Eclectic Ann

Monday, July 8, 2024

In Memory of D-Day - 80 years

I wrote this up for family recently in honor of the 80th anniversary of D-Day, June 6, 1944.

Pvt. James William Heacock. He is my Dad's 1st cousin.

James was born on Jan 6, 1925 in Everett, PA to Lawrence(Floyd's brother) & Mary Heacock. He was the youngest of three children. By the time James was 5 the family had moved to Mercer Co, PA where his father was a Horticulturist and growing trees. In 1940, James was 14 and the family lived in Pymatuning, Mercer Co and his father was then working for the WPA as a record keeper in the road building industry.

James turned 18 in 1943, beginning an event filled year. He filled out his Draft Registration card that showed an address in Greenville, Mercer Co. His description on the card said that he was 5’11” 180 lbs with brown hair and eyes. Before enlisting on March 29, 1943, James was employed at the Greenville Steel Car Company. James would enlist in the Army at New Cumberland, PA. His enlistment term was for the duration of the war plus 6 months. His education level was listed as Grammar school, but James did attend Penn High School. By Oct of 1943, James is shown in a marriage record from the state of Tennessee. Pvt. James Heacock married Ethel Elkins of Dickson Co, TN. She was 16. Ethel would live with James’ parents in Greenville after her marriage to James.

After training at Fort Campbell, KY and Ft Benning, GA he was sent overseas in January of 1944, first to Ireland then England, as a paratrooper with the 101st Airborne Division Screaming Eagles, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment. His unit was HQ3. While in England, he was able to meet up with his brother Foster, a SSgt in the Army Air Corps whom he had not seen in two years. Just 6 months after arriving in Europe, James would be wounded on D-Day, June 6, 1944. According to a history of the 502nd, they were in the first wave to depart for Normandy headed to Drop Zone A near Utah Beach just after midnight on June 6. James would not survive and died a week later, June13 according to a family letter, in an Allied Hospital in France. Some new information says that James was awarded the Purple Heart Posthumously on June 10, 1944. So the death date is still in question. Unfortunately, the family was not able to conduct a funeral for James until 5 years later, when he was buried in the Delaware Cemetery in Fredonia, Mercer Co, PA. Thank you James for your sacrifice.

Same Name? Not Quite

Recently, I had an interesting message from my cousin Lora. While she and her family were on vacation in Niagara Falls, they ran across a plaque with the name Burrel Heacock on it and wondered if he was a relative. The story on the plaque sounded familiar so I checked our tree and he was there. Only his name was spelled Hecock in our tree. It was definately the same person as I also had the story attached to him that the plaque told. In looking at his ancestors, his Hecock went back several generations and also went thru some spelling changes ( Hickox and Hitchcock). So no relationship thru our Heacocks. BUT, he is related to us thru three other families, the Austins, the Allens and the Palmers as well as a connection thru a Hatch family of my son in law). All of this makes Burrel Hecock a 9th cousin to us. Now, I'm sure you are wondering about this plaque.

photo by cousin Lora

The plaque reads:

Ice Bridge Tragedy

On February 4, 1912, the ice bridge across the Niagara River, with dozens of tourists on it, broke loose below the American Falls. Three people were unable to get to shore, a honeymoon couple, Mr and Mrs Eldridge Stanton of Toronto and Burrel Heacock of Cleveland, Ohio. The Stantons are shown in this sketch as the ice floe they were on entered the whirlpool rapids, just before the floe broke up, tossing them into the water, where they drowned.

2nd plaque

But what happened to Burrel? I found a second plaque dedicated to him, it reads:

To the Memory of Burrell Hecock of Cleveland Ohio

Aged 17 years who lost his life in an heroic attempt to rescue Mr and Mrs Eldridge Stanton of Toronto Ontario

when the ice bridge in the gorge immediately below was swept down the Niagara River and into the whirlpool rapids

February 4th 1912.

