Welcome to the 1992 Newsletter for
the A. B. Barthle family!
1992 NEWSLETTLER
Here it is the fall of 1992 and time for an update of who’s where and who’s new. This year has been for some of us very exciting with additions to our family (getting married and having babies) and moving because of jobs and career opportunities.
ABOUT MOM!!!!
As most of you know, she is suffering from dementia (probably Alzheimer’s) and is now staying at the Dade City Geriatrics Center. In early summer it became evident that her needs were on longer being met at the Edwinola. Various alternative living arrangements were checked out and in mid-July she went to stay in a private home in Tampa. She had a seizure (which was probably a slight stroke) about a week after she went to Tampa and had to be hospitalized for several days while tests were run. Four days after her discharge, she suffered another seizure and was once again rushed to the hospital. It became apparent she needed a nursing home with 24-hour nursing care. So, since August 3, she has been at the Geriatrics Center. In mid-September, she suffered another seizure (an apparent stroke--although she is unable to undergo a CT scan without sedation in to confirm the suspected diagnosis) which left her with right-sided weakness. She has had considerable recovery at this time although her speech is still quite impaired and she has limited use of her right hand. She is able to walk assisted pushing her wheelchair quite a distance. She enjoys visits from family, especially Cinda’s weekly Saturday visits. Mom celebrated her 81st birthday on October 15th and she received a beautiful card and note from Aunt Hilda. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers. -Melda
FROM MARGIE:
To begin with I want every one to know some of the things we do as a family. Everyone’s birthday is celebrated here, usually with a get-together cookout on a Sunday, when it is most convenient for everyone, During the summer everyone comes by to swim as often as possible, The kids sometimes everyday, All holidays we have a feast with everyone pitching in with the meal. For several years now, during the Christmas Season we have had a family semi-formal dinner here. We set a table with linen, silver, candles, etc. Coats and ties are not required, but jeans are out. Unmarried adults may invite a guest. On the Sunday before Labor Day each year, the “Denny Family Reunion” is held here with a covered dish meal and then swimming and a “Horseshoe Tournament” with trophies for the winners. Renee’s office party has been here for the past three years.
Jimmy resigned from T. G. Lee Foods in early March, He started out his new career by finishing the workshop he was building, gardening, working in the grove, cooking dinner several times a week, fishing, etc. After putting up the spring garden of beans, squash, peas, okra, he started raising and selling peanuts, He is helping Duane & Kathleen two days a week now. My career has not changed other than I’m enjoying the help around the house. This allows me to sew of read, etc.
Steve, Mae, and Christopher have fought a van that pulls their camper better than the truck does, therefore, they are camping every chance they get. They have found several new places this year. One is near the Suwanee River. Lori (Mae’s daughter) has finisher her training for EMT fire fighting and is working with the Pasco County Fire Rescue. She really enjoys this. She also works part time for a jewelry store.
Renee and Clark Converse were married this on November 11th. Renee is still working at the Pasco County Data Processing Center and Clark is still with Ogden Martin Systems. In September they bought a new double-wide mobile home. They are working to get everything in it’s place both inside and out. jenny and Jessica are happy to each have their own bedroom.. This past summer, Jennifer spent a lot of time water shiing (barefoot). She brought home several nice trophies. She also qualified and competed in the National Barefoot competition. Jessica make her Fist communion this spring. She is still in Girl Scouts and has joined 4-H this year. She is going to get a rabbit soon for her project.
Mary Beth has continued selling jewelry. In early December of last year in Davie, (near Ft. Lauderdale), she was at one of her customer’s stores when a gang broke into her car and stole her samples, etc. Because of the damage to her car and (186,000+miles) she has a new Town Car. The company she represents sent her to San Diego to the fall Jewelry show in August. This year her sales rank in the top ten of the company. She and Gene (Lambert) are planning a trip in the next few weeks. Their sales season will be ending soon, gene also sells jewelry. He has a much larger territory, Florida, Georgia, and the Carolina’s. Mary Beth covers the state of Florida except for the panhandle.
