So I realized I should have started with Aunt Ruth Irene Hoffman Feil.
Ruth Hoffman Feil was born in Platte Co. Wyoming. She had 3 older living sisters and 2 older living brothers and 1 younger brother, born 1929. Mom was b 1920. She was already in school when Ruth was born.
She was 13 years older than I so we shared many thoughts, ideas and times together when they moved near her sister, my Mom (Dorothy Hoffman Jones).
I understand I met her when small in Wyoming but no recollection of it. I first remember them when they came to visit us in Valley Ford, Ca. but I vaguely recall she was at our house at Moretti's during the war. Hope that there are pictures to back up those thoughts. Uncle was in the Army.
Remembering her and her husband Uncle Fred Feil, when they visited us and then we visited them.
We did this back and forth for some years until they moved from Dallas, Oregon to Valley Ford, Ca.
Living with us until their house was open for them to move in which was next door to my parents.
It was so much fun to have Dad say on our way home from work and school,"Quickly do your chores, we are going to surprise your Aunt and Uncle again." Arrangements made for the animals and our leaving and off up the road we would go. In the summer it was hot because the upper valley of California after April was generally in the upper 80's to over 100's until late fall.
It was along haul but it was fun and the surprise on their faces was always worth it. Not knowing if Jerry or Linda or baby Ken remember these adventures. When I was old enough I spent summer as a baby sitter when Aunt worked. One year we all picked strawberries for funds. One day was enough of that, we switched over to green beans. That was so much fun and work. At least you stood up and squatted down as you went up an down the rows pulling the beans from the vines. Physically fit you needed to be. I made enough money to cover my school clothes that fall to help family expenses.
Met some neat people and kept in touch until Navy lost my address book in 1966. That family lived in a town near Dallas called Rickreall.
WE trompt the cemetery on edge of creek and some graves were washed down into the creek in 1956, next to a small short cement bridge. The corner had a flashing light for the intersection. I think maybe 50 people or so lived there then. It was a beautiful area. (Vicky Curry yes I remember you and your family.)
They would come south to surprise us some times when Uncle would be off on a Thursday for machinery repair time. We always loved the surprise visits and would call cousins in Palo Alto to come up if we had a heads up on them coming. It was nothing to have 27 people over a weekend in our home and in tents.
Uncle when he got out of the service moved to Oregon near his parents and siblings that had moved from Wyoming to Oregon. I remember going to Grandpa Feil's funeral services with my Aunt an Uncle. His Mom was still alive.
Uncle worked in a lumber mill and was a handy person with wood tools. He build our son's chest (1960) we are still using today for youngest grandson.
Especially during school vacations both families burned up the roadway going north or coming south to our house.
Sadly, one year they were on their way to Wyoming and were in a near fatal crash for both of the parents. Uncle lost a week he did not remember and Aunt fought to survive for many ,many weeks.
Mom went up to see her. After that accident it was not long before they moved to CA.
The children were asleep in the back seat and it happened on the Oregon, Idaho border hitting a California car that had stopped on top of a hill with no lights on in the middle of the road. It changed their lives for ever. I wish I could tell you how but it was very sad and nothing was ever the same after. Aunt mastered walking again and was basically pinned together by fabulous surgeons. Headaches were often and very bad. Pain was like always around the corner for this bubbling beautiful Aunt of mine. She had few non broken bones in her body. Uncle lost memory and those days never returned. He did not know how bad she was or how near they came to loosing her.
She sewed, and crocheted and knitted, prior to this and could do some of it after but not for long for returning pain. She was able to help with canning in the summer but we took breaks more often so she would not get ill. When they came down and we picked apples and pears and plums then we also later picked blackberries and raspberries and all this went in jars for the coming year. O, can I taste a good fresh blackberry pie.
She later, worked bookeeping for a nursery in Sunnyvale. By then they had moved from Valley Ford
to Sunnyvale, Ca.
Their children did High School in Sunnyvale. Ca. One boy went in the Air Force, daughter became CPA and youngest did USNavy. O
She was a special Aunt to us and we all got to know the family well. We swapped over nights and played ball and card games and some of us listened to the stories that she and Mom would share. Dad and Uncle would chip in once in a while making it really interesting to listen to.
Chased jackrabbits hanging on the runningboard or fender of the old car. I know they took the girls at least once. Mostly a guy thing.
Aunt made great Cinnamon Rolls, and terrific pies and pie crests. I never got that pie crust down quite like she and Mom could do it. Both baked bread and it was so good to smell and eat.
Jams and Jellies were made, brownies, fudge and some divinity too.
She passed to soon 2 June 1989. A large gathering was held for her and I was there.
Suisun City, Solano, CA Her three children are still with us and their children. Though one grandchild lost a child. R I P
1930 census
Household Members:
| Name | Age |
|---|---|
| Cecil L Hoffman | 39 |
| Inez M Hoffman | 38 |
| Cecil M Hoffman | 16 |
| Donald L Hoffman | 14 |
| Marie V Hoffman | 13 |
| Dorothy I Hoffman | 9 |
| William R Hoffman | 6 |
| Ruth I Hoffman | 3 |
| Marion R Hoffman | 1 |
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