Burrell was an only child, son of Harry and Annabell Hecock of Lorain, Ohio (near Cleveland). We can only assume that Burrell was visiting for the day to see the frozen falls and the ice bridge. I can't imagine that I would venture out on that! Burrell's Hecocks came from an old Connecticut family who originally did come from England as our Heacocks did.

Burrell Hecock

I found this account of the event at: https://milhomme.blogspot.com/.../till-death-do-us-part...

On February 4th 1912 - by noon on Sunday, approximately 35 persons were standing on the ice bridge which had formed covering the Niagara River below the Falls each winter. This ice bridge was huge, thick and solid, allowing people to cross the entire width of the Niagara River from Canada to the USA on the surface of the ice rather than using the International Bridges located downstream. Two such persons on this ice bridge were Eldridge Stanton, age 32 and his wife Clara Stanton, age 28, both of Toronto, Ontario. The Stanton's had been married for six years and had come to Niagara Falls twice each year; once in summer and once in winter since being married. They had arrived in Niagara Falls on Friday for a winter weekend visit. They strolled hand in hand as they crossed the ice field. Also on the ice bridge were Ignatius Roth age 17 and Burrell Hecock, age 17, both of Cleveland, Ohio. William "Red" Hill was opening the little refreshment stand he built every year as soon as the ice was thick enough. With him were Monroe Gilbert and William Lablond. Hecock and Roth were throwing snowballs and playing leapfrog.

Hill suddenly felt a small tremor under his feet. At the same time came a loud groaning sound from the base of the Falls which could be heard over the roar of the distant Falls. Immediately Hill recognized the danger and began running towards the Canadian shore as he shouted for the others to follow him. Lablond, Gilbert and the boys followed Hill. Mr. and Mrs. Stanton turned back towards the American shore. The ice bridge began heaving up and down as the grinding noises became louder. The ice had began breaking apart. As the Stanton's ran towards the shore, they suddenly stopped a stones-throw width away as the ice separated from the shore and water appeared where the ice once was. As the gap began to widen, the Stanton's were frozen in place by shock for a second before turning and racing for the Canadian shore. As they ran, Clara Stanton began to slow and stumbled to the ice from exhaustion within 50 feet of the Canadian shoreline. Eldridge Stanton tried unsuccessfully to lift his wife. The ice field on which they were standing began to move. Stanton grabbed his wife and tried dragging her as he shouted for help from the men ahead. Lablond was in waist deep icy water and with the assistance of Hill they pulled Roth to shore and shouted for Hecock to jump to safety. Hecock heard the cries for help from Stanton and turned around. Hecock rushed toward the Stanton's in a desperate attempt to save them. Hecock reached the Stanton's and helped Eldridge lift his wife to her feet. Together they tried to get Clara to shore but the gap between the ice and shore was quickly widening. The three were now stranded as the ice bridge flowed ever quickly downstream. The ice sheet was swinging wildly. On this ice sheet, the Stanton's and Hecock paced back and forth. Hecock and Eldridge were seen talking while Clara stood holding her husband's hand. As they passed beneath the first of three bridges spanning the Niagara Gorge, the ice sheet seemed to edge towards the American shore. Directly downstream, a hydro-electric station was discharging water into the river. The pressure from this discharge crumbled the nearest edge of the ice forcing the three to the opposite side. The giant ice sheet broke into two pieces. One half drifted towards the American shore while the other half on which Hecock and the Stanton's stood remained in mid-stream. The first half grounded out against the American shoreline. On each of the two lower bridges located three hundred yards apart, firemen, policemen and railway workers had stationed themselves in order to lower ropes to those stranded as the passed underneath. Stanton was seen to place his arm around the waist of his wife. About a quarter mile above the rapids, the ice sheet broke in half again, this time separating the Stanton's from Hecock.