Duane and Kathleen have had a lot of changes this year, too. Jake was born in July. Bret is really proud of his brother. Duane resigned from Winn Dixie this year. Effective October 1, he and Kathleen bought the Farm Basket Market with 5 acres of land north Dade City on Hwy 301. Kathleen is helping him at the store every day except one each week. This gives Bret time at Sacred Heart Child Center to play with his friends. Jake stays with Donna (Fenton) Blommel during the time Kathleen in working at the store.
FROM LISA:
Mom is still in school and hopes to graduate in December. She not looking forward to being in the job market for the first time at her age. We kids have no doubt it will all work out.
Alan is still at TWA despite some big problems this past year. Becca is now four and is still swimming and has added ballet and tap lessons besides. All you people out there with more than one kid, “HOW DO YOU DO IT?” I began working part time last March for Goulet Computer Consultants. The work is seasonal March thru November and I recuperate the rest of the time, I think!
Teresa, Jessica and Caleb moved in with mom in April. Teresa is still home schooling Jessica (third grade) and Caleb (first grade) they are all doing great.
Mike and Sandra moved out of their trailer sometime before hurricane Andrew nit South Florida. They have moved in with Sandra’s mom in Carol city while they renovate and remodel their newly purchased home in the same neighborhood.
Melinda and Jimmy are very excited to report that a new little one is on the way, due to arrive March 12, 1993 Melinda had about three months to morning sickness and says that was enough! They come to visit Alan, Becca and I in early October to see the beautiful foliage. There really isn’t anything quite like it.
Let’s see....What has Bonnie been up to...She married Michael Webb February 14, this year, bought a house about the same time, and had a beautiful little girl named Rachel on October 26. She’s had a rather uneventful year I’d say!! Oh yes, she’s says Mike is having the next one!
Sam lost his job early last year and is still looking for work. Kyle just turned one and Sam’s answer to whether Kyle is a chip off the old block is “He’s a skinny chip off the old block”. Carlene is continuing her education and works part time taking care of an elderly woman.
Fred did get married last December 14(I Guess it wasn’t just a rumor) to Janet Rebecca Danders. They now live across the highway from mom. They both work for Publix, She is a cashier, and he is working , of all places, in the dairy processing department.
Our love to you all wherever you may be and God Bless you always!
FROM JOAN:
Clem and I are still trying to make a living from the grove caretaking business. Tight now, the price of orange juice is so low that I don’t know how things will fare for the next year. So far we have been able to keep our bills paid. We have been planting some exotic banana plants we had shipped in from California. It will be interesting to see what we have. We also have quite a few fresh herbs planted and are spoiled for using the ones from the grocery store. We have Oregano, Lemon Basil, Sweet Basil, Purple Basil, Sage, Pineapple Sage, Parsley, Thyme, Rosemary, Spearmint, Tarragon, Dill and Chives. Also we have a lot of onions planted. Clem also has a variety of hot peppers. We put up over one hundred pints of onion relish from vidalia onions we had planted last January. Clem has put up some Salsa and Pepper jelly, too. I’m hoping to be able to make some pomegranate jelly for Thanksgiving. Maybe this weekend.
In March, I think, Mike had to go to England and the North Sea for his reserve duty. He was gone for about two and one-half weeks. He come home through Copenhagen. so he bought his girls statues of the little mermaid. When he got back to Newport News, he started his new job with Newport News Shipbuilding, He now is manager, Naval Marketing and spends a good deal of time in Washington D. C. lobbying congress and the Defense Department for shipbuilding. Then in the summer, Mike was promoted in the Naval Reserve to Lieutenant commander. He, Nancy and the girls came to Florida in August the some time that Brian and Vicki were here. They came in Nancy’s parents motor home. On the way down here they spent time in Atlanta. Went to see the Braves play ball, (Braves lost) But Sarah and Caroline really enjoyed the ball game. While there in Atlanta they saw Cinda and stayed in her condo, thanks again, Cinda. Sarah was in “Sound of Music” in April. She played the part of the youngest girl. They were unable to take a video of the play so we didn’t get to see it. Caroline started pre-school this year and really likes it. While I was up there, I gave her a picture of John, whom she met and adored while they were here in August, and a picture of baby Jennifer and I to take to show and tell, that really gave her a thrill. She said that everybody liked the pictures.
