The day before Christmas, 1900, Willard was born, and was his parents pride and joy, and his Uncle Sam's, too. Uncle Sam dearly loved all children and his greatest joy was to get them on his lap and sing "Ten Little Indians" over and over until they fell into slumberland, -and they always did.
Willard was almost 3 when his sister Faye was born. He sat in his rocking chair and asked to "rock his baby sister," and he did. The bond that existed between them was formed then and lasted throughout their lives. Once Faye was promised a spanking for something she had done, and Willard said "Mama, spank me. It hurts sister and it doesn't hurt me." His children remember him as being just as tender-hearted with them.
When Willard was 6 or 7 years old he had rhuematic fever. It damaged his heart and effected his health for his whole life. At the time the family lived on the Bowman Farm in Illinois.
After the 8th grade, Willard was ready to go on to high school but since the family lived 10 miles from it, (too far away for him to walk each day) he stayed in the same school and attended the 8th grade again. The next year, Lucy made arrangements for him to stay all week in a boarding house that was run by a friend of hers. He would leave monday morning on the interurban railroad and come home Friday evening. He became the woman's errand boy, going to the store, etc.and enjoyed every minute. His folks always let him bring a friend back home with him on Fridays when he wanted to without even asking first. She always had plenty of food fixed and the city boys really enjoyed it.
The high school he attended in Alton burned down with all of the school records, so, though Willard never graduated, he always said he did. With his knowledge and intelligence, no one ever questioned it.
Willard and Faye took piano lessons from a good teacher. After a few lessons she told his mother that it was a waste of time & money to have Willard take lessons because when he heard a piece played twice he could play it.He had an ear for music & played it with few mistakes.
When Willard came back to Jenks after selling his lunch stand and going to Illinois he and his cousin, Maymes brother, decided to go to Kansas to work in the harvest field. He found another job there and worked awhile before coming back again to Jenks and starting another lunch room. This time it was a larger place and people came inside.
Willard worked in the Tulsa Book Store (State depository school books) from late 1922 to April of 1923, and was warmly recommended by J.H.Spratt, the proprietor, stating that he was honest & reliable.
Vi and Willard started dating in the fall of 1928 in Jenks OK. They split up in 1930.
Willard worked for the Baltimore & Ohio railroad but was 'furloughed' permanently, during the Depression. He was hired by Phillips Petroleum Co in Bartlesville, OK in October of 1933. He lived in rooming houses in Bartlesville and ate at Shafs just north of Methodist Church on Johnstone.
Vi and Willard patched it up in about 1935. They were married in 1938 and lived in a house on Keeler with Ernon Hatheway
On Wednesday, July 31, 1968, Willard had a stroke that wasn't diagnosed until late that evening. He died on Wednesday, Aug. 7 1968.
Willard was almost 3 when his sister Faye was born. He sat in his rocking chair and asked to "rock his baby sister," and he did. The bond that existed between them was formed then and lasted throughout their lives. Once Faye was promised a spanking for something she had done, and Willard said "Mama, spank me. It hurts sister and it doesn't hurt me." His children remember him as being just as tender-hearted with them.
When Willard was 6 or 7 years old he had rhuematic fever. It damaged his heart and effected his health for his whole life. At the time the family lived on the Bowman Farm in Illinois.
After the 8th grade, Willard was ready to go on to high school but since the family lived 10 miles from it, (too far away for him to walk each day) he stayed in the same school and attended the 8th grade again. The next year, Lucy made arrangements for him to stay all week in a boarding house that was run by a friend of hers. He would leave monday morning on the interurban railroad and come home Friday evening. He became the woman's errand boy, going to the store, etc.and enjoyed every minute. His folks always let him bring a friend back home with him on Fridays when he wanted to without even asking first. She always had plenty of food fixed and the city boys really enjoyed it.
The high school he attended in Alton burned down with all of the school records, so, though Willard never graduated, he always said he did. With his knowledge and intelligence, no one ever questioned it.
Willard and Faye took piano lessons from a good teacher. After a few lessons she told his mother that it was a waste of time & money to have Willard take lessons because when he heard a piece played twice he could play it.He had an ear for music & played it with few mistakes.
When Willard came back to Jenks after selling his lunch stand and going to Illinois he and his cousin, Maymes brother, decided to go to Kansas to work in the harvest field. He found another job there and worked awhile before coming back again to Jenks and starting another lunch room. This time it was a larger place and people came inside.
Willard worked in the Tulsa Book Store (State depository school books) from late 1922 to April of 1923, and was warmly recommended by J.H.Spratt, the proprietor, stating that he was honest & reliable.
Vi and Willard started dating in the fall of 1928 in Jenks OK. They split up in 1930.
Willard worked for the Baltimore & Ohio railroad but was 'furloughed' permanently, during the Depression. He was hired by Phillips Petroleum Co in Bartlesville, OK in October of 1933. He lived in rooming houses in Bartlesville and ate at Shafs just north of Methodist Church on Johnstone.
Vi and Willard patched it up in about 1935. They were married in 1938 and lived in a house on Keeler with Ernon Hatheway
On Wednesday, July 31, 1968, Willard had a stroke that wasn't diagnosed until late that evening. He died on Wednesday, Aug. 7 1968.
