This is my father’s family … sadly, I have less photos and less details overall about his side of my family tree. You can see that my father falls towards the end of his generation of siblings.
Tag: Family History
Parks Family Tree
For those who wanted a bit of family information here is a piece of my family tree. My mother was one of 11 … technically there were 13, but two never made it past the first week of life. There was a 22 year span from Frank to Donald (Donnie). The older four sons were fighting in WW II while the younger four were just starting elementary school. Except for the 5 year break between Louise and Robert (Bobby) because of the little ones who did not make it … most of the siblings were on average 15 months apart … with the one other exception … the five years between Edwin (Eddie) and Donald … I will let you fill in that blank.
Bill’s Second Letter
Bill’s Thank You Note
My dad did a better job of writing his Thank You to my maternal grandparents than I did in posting his note, but better out of order than never … that’s the quote … right!?!
Frank … A Letter Home
Bill’s First Letter
Sweet Sixteen
As I mentioned, my future parents, Bernice Parks and William (Bill) Huntley met 76 years ago this month in July 1940.
Planning the Visit …
July 1940 Recollections …
In July of 1940, as my future parents are planning to meet, the world … or at least Europe is at war.
The weekend that my parent’s first meet was Saturday, the 20th and Sunday, the 21st of July. While my parent’s were frolicking at Dorney Park … the exiled Czech government arrived in London. And during the month of July, the Battle of Britain began with Luftwaffe raids on channel shipping … as well as attacks on Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Yesterday, I was speaking to my Aunt Lucille, who is now 93 and still a smart gal … looking forward to our first woman president, Hillary Rodham Clinton … but I digress …. Aunt Lucy was recalling her double date with Charley Daniels and my future parents, Bill Huntley and Bernice Parks. Over the course of the weekend they went on a plane ride over Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton … she said how exciting that was because they had never been in a plane before; they took a hike up to Big Rock and they went to Dorney Park – the Disneyland of Allentown, PA. She said how Bernice was so nervous about dating this handsome Marine officer that as she exited the roller coaster she accidentally hit her head and a rather large bump appeared on her forehead. I imagine that was quite the impression!
Bernice – 1939
In February of 1939, my mother-to-be was 14. Here she is on the left … on the right is her big sister, Lucille.
Bernice & Lucille
Bill and Frank
As I mentioned, my father and uncle joined the Marines on the same day in February of 1939. They obviously became buddies and shared stories about their respective families. Both came from rather large families – my mom being one of 11 and my dad one of 8.
They were stationed in Quantico, Virginia. Being located only 4 or 5 hours away from my grandparent’s, Harry and Mabel Parks, home in Allentown, Pennsylvania I guess they discussed a visit by my dad. And after a reasonable amount of time … or about two years … my dad and another Marine buddy, Charley Daniels, planned a visit in July with plans to have a double date with my mom and Aunt Lucy.