Genealogy Fan Chart
13 years ago
California here we come, right back where we started from!


I Attended Lehi, Arizona public schools and graduated from Mesa Union High School in 1935. Worked at various farms and construction jobs until 1937, and then joined the US Army. Spent 2 years in Hawaii (Schofield Barracks), discharged and re-enlisted at FT Bliss Texas for two months and then transferred to Army Air Corps. About one year later sent to Sacramento, California where I met the girl I was later to marry. I was transferred to many air bases- finally overseas in 1945. I spent 4 months in Italy, came back to Sacramento, in August 1945 and was discharged. I enlisted in the Air Force in June 1946 where I stayed at Sacramento (Mather AFB) for three years and then re-enlisted at Castle AFB, California where we moved to Turlock. This is where I came back into activity in the church. I had been inactive for 14 years except for 1 year in 1941. This activity was brought about through the efforts of my wife, Bishop Birtchall and his wife, and other fine members of Turlock Ward. Here I received a special blessing from Anson DeWitt, the Stake Patriarch just the day before going to England on a special Air Force project. This was the turning point of my life. The efforts of all these good people – their faith and prayers were answered and the spirit of the Lord touched my heart and understanding. My bad habits were overcome and I became active in the church. I was appointed advisor to the M-Men and Gleaners and shortly afterward Superintendent of YMMIA in 1950.
It was from there I went to Italy, sailing on Easter Sunday. I had stopped by my folks (in Arizona) on the way and I knew when I told my Dad goodbye that he knew that it would be the last time he would see me while he was in this life. The next time I saw him was at his funeral in 1947. He was buried beside my mother in Mesa. She died in 1923 of appendicitis (I was 6 years old).
Ellen Celeste Woodward was a noted woman of Pine, Arizona where she ran a store and was the postmistress. On the museum wall in Pine is a very old quilt piece (photo) that displays her work.
This is the Henry Mower family. Henry's first wife died leaving him many children. He remarried when Verda was very small. I think she is the little one to the left of the baby.

This home was near the county fair grounds and I have many early memories. Sodaquist Road. I remember going to the fair with my father for my 4th birthday - wow- what a special time this was! I had my Dad all to myself riding the merry-go-round, etc. Dad did a tour of duty in Japan while we lived here, leaving my mother with five little ones. She finally learned to drive after David was born. See little David on the left. Roland and a favorite kitty, Linda and Laurel. We ran around in jeans and bare feet most of the time.
They were married at Thanksgiving time (Mary was almost 19 and Larry was 25). Soon Roland was welcomed into their family. Larry was then stationed in Ft. Knox, KY (WWII days). After Roland was born, Mary & he traveled by train to Michigan to join Larry, and then on to Kentucky , making this their new home.