My mother's scrapbook is a clear plastic bag. It is sealed with a zipper and was not protected from the light. Yet the papers remained readable through decades, stored in her dark closets. I have not scanned everything but did select items that I know will be interesting and often meaningful for my family. These are shared because I believe our friends will be interested in much of this as well.
Click on images to see larger text for easier readability on any document or photo.
Mother valued pretty things with color, her family, her church and its principles, an advanced education, skills, the piano, the garden, quiet times, financial independence, good credit rating. She had many memories of the great depression, affecting her financial decisions. She constantly looked for Christ to return at every turn of world events.
Important things she wanted us to remember -
The War
My dad served in the Pacific. He was stationed at Randolph Air Base in San Antonio, thus my name. He was overseas building airbases to hold islands from the Japonese when I was born.
Yes, Randy was in the war also although but a baby and at the very end of the war. Mother did not use all of my stamps.
Aunt Avis supporting the war.
Family Events
Mother's wedding announcement
Aunt Avis won a recipe contest in Miami Oklahoma.
Marriage of Uncle Ken and Aunt Avis.
Aunt Sharon's wedding announcement. She is the youngest sibling of my mother.
Ernest W. Banta Passes away - mother's rememberance poem.
Russell recognition for excellence
Sharon was selected to attend a special learning event due to her scholastic performance.
Sharon, Valedictorian with a perfect grade, 1956.
Sharon top of grade - recognition in Mason newspaper
Sharon and BK's wedding announcement.
The saddest event by far was a tragedy where two members of the family were killed instantly while working on a water well. This happened shortly after our family went out to the ranch for an evening get together of the family. I remember going to Alvie's place and seeing many jackrabbits run across the long dirt road to the ranch. I also recall the butter from the butter churn on fresh bread. Yummmmmm!
Leah Passmore Johnson (Mom's sister) passes away. I remember her and the family quite well. She would always bring us firecrackers for Christmas.
Family Photos
Aunt Avis was quite pretty. She was mother's sister, the second born to Mom. Mother was the eldest.
Gail at an unknown age.
Mother and Dad's 50th wedding anniversary photo.
Aunti Clara, sister of Mom Tinsley.
Four generations. Mother was particularly proud of this photograph.
Unsure who these two folks are.
Family documents
Mother was really proud of her typing speed, more than 100 accurate words per minute. The typewriter smoked!!!!
My dad was proud of his performance as a bus driver. He explained how to make passengers comfortable by letting off of the brake when I was learning to drive. Words never to be forgotten.
Mother's mom, Dora Tinsley, who we simply called "Mom" sent this letter to mother when we lived on Bartlett Dr in Corpus Christi. I believe that happened when I was in the 5th grade making the date of this letter somewhere around 1953.
Page 1 of the letter from Mom on the accounting ledger letterhead of her dress store.
Page 2 of the letter.
Vella Jean wrote this card for Father's Day. Year unknown.
Mom's drivers license
Family put a few things in the casket just to express their love one more time. We added petals from her rose garden to rest beside her body. Her garden was at its peak at the Clairmont while she was in the hospital and that garden was one thing she really loved.
We went to Chaci's Mexican Restaurant afterward for more visiting and to eat together.
