Nana and Rolla

Spring is finally making an appearance.  Nana often talks about the spring of 1944 when she was in Rolla, Missouri, where Daddy was stationed with the Army after being transferred from Austin, Texas .  Although the spring was nice, Rolla was totally different when she arrived there in February.  Nana wrote a story about her experience and she says it best....

February 1944 Austin to Ozarks

I went from Austin, Texas to Rolla, Missouri in February of 1944.  There had never been a snow storm so deep on Rt. 66 as the one that happened the first night I got to Rolla.  I had rented a cabin out in the country but because of the snow storm, I spent my first night in Missouri in a hotel room.  When I traveled to my cabin it was very cold, not like the warm Texas weather.  All I had with me were my summer clothes.  The cabin had a wood stove for heat so I had to split wood to start a fire.  The only wood left when I got there was green wood and it would not burn.  I was so cold.  After a while, my sister from Pennsylvania sent me some winter clothes.

My cabin was not close to town and I had no way to get to town.  My landlady had a store for those of us out in the country to get groceries. On Wednesday nights, my landlady took me with her on the highway to Newburg to go to church.   The pastor there came in from town so that "us country people" could have a church service.

By spring the weather was warmer.  On weekends, Stan and I took a walk on a path in the Ozark Mountains.  The Ozarks were very nice.

By July, Stan was called overseas in battle for World War II.  He was sent to Italy.  I went back home to PA to stay for the November arrival of our first baby.  On November 19, 1944, Wayne Eugene Rhone arrived at The Williamsport Hospital.

Written by Deanie Rhone May 11, 2011 

It's been seventy years since Nana spent the spring in Rolla.  That brave young girl who had to move for the second time in less than a year to a town where she didn't know anyone, who had to split wood to stay warm, and who had to spend her weeks alone in a cabin in the woods - that girl is still alive in Nana today.

Today that bravery shows up by the way she lives independently at ninety years old.  Now her challenges are different but no less daunting.  Buttoning her blouse in the morning takes fifteen minutes because her arthritic fingers won't cooperate.  Changing the toilet paper roll holder requires surgery with her finger nail file because her hands are weak.  Flipping calender pages presents a struggle because her frame has shrunk to 4 feet 11 Inches.

Even with all the challenges, I don't think Nana would trade her independent life or that spring in Rolla.  

Sharon

As I've done posts about Bill, Wayne and myself, now it's Sharon's turn. Nana knows exactly why she chose Sharon's name.  In fact, she wrote a story about it a few years ago.

Precious Memories

by Deanie Rhone, March 2011

1943 – 1946

While living in Austin, Texas, my landlady found work for me.  It was 1943, World War II in full swing.  A Captain and his wife needed a baby sitter.  It was on a Saturday night and I went there, down Congress Avenue a long way and then to a side street where they lived.   The little girl was so sweet and her name was Sharon Kay.  It was a long evening and she was so nice for me.  Her parents got home late and no more buses were running so the Captain had to drive me to Nueces Street. 

Later in 1946 I had a sweet little baby girl and I named her Sharon Kay.

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I can't find any pictures of Sharon as a baby.  These are the earliest pictures I have.

Sharon 1950 (Check out the old car in the background!)

 

 Sharon, December 26, 1953

Looking young as ever with that same sweet smile!

Sharon, September 2013

 

Diane Birthday

I celebrated my 64th birthday on Saturday, December 21st.  Every year Nana tells me that I'm not a year older until supper time on the day of my birthday.  According to Nana, on that day in 1949, she told Dr. Persing that she thought she would be delivering soon.  He said, "No, I think I have time to go to supper."  Of course, Nana was right.  She tells me that a very nice nurse helped deliver me.  Dr. Persing didn't arrive until after I did. 

Nana also tells me every birthday that I kept her in the hospital for Christmas.  In those days, mother and baby stayed in the hospital for a week.  That meant Daddy and Grandma and Grandpa Rhone had to get the Christmas gifts ready for Wayne and Sharon. 

I don't have any pictures of me as an infant.  Below is a studio photo of me when I was about 2-3 years old.  I'm not sure how that happened because studio pictures were very expensive. Nana thinks Aunt Grace may have done that for us.  I  love that picture because I'm blond and have curly hair.  The dress is a pale pink dotted swiss with ruffles.  I think it's the best picture ever taken of me! 

Diane approx 2-3 years old

Diane May 2013 63 yrs. old

Wayne's Birthday

Wayne celebrated his 69th birthday this past week.  As with Bill, Nana has written a story about his birth.  She also told me he was born at 3:15pm in the afternoon.  She called Wayne at that exact time to wish him a Happy Birthday.  Here is the story Nana wrote:

In was November 19^th, 1944 in The Williamsport Hospital on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. I had our first baby, a little boy.  His dad was overseas, a soldier in Italy.  The doctor said, “Give me his address. I will call and tell him he has a son.” Later the doctor came back and said, “He’s in battle and I can’t reach him.  He is on the front lines.”

Then I cried so many tears I drowned the hospital.  The doctor said, “I will try something else.”  He left and later came back with good news.  He asked the Red Cross and they got through to him.  The doctor told me, “Your husband now knows he has a son.

Written by Deanie Rhone

March 12, 2011

Daddy was discharged from the Army in late October 1945.  He didn't get home until the beginning of November and that's the first time he saw his son.  Nana was so happy he made it home for Wayne's first birthday!

 Wayne - 9 months old - 1945

 Wayne - September 2013