Bernie and Jennifer flew down to see us the last weekend of January, When Susan was sent to Orlando for a Army conference, She got to stay the weekend. We really had a good time that weekend. I promised Jennifer then that every weekend was not as hectic as the ones she had been here. That one day she would see that we did have normal weekends. Jennifer thought that she might be pregnant, But wasn’t sure so didn’t say anything. They called us the next week and told us the good news. They came again to see us in June for Jennifer’s Birthday, That weekend was the first time Jennifer had saw the old home when there was nothing going on. Then in August Bernie earned his Multi-engine rating so he flew the twin engine plane home to be with us when Mike and Brian were here. Matthew Charles was born on October 7, 1992. He was 9 Lb., 2.2 oz. They are coming next week for Thanksgiving.
Tim is still a FSU in Tallahassee, He cames home once a month for Air Force Reserve duty at McDill. He usually comes in on Friday night and then goes to McDill on Saturday morning. some weekend he stops back by on Sunday evening and goes back to Tallahassee on Monday morning-depending on how he feels and how traffic is doing. He was here over the weekend of Nov, 6th and 7th and he did stay over Sunday night. He went back to Tallahassee Monday and was working in the lab and dropped a cylinder of liquid nitrogen on his big toe and has to hairline fracture.. So he is walking with a cane for the next few weeks. He, also will be here for Thanksgiving but will leave on Friday as he has his big test the following week.
Susan called us about the 20th of January and gave us her good news. As I said before, she was sent to Atlanta and Orlando for conferences for the Army on the after action report of Desert storm. She was with us for that weekend. That same weekend Clem;s sister Leona and her husband Al dropped in on Sunday morning. They stayed for a couple of hours and we really had a good time, then on September 10, Susan had Jennifer Renee who weighed in at 7 Lb, 10 oz. I went to Newport News for four days to be with her and the baby. Jennifer is really a pretty baby but then I’, prejudiced. I spent some time with Mike and Nancy on Sunday and then went to spend Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday morning with Susan and Michael. Michael’s parents were there too so I met then for the first time. Wednesday afternoon Nancy took me to see her grandparents down in Franklin, Va and I came home on Thursday, It was a short trip but was very enjoyable, Susan and Michael are due here next week for Thanksgiving, too.
Dean is still a Wright-Patterson A.F.B. working in research and development. He and Ann (his girl friend from Cleveland) went to Newport News to see Susan and Michael and Mike and Nancy over labor day. They just missed being there when Susan had Jennifer.. For his Memorial Day trip, his young adults group went to Myrtle Beach. he said they really had a good time. He will be here for Christmas.
Early in 1992, January or February, I think, Brian was promoted to First Lieutenant in the Air Force. He and Vicki are still in California at Mather A.F.B. They are expecting a baby in late December. Heres hoping it arrives on time and is healthy. John is getting big They were all here in late August the week of hurricane Andrew in South Florida
The week after Easter this year, we lost “Gus”, our Golden Lab, the same time, the dam (down by Clem’s Mom’s house) developed a sink hole and drained. That took with it all the good fish we had in there. It has come back up and then will open up again, that really was a heartbreaker.
In May, Clem’s brother-in-law, Robert Stewart. Ruth’s husband died. He had a rare blood disease. He was 54 years old.
Our love to all. A special thanks to Sara Webster for her great birthday letter. Sorry, Sara, that I haven’t answered yet, maybe this will suffice. LOVE JOAN
PS-In Oct the “old St. Joe Store”(Tommy Store) was torn down.
FROM CONNIE:
This year David accepted a job with Hillsborough Count Utility Department checking and maintaining fire hydrants. Some of the things he has encountered when locating meters has been ants & snakes. He’s been with the county since Feb.
Since mom hasn’t required as much of my time since she left the Edwinola I have gotten more involved with being the full time Grandma with Tiffany and Chris. I’m also baby-sitting another baby boy. Tight now Tiffany is 4 months and the boy is 2 months old. So I am busy and I’ve cut down my hours with RGIS to only weekends.
Marie and Tim’s Family had an addition to it this year Tiffany Lynn- born July 20, 1992.
Joe and Cheri made a move from upstairs to downstairs. Now they are in apt 13-B. They are expecting a new arrival due in December of this year, a girl(Nicole Renee”).