Hecock waved and shouted something. Stanton returned the salute. Clara crouched down beside her husband. The river current was becoming faster as it neared the rapids. Hecock's ice sheet remained in mid-stream. Hecock took off his coat in preparation of attempting to grab one of the dangling ropes. As he passed beneath the bridge, Hecock grabbed one of the ropes and swung free of the ice flow he was riding on. Hecock was plunged waist deep into the water as his rescuers attempted to lift him. As he was hoisted 60 feet above the water Hecock lost his grip of the rope and fell into the raging river below. Entering the rapids, Hecock was never seen again. The Stanton's had watched Hecock's valiant attempts. As the flow swirled under the cantilever bridge, Stanton quickly grabbed the nearest rope and looped it around his wife's waist. As the flow continued and the rope became taunt, it broke. Stanton grabbed another rope as they passed underneath the Lower Bridge. He quickly tied the rope again around his wife's waist but changed his mind and untied the rope, knowing it would be futile. Stanton took his wife in his arms, kissed her and let her down. They both knelt together with his arms around her. The flow remained intact until it reached the giant wave in the rapids and spilled over throwing both into the raging water to their deaths.

News Articles

Monday, July 1, 2024

Planes - (Week 27 - 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks)

If you live anywhere near a major airport or military air base, you know it can be a love/hate relationship at times. Some look at it as alot of annoying noise but others, such as my family, view it as their bread and butter or the sound of freedom. Or even dream of escaping to the air or taking a Sunday afternoon drive to watch planes take off and land at the airport. Air shows even became an outing . All of which our families enjoyed, except thinking the noise was annoying!

Both my family and my husband's have aviation present in their lives. On my husband's side, it seems to have started with his dad, Gary Sr, who before WW2 worked at Middletown Air Depot in the engine section doing repairs and engine tests. When it became his turn to join the war, he chose the Army Air Corps and became a nose gunner on a B24 over the Pacific. (There is a detailed history of his experiences on my blog). This led to an interest in aviation and after the war he studied to become an aeronautical engineer at a university in Chicago. He graduated and had positions at several different aircraft manufacturers. First Martin Aircraft, where he worked on the Martin 404 and the Mercury Project, then at Jacobs Aircraft working on the Convertiplane. His final aviation job was with McDonnell Aircraft where he worked on the F4 and F101 projects. His interest in aviation continued tho and was passed down to his sons. Gary's brother also chose the US Air Force as his service during the Korean War. I do not know what he did while there tho.

Gary Sr front and center

His oldest son Gary Jr joined the US Air Force and was stationed in Vietnam as an airplane mechanic. He learned to fly while in the Air Force and held a private pilot's license. He also took on a project of building his own airplane. I remember flying with him once in an old 2 seater Luscom plane. The seat was a wooden plank. A new experience for me as far as the seat was concerned, but I had flown in small airplanes before.

Gary Jr's plane - that's me in the back seat!

A visit from family

His youngest son, Bill's interest was "smaller" because his hobby became flying and building model airplanes and helicopters. He is a member of a local model airplane flying club.

