Sisters

October 26, 2019 / Gail Grunst Genealogy / 1 Comment

Frances and Helen Bowers

This is the earliest picture I can find of my grandmother, Helen Bowers. It was taken around 1904 when she was about 5 years old. My grandmother is on the right and the one on the left is her sister Frances. Frances was 14 months younger than Helen. Frances looks to be about the same size as Helen. When they were fully grown Frances was the taller of the two. Frances had lighter hair than Helen, and Helen had brown eyes whereas Frances had grey eyes. Helen was the better cook of the two, however Frances was the better seamstress. Frances was the tomboy and Helen was the little lady. They remained close throughout their lives. Frances passed away first on 13 July 1971, and Helen passed away 10 years later on 9 February 1981. I love this picture of the two of them. I loved them both and still miss them.

The Hawaii Years 1954 – 1955

October 14, 2019 / Gail Grunst Genealogy / Leave a comment

Russell in Hawaii in 1954

This is a picture of my Uncle Russ when he was stationed in Hawaii at Hickam Field from February 1954 to October 1955. He loved photography and was pretty good at it. Most of his pictures from Hawaii were on slides. I thought they were beautiful. Unfortunately I do not have them. In the 1980’s he was living in Arizona and and moved back to Illinois. He left the slides with some friends who were suppose to send them, but never did. So I am afraid they are lost forever now. I remember he sent me a doll and a grass skirt from Hawaii. In the picture he has the camera around his neck. I love his crew cut and he wore his hair that way for many, many years after he was discharged from the Navy.

My son loves photography too and inherited some of his camera’s and lenses. Below are a couple of more pictures from the Hawaii years. In the one picture he has his camera in his hand. Uncle Russ married three times and divorced three times. He never had any children. After the last marriage and divorce he said he was done and never married again. He lived alone and became somewhat of a hermit in his old age. Uncle Russ passed away on October 4, 2011 at the the age of 80 years, three months, and six days. We all love and miss him. RIP Uncle Russ!

Uncle Russ in Navy

Uncle Russ in Hawaii Nov 1954

My Mother the Reader

September 12, 2019 / Gail Grunst Genealogy / 1 Comment

Russ, Spot, and Dorothy

I love this picture of my uncle and his dog Spot with my mother reading in the chair. My mother always had her nose in a book. I think she is reason I love reading. I remember her reading to me when I was a very young child. Every Friday we would go grocery shopping, and she would let me pick out one of the Little Golden Books from the wire spindal rack for 25 cents. I couldn’t wait to get home to have her read it to me. I had a big collection of those books and wish I still had them. When I got older she would recommend books for me to read. The one that has stuck with me is Mrs Mike by Benedict Freedman. I have read that book several times. It is one of my all-time favorite books. She took me to the library, showed me how to use it back in the days of card catalogs, and she made sure that I had a library card. She blessed me with the gift of reading, and it is because of her that I am an avid reader today. I always have a book around to read. My love for reading is the reason that I ended up working in a library for 30 years. I hope I passed that love for reading down to my children.

By the way, September is “Library Card Sign-up month”. Do you have your library card?

Note: If you don’t know what a Little Golden Book is, I provided a link above to their website. They are celebrating 75 years of publishing and provide a short video of their history.

Buster’s First Car

September 4, 2019 / Gail Grunst Genealogy / Leave a comment

Russ (Buster) and his first car

This is a picture of my Uncle Russ in 1936 with his first car. Seeing this picture started me thinking about my uncle and his cars. He loved convertibles and had several throughout his life. His first convertible was the best. It was a red and white 1957 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner hardtop-convertible. I remember the day, he bought it. My father and I went to the dealership with him. I don’t think he went in with the intention of buying it. He just wanted to buy a car. The salesman showed us this red and white hardtop-convertible. When I saw it, I immediately wanted him to buy it. We sat there for what seemed like an eternity to a 10 year old, while he thought it over. I kept thinking what is the problem? Just buy it! I don’t know how much time really past, but my father did say that it took him a long time to decide. It was a very unique car and drew attention wherever you went. I remember that you had to be on a flat even surface for the top to go up or down. If it suddenly started to rain, you had to drive to a level spot to put the top up. Sounds easy, but it wasn’t always easy to find a level spot. The slightest incline and it would not go up.

From: Bristol Courier News, Bristal Pennsylvania, December20, 1956

I found this ad in the NewspaperAchives.com. I tried to find a picture of his car, but I couldn’t find one. I can’t believe no one ever took a picture of it. At the time everyone was into slides and unfortunately the slides were left in an attic in Arizona when my uncle moved. So maybe that is why I have no photos of it. For those who are too young to remember, I provided a link below.

1957 Ford hardtop convertable

Family Tales from Gail

My pastime is past time

Family Pictures

Sisters

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The Hawaii Years 1954 – 1955

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Buster’s First Car

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