Jerry and Kelly are expecting a new addition to their family in May of next year.
So out family is growing fast at this time.
Kathy and her boyfriend, Kelly Himes have bought a house in the Turtle Lakes subdivision just down the road on hi-way 54. They are now at: 1527 Foggy Ridge Parkway Lutz, Fl. 33549
Thom has had some major moves this year. He went in the Marines in March, completed basic training in June, went to Camp LaJune, N. C. for advanced training, then to Fort Lee, Va for basic Fuel Specialty school and in Oct he went to his duty station in TwentyNine Palms Calif. (He spent Thanksgiving with Barbara, Dan and family).
His address is
“PFC Carr. T.D.
590-05-5736
MWSS 173 Fuels
MCAGCC Box 788285
Twentynine Palms, Ca. 92278-8285
FROM BARBARA:
We (Dan & I) are just working at the same old jobs we have had for years. I also take a college class once a week through U. C. Santa Barbara extension program. Dan stays very busy with woodworking & everyone’s cars. We did take a weekend trip to Laughlin Nevada(on the Colorado River) this past spring, a short trip to Reno Nevada this summer, two days in San Diego where we spent a day at SeaWorld with Aunt Polly, then this fall Ralph and Paula came out to Long Beach where we were able to visit and take in a baseball game (Angels & Twins) with them and for the last trip we went to Oxnard California(just south of Santa Barbara) to meet with the CEO of Grumman for Dan to receive his twenty-five year gold watch. It was a wonderful dinner at a plush resort hotel. Dan was very proud & so was I.
Lauie was discharged from the army in Feb but she took terminal leave starting in January. She drove to Florida to get Danny before heading home to California. It took about a week to come cross-county.
She then first was working part time at a beauty parlor, and has joined the California “National Guard” just in time to spend about two weeks in LA for the “King Riots” then two week’s of summer camp at San Luis Obispo, Cal. In late September she went to work for the local cable(TV) company. She also goes to collage two nights a week.
Nicholas come out here last November before Laurie got out of the army because of her month long “desert training” at ‘’Fort Irwin here in California (near Barstow-that is a two hour drive from here). He was happy to see her some home. Nicholas turned two in September and has a “badcase” of the terrible twos.
Danny went to Florida around the first of January so he could spend a week of fishing and visiting in St Joe before Laurie picked him up for the trip back home. He worked part time at a night club until late summer when the club closed. He is going to the local Jr. collage this fall. His daughter Briana moved to Idaho this year, she turned 5 in march, we do not hear from her very much.
We will all be together for the holidays for the first time in four years including Nick’s dad who will fly out here on the 29th, GREAT!!
We all miss being around family and wish we lived closer to Florida. We wish each and everyone a happy and safe holiday season.
PS-All of us here were pulling for the Braves too!
FROM CINDA:
Well, what a year it has been! The biggest surprise of all, of course, was “meeting” and marrying Ben Rawlings. Ben also works at Delta and was introduced” by a mutual friend. The nicest things happen when you least expect them. Ben and I spent out late April Honeymoon in the North Georgia/North Carolina mountains, and we took a short Maine holiday in Mid-June with Ben’s two daughters, Lexi and Becky. Otherwise, our travel has been mostly to Florida on Saturdays.
I’m really looking forward to my new family at Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. It’s so neat to have regular cooked meals at a table in the evenings!
Delta is going through a lot of re-structuring (as with most businesses these days). Ben and I have new work assignments in the past few months. Ben is working with a large project to re-engineer automation of our Finance Division, and I’ve recently begun work on an effort to re-engineer automation of the administrative side of our Airport Customer Service Division.
Ben’s older daughter, Alexa, is a senior mechanical engineering student at Georgia Tech. She co-ops every other quarter for Georgia Power company. She is staying at the downtown condo this quarter, so working at Ga Power is only a two block walk! Ben’s younger daughter, Becky is a sophomore at Woodward Academy this year. The three of us live in Jonesboro (approximately 30 min south of downtown on I-75)
From all the Rawlings, we wish all of you a very happy and safe holiday season.
PS- as for the Braves ...well, there’s always next year!!
