nite. Clarice came home after a week. The hospital is crowded and she came in the ambulance and of course is still in bed. I told you before the new baby is John R. He looks like the other two. Tom Talley is home. Duff said last week they were expecting him home anytime. – I hear the neighbors’ children out playing. Bobby comes up here to play whether the other children play or not. He seems to think he has to have someone to play with. I feel sorry for him at times – he looks so lonesome. When Mark is here he will come in but would rather stay out.

Love – Mother

Spreading the News (Gladys)

1 Reply

: January 16, 1944, p. 1

: January 16, 1944, p. 2

: January 16, 1944, p. 3

: January 16, 1944, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Jan. 16-1944

Dear Daddy –

Yours of Jan. 3 & 4 came yesterday. I told Mark he could tell people you are in N.Z. He was more than delighted and said right away he would tell his teacher.

I took a walk to get David out of doors and stopped at the Shandy’s to leave a snow suit she had loaned me. It was too small for David so thought I would take it back to her. Cliff is gone and she had word he had arrived – I think Miami. She showed me thru the house. They have the downstairs pretty well furnished but nothing much up but beds. She is going to stay there with the baby. He is past 2 now and quite a good size boy. She spends a lot of time with him and is training him not to touch their new furniture. They have a coffee table in front of the fireplace with a white wooly rug under it and she says he doesn’t step on the rug. I told her she may be able to train him not to touch their davenport and chairs, but I would hate to try and keep J. & M. off of ours. Of course we had furniture the boys could be raised on. I have got David so he will leave the coffee table alone. He keeps taking the tidies off the chair arms. We make him put them back on but he will repeat the same offense. He is getting better all the time about leaving things alone when we tell him to. He used to get into the lower parts of the corner cupboards but he would be scolded every time

[page 2] he got near them, so suppose he decided it wasn’t worth the effort. He walks very carefully and his left shoe isn’t worn like the right. He seems to favor that foot, but I think when he gets so he can run he will overcome that. His leg never seems to bother him. It really shouldn’t because the bone was only cracked and that not over 1/3 or ½ across. David has gone to bed. J. & M. are at Youth Fellowship. John is leader tonight. He was elected pianist for the Jr. Dept. and assistant for the adult Dept. Harold Reiger is John’s assistant, so if he has to play for the adults, Harold will play for Jr. He plays for youth fellowship too. John has changed more I think since you left than Mark. He seems so much more grown-up – He is almost as tall as I am. There is fuzz on his upper lip – He doesn’t like it – Says he will look like the Remsburg boy who used to live here. His voice is still changing and he gets so mad sometimes when his voice goes up high. Says that doesn’t happen to him at home but if he is somewhere else. However we notice it once in a while. He has almost outgrown the suit I bought for him in Mar. I can still let the pants out but the coat sleeves are beginning to look short. Mark is much the same. Like to get out and play football. He spent the afternoon at the pond skating. I walked over to see about the ice and it is still solid. Mr. Z. was there with their 3 girls, Bobby & Jimmy, pulling them around on sleds. Bob Schurtter was there too. He told me he didn’t get a commission in the Navy due to no vacancies

[page 3] in his line. He is classed as 2-A until July 44, so he will get to finish his year teaching. I suppose Dot will have to work if he has to go in the Army as a private. She had a chance to take the office job with the County Agent (Mr. Z.) but Steve is still so small she could hardly take the job now. Mr. Z. had her do some extra work for him and he said she was the best help he had had in a long time. He had quite a time keeping help for a while, but Evelyn Kudig is working for him now. Office girls seem to be as hard to find or keep as any kind of help. The factory still can get the help because of the good pay. The subject of the factory makes me think of Irene. I suppose she is still in Chi. Trying to find out what the trouble is. Last week her mother said they had not found anything. I still think it’s a lot psycologic, and I am sure you will agree with me. Last year when she went to Mayo Clinic they told her to quit work. After that they had their house for sale and Dr. M. had it bought, that is he was all ready to buy and had a buyer for his place when Statons decided not to sell.

The Funks had their new baby christened today. She will be 3 wks. old Tues. I saw Rosemary when I was coming home with David from Shandy’s and she said she had been one of the sponsors. One of the other Funk men had been the other. Carl was sponsor for either Bobby or Donnie so he couldn’t e with Rosemary for Joy Selene. Carl and Rosemary had been out walking with Tommy. He is eight months old and looks almost as large as David. He isn’t as tall of course but is on the heavy order.

[page 4] I noticed the Foulkes’ car in their driveway. They have been on a business trip east. Their house has been in the redecorating process while they have been away and I noticed they still haven’t their drapes up yet. I cleaned a little but didn’t try to take drapes out. This year’s coal is so dirty. It isn’t treated and certainly makes a difference in the dirt we get in the house. I wish and have wished so many times now we had put oil in, but that is a waste of time, so won’t harp on it any more. Harping doesn’t help things.

I rec’d a long letter from Marie so I must give her an answer – ant to do that yet this evening. She has been busy helping with Isla. I hadn’t heard from Marie for such a long time I was sure there was something wrong. I was glad Isla hasn’t T.B. – tho thyroid trouble isn’t anything to be treated lightly.

Had a letter from Jewell and she sent me a picture of Dot’s baby – Dot’s husband was rejected, so a present he is still home I told you all this before but this is a repeat in case my other letter didn’t get to you.

David broke my glasses and I keep mending them with airplane glue but I am afraid I will have to get new lenses – or one new lense. I keep feeling eye strain – just got new lenses last fall but I thought if I didn’t have the lenses straight it could cause the headaches.

I am about run down so will call this a letter & sign off.
Love Mother

P.S. Saw the enclosed clippings in the paper & thought you would be interested.