If you're interested in our family history, check these out.
I don't have all of our Christmas letters, but they do chronicle our family activities. A quick list includes: 1970, 71, 74, 78, 85, 86, 87, 89, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 00, 01,02, 03, 04, 05, and 2006.
I think I have a few others, but if you can fill in the missing ones, I'd be happy. A Christmas Letter booklet would be real nice.
I tried to scan the entire letter, but it was not legible. I had to retype it. Some were done on a mimeograph if you can remember that.
Dad
Christmas 1970Dear Friends and Loved Ones:
Greetings in the name of Jesus our Saviour, whose birthday is observed by all the world at this Christmas season!
I would like very much to be sending a personal letter to each of you, but it seems the press of duties is ever increasing, and as the years go by we continue to add more to our list of friends, for which we are very thankful. We cherish the thoughts of each of you and hope you feel the same.
I am now back in the ministry where I really belong. As you know, I had spent several years in radio and television work before accepting the pastorate here in Radford, Virginia, where I began to preach on January 10 of this year. The family followed as soon as the Ohio schools closed. The parsonage was a very lonely and empty place for those months, but it is now buzzing with activity.
Arlene stayed in Canton for major surgery right after school was out. She recuperated well enough to go across the country in August for our National Conference in Los Angeles. We were accompanied by four teen-agers from the church who competed as a quartet in National Competition and received third place. Our daughter, Ardith, accompanied them on the piano. One of the very enjoyable parts of the trip was to visit old friends all across the country. Some we hadn’t seen since college days.
It was a real shock to all of us last spring when we received a phone call from Altoona telling us that Arlene’s mother had passed away. She had not been real sick and had even worked the day before. However, she had been complaining with her vision for the previous week and had a doctor’s appointment for the day she died. She passed away in her sleep. The family home is sold now, but praise the Lord, Grammy was able to maintain it all of her days.
The children are rapidly growing up. Rick was 21 on December 9. He has another year at Grace College. He is very much interested in journalism, soccer [he made the Indiana all-stars this year], and occasionally notices girls. Ardith is in her second year at Grace, and is still very much interested in music. She does have other interests, however; namely, Bruce Bonham of Dayton, Ohio. They plan to be married on June 19 here at our church in Radford. It will be my joy to perform the ceremony. Y’all come! We’d love to have you.
Joy is a senior at Dublin High School. Roy III is a sophomore. Joy has been helping me with some of the office work at the church. Roy carries the local paper, so he can’t get too far from home. Lori Sue is in the sixth grade and is developing into a fine young artist. She also does well at poetry. Lisa is 8, a third grader, and filled with activity and all sorts of surprises. Jonnie was 4 last month and is the center attraction whatever is going on.
Grandma Glass moved with us to Virginia for which we are very glad. She is a real help to us at the house. She is chief cook, bottle washer, laundress, housekeeper, and still teaches a class of ladies at the church. We do try to slow her down but that is not easily done. She does have her aches and pains. Today was one of her ‘bad’ days. Please pray for her continued good health. She hasn’t been to a doctor since we moved here, but should do so just for a check up.
Arlene teaches a class of slow learners at an ungraded primary school in Pulaski. Special education is in its infancy here, and she meets with many frustrations, but enjoys her work very much. Although she was certified to teach slow learners in Ohio, Virginia requires more work and she will probably have to attend summer school.
Great-Grandpa Glass went to be with the Lord in October. He was 94. He was the only grandpa our children had and we feel his loss greatly. It was good to see all the Glass “cousins” again. It’s too bad that funerals are the only occasions when families get together anymore.
Well, that pretty much gives you a quick look at all the family. As for the church here, the Lord has been blessing abundantly. For the past ten months we have been blessed with an average increase in attendance over a year ago. We are trusting the Lord for continued increases. The month of November showed an average Sunday school attendance of 140. Praise the Lord. Best of all, we have seen some souls come to Christ.
To each and every one of you who’ve “labored” through our chronicle, we extend our love. We have so many, many memories. Let us hear from you—if only at Christmas time—it’s nice to keep in touch.
The door at 13 Oxford Avenue [Fairlawn section of Radford] is always open. If your vacation brings you in our vicinity, be sure to stop in to see us! We had lots of company last summer, and it was just great. Our phone number is 639-9119. Try to make it for our first wedding in the family.
May yours be the most blessed New Year,
Roy, for all the family
I would like very much to be sending a personal letter to each of you, but it seems the press of duties is ever increasing, and as the years go by we continue to add more to our list of friends, for which we are very thankful. We cherish the thoughts of each of you and hope you feel the same.