FROM MELDA:
Jack and I both continue with our jobs and we are enjoying all the excitement of our teenagers and their activities. We managed to go to Atlanta over 4th of July and enjoyed visiting with Cinda and Ben and many of Jack’s relatives. We also was two Braves games--which are always exciting.
Rebecca has had a very busy year. She earned her private pilot certification August 19 and is a great pilot. she is filling out college applications and has traveled to Georgia Tech in Atlanta and the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, which are probably her two top choices for colleges at this point.
In May, Rob graduated from Most Holy Redeemer School and received many awards including the principal’s Citizenship Award. He is in his freshman year at Jesuit High School, is working and playing hard. He will be a ball boy again tins year for the University of South Florida Baskerbulls.--who has an exciting year in 1992 culmination in an NCAA tournament bid.
PS--Anyone that is wanting to send mom any mail/card I will be happy to take and read them to her, so just use my address(1312 w. Bearss Av. Tampa, Fl. 33613)
FROM MONICA:
Until Mid-July I was doing bookwork and billing for the law firm of Johnson, Auvil & Schrader, P.A., but then I was given the Real Estate Department, so I’m back to working longer hours again. We recently pocked up a Housing Group in Tampa that has been keeping me quite busy, and all of their work is in Carrolwood, (Tampa) so there is a little travel involved.
I started going to Pasco-Hernando Community College half-time in August. I will eventually get an AS in Computer Programming as well as an AA (it will take about three years!)
In August I bought a “new” for us second car. It is a 1986 Chrysler LeBaron, and is used almost exclusively by the girls for getting back and forth to school and work. Then on September 9th at about 7:00 in the morning, we discovered my van wasn’t in the yard. After a quick check with the girls to make sure they didn’t have a clue as to where it was. I called the sheriff’s department. The deputies come right over, make out the report, and told me that 70% of all stolen cars are recovered -- but the condition was not always good. I went on to work, and about 10:00 a.m. I Got a call from the San Antonio deputy that they had located a van in a grove at the of our street and it had been completely burned. They wanted me to come identify it. I was quite upset, but went to see. One glance, and I knew it wasn’t my van, although the baby seat and diaper bag from my van were thrown out near the burned van(so whoever had my van had burned this one)> I pretty much resolved that I would probably never see my van again. Then Friday afternoon about 4:15 I got a call from the Pasco County sheriff’s Department and was told they had recovered my van minus the tag. They told me to go get another tag and gave me instructions where I could pick my van up in Tampa, and the phone number. I got the tag and called the place was too late to give me an estimate on Friday, but they would call early Saturday and let me know how much it would cost to fix it. When the estimate came in it would be about $400 to pay the towing and the repair, so I said I would like to come see it. When I got there, I found out that you could start it with a screw driver or bottle opener, but you couldn’t use the key. So, I paid the towing charge, and now drive it using the bottle opener! (I have long been teased about it being a “ten can”!)
About three years ago I started walking three miles a day (I only manage to walk about twice a week now). Herman Schrader walks the some circuit I do and we started walking together some of the time. Although I didn’t plan to date after the divorce, Herman and I started dating in November two years age and we are still together. Herman is a local citrus farmer, a Catholic and is related all the people in ST. Joe and San Antonio that I’m not related to (and probably some of the people I am). He is excellent with the kids (on the nights I have school, he makes reading and say their prayers before they going sleep. He also enforces their 9:00 bedtime). Herman hunts elk in October in Colorado and in January or February he snow skis in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The past two years, we have gone scalloping near Crystal River over the Fourth of July weekend (which I find is great fun).
Shelley developed some problems early in the year which turned into pre-eclampsia, and eventually caused all sorts OF complications, but on May 5, 1992, Shelley had a beautiful baby boy (LUKE RYAN ZERANSKI). He is bright, alert and (like she was) very active! He is starting to crawl and pull himself up, and is starting to make sounds like Mama, Nanna, etc. He is learning to wave bye-bye, and I’m teaching him to do the Atlanta Braves chop! He’s got lots of attention with so many aunts and uncles on hand all the time.
Shelley graduated from Pasco Comprehensive High School June 12, 1992, and took the summer off of school. In August she stared going full time to Pasco Hernando Community College. She is also working part time for Huss Drilling (they do environmental drilling - like site wells), pulling permits from the different water management districts and she also does a lot of baby-sitting. She hopes to be an architect someday.
