Life Was Hard, But The Food Was Delicious (cont)

In 1952 Allen’s and Virginia’s third daughter, Rita, was stillborn. The tension between Allen and Virginia grew. Virginia wanted things that required money. She did not want more children. Virginia wanted a more modern way of life. Eventually she, with some of her women friends, went to work at a Sylvania factory about 20 miles away in Shawnee. Soon afterward (about 1955) she left Allen.
Virginia took us to live with her in Shawnee. But, soon we were back on the farm with Allen. Then for a time we lived in Stratford with our mother, but Virginia didn’t make enough money as a waitress to support us. Allen’s view was that she should come back to him if she wanted him to support us. Tired of the struggle and wanting to get on with her life as a beautiful, single woman, Virginia sent us to live with our father who had gone to California to escape the pain of losing the family he loved.

Allen, Virginia, Veta (in front) and Portia

In the spring of 1956, Allen came back from California with us to see Virginia to try to get her to come back to the family. That is when the picture to the left was taken. For a day or two, while at Fulton’s, Virginia did think she might change her mind. But, in the end, their differences were too great. Allen loved her deeply, but he wanted her to live a life that just wasn’t possible for her. She wanted the freedom and excitement of the city. He wanted the hard work of the farm and an obedient family.

Allen went back to California and brought back his new family in the summer of 1956. His new wife, Audrey White, had four children. The oldest, Wanda, was a year older than Portia. Jim was Veta’s age. Lonnie, and Linda were twins a year younger than Jim. The new enlarged family renewed Allen’s life on the farm. It was anything but easy. The house built for four was very crowded with a family of eight. The boys slept in the barn much of the time. We all worked very, very hard. We sold eggs from our hundreds of chickens, milked cows, raised crops, picked up pecans and anything else that might bring in a few pennies.