The middle son, my husband Tom, made a career of aviation. He joined the US Air Force and became an Avionics mechanic. He was stationed at Scott AFB in 1975 and primarily worked on the Douglas C9B which were based there. They were an Aeromedical Evac Squadron. But being a mechanic, he would also work on any kind of aircraft that came thru the base. After his initial 4 years were up, he reenlisted but as as active Reservist at Scott AFB and doing the same work that he had done while on active duty. After two years as a reservist, a job opportunity came up that he pursued and won. In 1981, he became a Field Technical Rep for the Douglas Aircraft side of the McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Company. They sent him to be the Field Rep at the Norfolk Naval Air Station who flew the C9As. While there, he finished his college degree in Professional Aeronautics and graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He also attained his A&P license and his FAA Radio Operators license, all of which helped him greatly in his job. A story he liked to tell was that while he was testing for his A & P license, he had to know how to repair the fabric that the older first airplanes were covered with. This required hand sewing and he asked me to teach him some stitches that he would have to use. Another story was that once on a test flight for the Communications system on the plane, they happened to fly over Tom's hometown and the test call on the flight phone was made to his dad as they flew over his house. His dad was thrilled. His years with this Navy squadron, VR-56, would take him all over the world. The squadron was tasked with taking one of their C9s and making it into an executive transport for the Secretary of the Navy and some other high ranking Naval personnel. As the manufacturer's field rep, Tom was part of every step of this transition. The plane was affectionately known as ET (Executive Transport) by it's flight crew. Tom was part of this crew and flew as such, flight suit and all even tho he was not "in" the Navy. He was to fly on any trip that took a VIP passenger, mostly the Secretary, out of the country. Just like in the military, this job could be transient, and the day came when the contract with the Navy was ending and that would mean a cross country move. Tom decided to look for a job with a more permanent location for his family. He ended up getting a job with USAir as a Maintenance Foreman in the airline's Operations Department, a management job. This ended the days of hands on repair of aircraft but Tom still enjoyed his job in aviation. After several mergers and weathering a strike, Tom retired from what had become American Airlines in 2015. One more in this line is our daughter, Amy. Ever since Junior High School, she had wanted to be an aeronautical engineer. She did attain this and graduated from Penn State with her degree. She started a job with the Sikorsky Helicopter company in Bridgeport, Ct. Surrounded by mostly men in this position, she gained respect. Her focus was on mating the engines to the fuselage on the S92 helicopter project. Eventually she left her job, but aviation still shows up in her job now as a preschool teacher. She shows her 4 year olds simplified aerodynamics of how airplanes can fly.

Basic Training, the start of a long career

Scott AFB C9Bs

US Navy's C9A "ET"

doing his avionics thing

On the flight line

A visit to the First Flight location

The S92 chopper

My family's connections also seem to start with my Dad. As a youngster, he was interested in planes and worked to get his private pilot's license at the age of 16. He was able to pay for the lessons by doing odd jobs around the small local airport. One of which involved painting the airport name identifier on the roof of the hanger at that local airport. After high school, he was accepted into the ROTC program at Parks Air College in St Louis. But after one year he decided that that was not for him and transferred to a teacher' college. He was away from aviation for some time and his license expired. Later, in the 1960's sometime, he tested once again and was able to fly once more. He would periodically take us up for rides, which I enjoyed very much. He thought that I would one day fly at 16 also ,but I just liked the rides. Unfortunately, the hobby became quite expensive for a family man and he had to stop flying. My Mom, on the other hand, was afraid of flying. She held her breath each time we went up with Dad. But she finally took her first and only flight when she came to help out after our second child was born. We lived too far away to drive but she survived. Dad had three brothers who all had their private pilot's licenses. Joe was hobbyist like Dad, Jim went to college for an Aeronautical Science degree and worked for Grumman for a time. The third one made a career of aviation as well. After his US Air Force enlistment, Gene became an aeronautical engineer and worked for the US Army in St Louis. He was also an aerobatics pilot. He and his first wife Kit, also an aerobatics pilot, loved flying and owning their own planes. Sadly, Kit passed away when the small plane that she was flying crashed. Dad's nephew, Kevin, is a career US Air Force Officer working as a Flight Surgeon. Another nephew, Rich, has made a career as a corporate pilot. Rich's dad was also a corporate pilot. Rich's sister, Carolyn, even made a skydive jump or two.

Dad's first pilot license

One of the first planes Dad flew, the Aeronca Champ

New Piper Cherokee that Dad was recertified in

So as you can see, aviation is in our blood. In my own immediate family, we seem to have a noticeable habit as well. Not long after our future son in law came to us, he remarked that every time an airplane flew overhead we all looked up at it. He thought it somewhat peculiar but it is just something we unconsciously do. Every single time to this day. I even go outside to look sometimes. Living near a large commercial airport with a US Air Force Reserve unit attached to it, we see and hear aircraft at all times of day and some fly low over our house. I have come to learn to identify a few by that sound. Yes, it does interrupt conversation at times, but we just wait it out for a few seconds and continue on. No problem with the noise. Aviation has been our bread and butter. Something that you can love forever as well.