I am now back in the ministry where I really belong. As you know, I had spent several years in radio and television work before accepting the pastorate here in Radford, Virginia, where I began to preach on January 10 of this year. The family followed as soon as the Ohio schools closed. The parsonage was a very lonely and empty place for those months, but it is now buzzing with activity.
Arlene stayed in Canton for major surgery right after school was out. She recuperated well enough to go across the country in August for our National Conference in Los Angeles. We were accompanied by four teen-agers from the church who competed as a quartet in National Competition and received third place. Our daughter, Ardith, accompanied them on the piano. One of the very enjoyable parts of the trip was to visit old friends all across the country. Some we hadn’t seen since college days.
It was a real shock to all of us last spring when we received a phone call from Altoona telling us that Arlene’s mother had passed away. She had not been real sick and had even worked the day before. However, she had been complaining with her vision for the previous week and had a doctor’s appointment for the day she died. She passed away in her sleep. The family home is sold now, but praise the Lord, Grammy was able to maintain it all of her days.
The children are rapidly growing up. Rick was 21 on December 9. He has another year at Grace College. He is very much interested in journalism, soccer [he made the Indiana all-stars this year], and occasionally notices girls. Ardith is in her second year at Grace, and is still very much interested in music. She does have other interests, however; namely, Bruce Bonham of Dayton, Ohio. They plan to be married on June 19 here at our church in Radford. It will be my joy to perform the ceremony. Y’all come! We’d love to have you.
Joy is a senior at Dublin High School. Roy III is a sophomore. Joy has been helping me with some of the office work at the church. Roy carries the local paper, so he can’t get too far from home. Lori Sue is in the sixth grade and is developing into a fine young artist. She also does well at poetry. Lisa is 8, a third grader, and filled with activity and all sorts of surprises. Jonnie was 4 last month and is the center attraction whatever is going on.
Grandma Glass moved with us to Virginia for which we are very glad. She is a real help to us at the house. She is chief cook, bottle washer, laundress, housekeeper, and still teaches a class of ladies at the church. We do try to slow her down but that is not easily done. She does have her aches and pains. Today was one of her ‘bad’ days. Please pray for her continued good health. She hasn’t been to a doctor since we moved here, but should do so just for a check up.
Arlene teaches a class of slow learners at an ungraded primary school in Pulaski. Special education is in its infancy here, and she meets with many frustrations, but enjoys her work very much. Although she was certified to teach slow learners in Ohio, Virginia requires more work and she will probably have to attend summer school.
Great-Grandpa Glass went to be with the Lord in October. He was 94. He was the only grandpa our children had and we feel his loss greatly. It was good to see all the Glass “cousins” again. It’s too bad that funerals are the only occasions when families get together anymore.
Well, that pretty much gives you a quick look at all the family. As for the church here, the Lord has been blessing abundantly. For the past ten months we have been blessed with an average increase in attendance over a year ago. We are trusting the Lord for continued increases. The month of November showed an average Sunday school attendance of 140. Praise the Lord. Best of all, we have seen some souls come to Christ.
To each and every one of you who’ve “labored” through our chronicle, we extend our love. We have so many, many memories. Let us hear from you—if only at Christmas time—it’s nice to keep in touch.
The door at 13 Oxford Avenue [Fairlawn section of Radford] is always open. If your vacation brings you in our vicinity, be sure to stop in to see us! We had lots of company last summer, and it was just great. Our phone number is 639-9119. Try to make it for our first wedding in the family.
May yours be the most blessed New Year,
Roy, for all the family
5 comments:
How cool! It's interesting to look back and see how some characteristics that define my "aunt" or "uncle" are still the same!
Reading this was fun! Did you all call me "Lori Sue" more than you did Lori? I thought it interesting that I am the only one you used a middle name with, or was I always getting in trouble and getting the full name treatment? Interesting the comments about Lisa and Jonnie - Lisa is still full of surprises and Jon still has to be the center attraction!
Grampa
I love reading these "old stories" so to speak. It's nice to see that your children still seem to be the same as when they were young. And, I mean that in a good way! It was nice to learn my dad was an Indiana all-star soccer player. I have learned soccer must've skipped a generation and my boys have gotten his genes!
Keep doing this! It's a great read and a wonderful lesson in family history!
After reflecting 1970, I fear I am scarred, for all these years I thought I was the center of attention and it was actually Jonny all along.
Yes, Lori, you were Lori Sue more often then just Lori. Lisa started out being Lisa Anne, but somewhere along the line, she just became Lisa...as you eventually became Lori. Don't know why. Gramma Susie thought we should all be 1st & 2nd names.....but it only stuck for you & Roy...much to his chagrin. His middle name had more ramifications then did yours. :-)
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