The day before Christmas, 1900, Willard was born, and was his parents pride and joy, and his Uncle Sam's, too. Uncle Sam dearly loved all children and his greatest joy was to get them on his lap and sing "Ten Little Indians" over and over until they fell into slumberland, -and they always did.
Willard was almost 3 when his sister Faye was born. He sat in his rocking chair and asked to "rock his baby sister," and he did. The bond that existed between them was formed then and lasted throughout their lives. Once Faye was promised a spanking for something she had done, and Willard said "Mama, spank me. It hurts sister and it doesn't hurt me." His children remember him as being just as tender-hearted with them.
When Willard was 6 or 7 years old he had rhuematic fever. It damaged his heart and effected his health for his whole life. At the time the family lived on the Bowman Farm in Illinois.
After the 8th grade, Willard was ready to go on to high school but since the family lived 10 miles from it, (too far away for him to walk each day) he stayed in the same school and attended the 8th grade again. The next year, Lucy made arrangements for him to stay all week in a boarding house that was run by a friend of hers. He would leave monday morning on the interurban railroad and come home Friday evening. He became the woman's errand boy, going to the store, etc.and enjoyed every minute. His folks always let him bring a friend back home with him on Fridays when he wanted to without even asking first. She always had plenty of food fixed and the city boys really enjoyed it.
The high school he attended in Alton burned down with all of the school records, so, though Willard never graduated, he always said he did. With his knowledge and intelligence, no one ever questioned it.
Willard and Faye took piano lessons from a good teacher. After a few lessons she told his mother that it was a waste of time & money to have Willard take lessons because when he heard a piece played twice he could play it.He had an ear for music & played it with few mistakes.
When Willard came back to Jenks after selling his lunch stand and going to Illinois he and his cousin, Maymes brother, decided to go to Kansas to work in the harvest field. He found another job there and worked awhile before coming back again to Jenks and starting another lunch room. This time it was a larger place and people came inside.
Willard worked in the Tulsa Book Store (State depository school books) from late 1922 to April of 1923, and was warmly recommended by J.H.Spratt, the proprietor, stating that he was honest & reliable.
Vi and Willard started dating in the fall of 1928 in Jenks OK. They split up in 1930.
Willard worked for the Baltimore & Ohio railroad but was 'furloughed' permanently, during the Depression. He was hired by Phillips Petroleum Co in Bartlesville, OK in October of 1933. He lived in rooming houses in Bartlesville and ate at Shafs just north of Methodist Church on Johnstone.
Vi and Willard patched it up in about 1935. They were married in 1938 and lived in a house on Keeler with Ernon Hatheway
On Wednesday, July 31, 1968, Willard had a stroke that wasn't diagnosed until late that evening. He died on Wednesday, Aug. 7 1968.
Willard was almost 3 when his sister Faye was born. He sat in his rocking chair and asked to "rock his baby sister," and he did. The bond that existed between them was formed then and lasted throughout their lives. Once Faye was promised a spanking for something she had done, and Willard said "Mama, spank me. It hurts sister and it doesn't hurt me." His children remember him as being just as tender-hearted with them.
When Willard was 6 or 7 years old he had rhuematic fever. It damaged his heart and effected his health for his whole life. At the time the family lived on the Bowman Farm in Illinois.
After the 8th grade, Willard was ready to go on to high school but since the family lived 10 miles from it, (too far away for him to walk each day) he stayed in the same school and attended the 8th grade again. The next year, Lucy made arrangements for him to stay all week in a boarding house that was run by a friend of hers. He would leave monday morning on the interurban railroad and come home Friday evening. He became the woman's errand boy, going to the store, etc.and enjoyed every minute. His folks always let him bring a friend back home with him on Fridays when he wanted to without even asking first. She always had plenty of food fixed and the city boys really enjoyed it.
The high school he attended in Alton burned down with all of the school records, so, though Willard never graduated, he always said he did. With his knowledge and intelligence, no one ever questioned it.
Willard and Faye took piano lessons from a good teacher. After a few lessons she told his mother that it was a waste of time & money to have Willard take lessons because when he heard a piece played twice he could play it.He had an ear for music & played it with few mistakes.
When Willard came back to Jenks after selling his lunch stand and going to Illinois he and his cousin, Maymes brother, decided to go to Kansas to work in the harvest field. He found another job there and worked awhile before coming back again to Jenks and starting another lunch room. This time it was a larger place and people came inside.
Willard worked in the Tulsa Book Store (State depository school books) from late 1922 to April of 1923, and was warmly recommended by J.H.Spratt, the proprietor, stating that he was honest & reliable.
Vi and Willard started dating in the fall of 1928 in Jenks OK. They split up in 1930.
Willard worked for the Baltimore & Ohio railroad but was 'furloughed' permanently, during the Depression. He was hired by Phillips Petroleum Co in Bartlesville, OK in October of 1933. He lived in rooming houses in Bartlesville and ate at Shafs just north of Methodist Church on Johnstone.
Vi and Willard patched it up in about 1935. They were married in 1938 and lived in a house on Keeler with Ernon Hatheway
On Wednesday, July 31, 1968, Willard had a stroke that wasn't diagnosed until late that evening. He died on Wednesday, Aug. 7 1968.
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