Looking up....

Monday, June 3, 2024

A Chance Coincidence

My latest story called "A Chance Coincidence". (Please correct any details that I may have gotten wrong)

Outdoor Track Season in Pennsylvania has always drawn my attention because I have grandchildren who have participated over the years and two who are still running or jumping for their high school today. My granddaughter, Emily who runs for South Fayette in District 7 (800m and 4 x 800m relay), even making it to the State championship level for three years in a row. But as I was adding a new member to the family tree the other day, I noticed that I did not have much information on the baby’s dad. As usual, this prompted me to do an Ancestry, Facebook and Google search to see what I could find out, if anything. To my surprise, this dad had run track in high school with the Hurdle events being where he excelled. That is Coincidence #1. Yes, lots of people have participated in this sport, but wait. Coincidence #2 involves my nephew who also ran track, as an excellent sprinter, from middle school up through college and happens to live very near the baby’s dad. Here is where it gets very interesting.

The baby’s dad is Chance Post who is married to my 1st cousin’s daughter, Brittany Hatfield. My nephew, Joe Vedilago, is the son of my sister, Teresa. This makes Joe and Brittany 2ndcousins. A very simple connection. But back to Track.

Chance lived in Lancaster county and attended Solanco High School and Conestoga Valley High School where he ran track (110m & 300m Hurdles, 4x400m relay). Joe lived in Lebanon county and attended Northern Lebanon High School where he also ran track (200 m, 400 m, 4 x 100m relay, 4 x400m relay). I began to search deeper to see if I could find some track meet results online for both Chance & Joe. Coincidence #3 is that I not only found meet results, but also found that Chance & Joe ran in the same meets several times. Specifically, the Lancaster-Lebanon District 3 Championships in 2011, 2012 & 2013. Not surprising though due to their locations. Because both athletes excelled in their events, they also both ran in the PIAA State Tournament in 2012 & 2013.

Coincidence #4, the biggest one, takes us back to the early days of Chance & Joe’s high school careers. In 2011, at the Lancaster-Lebanon Championships, Chance & Joe ran in the same race, the 4 x 400m relay. Not only that, they both ran the anchor leg racing each other. Joe’s team finishing 12th and Chance’s team finishing 17th. Only 6 seconds apart in their finishing times !!

Joe would graduate in 2013 but Chance, a Senior now, would once again qualify for the 2014 PIAA state tournament in both hurdle events, winning the 300m and finishing 3rd in the 110m. Joe kept up his running career while attending California University PA. He ran the 400m, 4 x 100m relay and 4 x 400m relay. In 2017, as a Senior, he held the top time for the 400m run in the PSAC (Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference) that year. Emily still has a year to go.

UPDATE: Emily qualified once again for the PIAA state championships in 2025 after winning the gold in the 3A Section 9 championships. She ran in the 3200m Relay setting a new school record. At the state meet, her relay finished 5th in the state.

Joe at Cal U 2017

Chance at States 2017

Emily States 2023

Thursday, April 25, 2024

Caroline Stone Betz Sinton

26 Apr 1924 – 5 May 2002

Caroline was born the 10^th child of 13 to John Ellsworth Betz Jr & Charlotte Johns in Port Carbon, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.

Back - John, Emma, Richard, Charlotte, William, John E Jr

Middle - Dorothy, Gertrude, Ellsworth, Jean, Charlotte Johns

Front - Caroline, Lois, Ruth, Robert

Port Carbon, PA in 1931

In 1930, the family lived at 129 Spruce St. Port Carbon, with 3 more children joining the family. Caroline would have attended the newer Port Carbon Elementary school which had been built in 1915. The school had a bell tower whose bell signaled the start of school and recess times. At that time, her father worked on the trolleys. The Pottsville Electric Railway Co operated from 1891 until 1931 in Port Carbon. But in 1930, her father is listed as a Brakeman on the Reading Railroad in the census taken that year. At the time of his death, he was a lokie operator for the Bazely Stripping Company in St Clair.