Natalie is a Junior in High School this year, and is doing very well. Her boyfriend, Frankie Holloway, graduated with Shelley, and joined the Navy. he is currently stationed in Orlando, but will be leaving shortly after the New Year for Great Lakes. He is studying electronics. Natalie plans To go to PHXCC after graduation and to go to school to become a Court Reporter.
Mandi is in the eight grade at Weightman Middle School. She played tennis in the spring and did very well. Over the Summer, Mandi was invited to go to Canada with Dr. Hugher and his family, She visited the Hughes’ relatives in Halifax, Sydney, St. Jovite, Quebec City and Montreal and visited such places as Atlantic City, Hilton Head Island, Cape Cod and Virginia Beach on the way back. It was a trip she will never forget. She is doing very well on school (as always) and is very interested in sports. She hopes to get a bicycle for Christmas so she can go riding with a neighbor of ours (Derek Wilkerson in a National Champion bicyclist for age group 13, and has been a champion at the state level since he was 9 years old.
Joseph is in the fourth grade at San Antonio Elementary School in a special class at school this year called “Project Child”. This class has third, fourth and fifth grade students and allows the children to progress at their own speed. It gives the students the choice of what to study within certain parameters. For example, there are certain subjects that must be covered during the week. They can do all the math on one day if they choose, and all the science on another, or they can do a little math each day. In addition, this class emphasizes creative writing. Joseph entered an expressionist content in the area for poetry, and won for his class, than won for his school, and now has won county-wide, He will be competing for District. He was recently interviewed by Suzanne Hayes for the St. Pete Times (she works on the second floor of the building I work in, and stopped by after the interview to tell me what a neat kid Joseph is - it is always nice to hear that!)
Bill is eight, in the Second Grade, and is a bubbly, happy, kissy, huggy, little bundle of joy. He has Mrs. Hedgecock again (he had her for First Grade, too). She is a really neat teacher and bill was thrilled to have her again. hill is really catching on fire in reading, and is already to class whiz in math.
Here’s wishing everyone a joyous and prosperous holiday season and a wonderful New Year!! Love, Monica & Family
FROM RALPH:
During 1992, Paula completed her first full year with “ American Automobile Association” Auto Club South. “The traveling is not as frequent now but the rest of it is as big as ever”.....
I completed my fifth year with the Florida Lottery. My territory is in Sarasota and Longboat Key.....”TOUGH JOB”
The resident “animals” Ali & Nole (Schnauzers) have the addition of “Christine” (the cat).
FROM OUR COUSIN SARA:
We had a grand summer - very mild and lots of rain. Temps never reached the 100 mark on the thermometer - -quit unusual for Oklahoma! All the moisture helped keep the year and flowers so lush and beautiful.
In late July, Ken and I took a Vacation we have dreamed about for years - a fishing trip in Alaska! For seven days, we stayed at a family owned & operated inn near Glacier Bay Nat’l Park - and it was such a beautiful place! Spent out time hiking eating and FISHING! The inn served fresh fish every day and vegetables just picked from their huge garden, I couldn’t believe it, but I actually gained over 5 pounds on the trip!!! The fishing began as a disappointment - the salmon weren’t running.... The Kings had come through about a week before our arrival and the Cohos were just starting by the time we left... However, we thoroughly enjoyed halibut fishing in the Icy Straits and Glacier Bay! One day Ken brought in a 180 pounder!!! It make my 100 pound catches look small! We brought home over 250 pounds of halibut and we also arranged to have about 50 pounds of Coho shipped after we left.
We were recently in Gregory for 3 days of pheasant hunting. They too had a wet, mild summer end none of the crops were harvested. Walking those uncut corn fields was tough work! And the birds had SO MUCH cover in which to hide. But we have 6 nice birds in our freezer for “special meals” this winter! One evening, Aunt Hilda joined us for a steak supper. She looks great and says she feels that way too.
Mich is still in Albuquerque; we’ve not been together since last January, His daughter, Carmen, married Sept. 19, 1992, to Peter Dyar; they live in Sioux Falls, S.D.
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