I believe this to be 29 Spruce St, Port Carbon, from Google Earth

In 1933, when Caroline was just 9 years old, her father died of hypertension & vascular disease at the age of 47. By 1940, her mother had moved the family back to Tamaqua, in Schuylkill County. They lived at 251 Clay St. Her mother did not hold a job at age 53, but four older siblings of Caroline did work. Likely the income that supported the family that still had 8 children living at the home.

251 Clay St. Tamaqua, Google Earth

Caroline and her family always attended the Methodist church. In 1939 & 1941, Caroline attended a Christian summer camp near Pottstown called Camp Innabah. She was also always involved with the Methodist Youth group at her church. At some point, Caroline and her sister Ruth must have worked at the Atlas Powder Co. There is a photo showing them in the Atlas uniforms below.

There is also a photo of Caroline’s brother Ellsworth “Buddy” that he sent her while he was in the Army during World War II. He inscribed it “To Carrots”, a name he must have called her due to her red hair. I imagine Caroline as a little (4’11”) spitfire when she was young.

Caroline graduated from Tamaqua High School in 1942. She was a member of the Commercial Club at school which was a group for those interested in working in an office once they graduated. By 1943, at age 19, Caroline had found a clerical job in Middletown, PA. She lived at 30 South Catherine St. in Middletown. It was here that she met her future husband, Gary Sinton, who was from Pottsville. Gary worked at the Air Depot in Middletown in the engine shop doing repairs and running engine tests before enlisting in the US Army Air Corps in 1944.

Tamaqua High School

Much of their courtship was likely done through the mail, as Gary had been assigned to a squadron in the Pacific where he stayed until the end of World War II in 1945. Gary & Caroline became engaged on July 4, 1946, at a Betz family picnic at the Atlas Grove near Tamaqua. They were married at the Methodist church in Tamaqua on Oct 12, 1946. Like many brides of that era, Caroline wore a gown that was made from Gary’s army parachute. After a honeymoon to Niagara Falls, they set up housekeeping with Gary’s parents at 2058 West Market St in Pottsville. Gary was working for the J H Brokhoff Dairy. Their first child Gary Jr was born in December 1947 in Pottsville.

First United Methodist Church, Tamaqua

The family soon moved to Chicago, Illinois so that Gary could attend the Aeronautical University there. He worked part time at the Marshall Fields department store until finishing his degree in Aeronautical engineering. In May of 1949, a daughter, Sharon, was born. One address that they lived at was 7833 South Evans Ave in Chicago. This house is still there today.

In September of 1950, Gary graduated, and the family moved to Baltimore where Gary would work for the Martin Aircraft Co. A third child, Janice, was born there in January 1952. They lived at 1628 Rickenbacker Rd, Apt C Baltimore. This address no longer exists.

In 1953, Gary found a better position at the Jacobs Aircraft Co in Pottstown, Pa, closer to home this time. They did not live long on Main St Pottstown Landing Rd. This job ended in 1954 and the family left once again for a new job in St Louis with McDonnell Aircraft. In November of 1954 a son was born, Thomas. The family lived at 837 East Essex Ave in the Kirkwood neighborhood of the St Louis area. Caroline would boast of being well off enough to employ a maid to help with her growing family.

Pottstown Home

Unfortunately, just as success was within their grasp, this job ended too soon due to Gary’s health. The family had moved back to Pottsville by Christmas 1955. Gary spent most of 1956 in the VA hospital in Wilkes Barre. Caroline and the four children lived at Gary’s parent’s home once again. After his release from the hospital, he was unable to work as an engineer any longer and he worked as a relief milkman for Lehigh Valley Dairy for about 10 years and later held other positions with the dairy until he retired on disability in 1973.

2058 W Market St Pottsville

The family was able to buy their own home with the help of Gary's war bonds and purchased 822 Pottsville St in Mechanicsville in 1958. During this time, the family added three more children, Laura in April 1958, Bill in July 1961 & Holly in September 1962. And Caroline stayed active in her church in Pottsville, First United Methodist Church, by being a member of the Joy Circle.

822 Pottsville St, Pottsville

During these years, Caroline worked at various jobs to help ends meet, including clerical jobs and as a sewing machine operator in local garment factories. She was known as a good seamstress and her work production was good. At one place she would sew women’s blouses and knew how to operate a Merrow sewing machine. She was also particular about which factories she would work at. Some were true sweatshops or had bad bosses and likely not good places to work. Some of the factories she worked in were in Mary D, New Philadelphia, Cumbola, Angela's in Port Carbon, Frackville and Pottsville. Caroline was a proud member of the ILGWU (International Ladies Garment Workers Union) and always looked for the union label or made in America label when shopping. She made a lot of her family’s clothing and most of hers over the years. Her husband, Gary, would say “if you could make shoes, we wouldn’t have to buy anything”. She also did clerical work at the Evans Delivery Co, Bel-Tone Hearing Aide Co and the Redco office in Pottsville where she learned to do data entry on a computer. In 1990, she worked as a census taker. Sometimes, Caroline would end up working at the same factory as a family member. I am told she worked at the Danville leisure wear factory in Frackville with her daughter in law’s mother and aunt, with her daughter Janice in Pottsville and in New Philadelphia with her sister, Lois.

Typical Garment factory floor

An old factory building in Pottsville that Caroline was supposed to have worked in,

at 14^th & W. Market Sts. From Google Earth

These are examples of Piece Work sheets from the Meyer Weiss blouse factory at 14th & Market Sts. in Pottsville. Caroline may have filled these out to show how many pieces she sewed each day.

In her leisure time, in addition to sewing, Caroline enjoyed knitting and a little cross stitch and crochet work. She was known in the family as being able to grow any houseplant. African Violets were a favorite.

In1968, their children began getting married and adding grandchildren to the family. So began a whole new chapter in their lives. They enjoyed their growing family, as well as traveling to such places as Salt Lake City Utah, Quebec, Holland Michigan, Rhinebeck New York, Washington DC, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, New England, Arizona, Virginia, Florida, and Hawaii. They also enjoyed attending the many school and sporting events that their grandchildren participated in, with graduations being extra special occasions. They never missed anyone’s birthday and always sent a card or gave a gift. Holidays were always special times for Gary & Caroline, when all of their children and grandchildren would gather and catch up with each other. There were picnics on Memorial Day and the Fourth of July. Thanksgiving became a major undertaking as the family grew larger and larger, with tables stretching into two rooms until there was no longer room for everyone at their house on Pottsville Street. The dinner was then moved to Holly’s home, which was much larger and gave the family a few more years of being able to gather together. Finally, a hall was needed to accommodate everyone. As each child’s families grew, the tradition ended, but many memories were made.

Christmas was the other major family gathering. Almost everyone would gather at Gary & Carolines home to exchange gifts and have a light dinner. Sometimes two gatherings were necessary as Thomas lived out of town and was not always able to come home on Christmas Day. The family spread out all over the house with wrapping paper and gifts strewn about, children underfoot, and not an empty seat to be found anywhere. Unfortunately, illness began to take its toll on Caroline and soon Gary found himself without his life’s companion. Caroline passed away at St Joseph’s Hospital in Reading, Pa. in 2002. He survived with the help of his children, but finally joined Caroline in 2005 after almost 3 1/2 years of loneliness. Despite all the adversity and struggles in their lives, they had a true love for each other and their family. Final resting place is Fort Indiantown Gap National Cemetery in Annville, PA.