Myron Erwin Winch and Lorna Lee Triplett
I knew my father, Myron Winch, from my birth to 2012 when he died at the age of 89 years. I picked up on a few things about family relationships ect. He was born in Mankato Minnesota February 27 1923. If you look at one of his birth certificates, you will see the words "father not known". I think that his mother entered this phrase as she was still married to her first husband. I think that she didn't want to say who my Dad's father was as her husband was in jail at the State Penitentiary in Minnesota.
My grandmother Emily, was divorced from her husband in September of 1925. The story rapidly progressed to Emily and her 3 children by train to Fresno California, where she married my Dad's father, Cecil Erwin Winch.
I don't know how long they lived together, but they did have a second child named Lola Emily Winch in 1927.
At some point Cecil and Emily separated and I believe they divorced. But I truly believe that the remaining family was dysfunctional. Emily had to go to work outside of the home which left the kids to their own devices.
I don't know how long they lived together, but they did have a second child named Lola Emily Winch in 1927.
At some point Cecil and Emily separated and I believe they divorced. But I truly believe that the remaining family was dysfunctional. Emily had to go to work outside of the home which left the kids to their own devices.
Dad and his siblings grew up working and cutting watermelons during the summer to earn more money for the family. I am sure he didn't get to keep the money
Dad went to Fresno High School and graduated in 1941. \
At about this time he started to work as a "butcher boy" at a local meat market. Dad's draft card states that he was employed at Justessen's Food Stores, located at Fresno and Olive Aves, Fresno California. We still have 3 of the knives that Dad was given upon his signing up for the Army Air Corp.
After enlisting, Dad was sent to Texas for basic training, and ended up being a Flight officer in a B21. This picture to the left is of him during his training.
My dad told me that he got his orders to go to the South Pacific theatre 2 days before the atomic bombs were dropped. I truly believe that if had been sent over without the atomic weapons being used, that neither I nor my children would be alive today. The atomic weapons being dropped meant that the Americans wouldn't have had to fight hand to hand combat while hopping up the island chains. If the Americans had to fight up the island chain, it would be with high casualties.
On or about December 1949, while Myron was working at PG&E, he met a lady by the name of Lorna Lee Triplett. He said: "there was just something about her as she walked away - there was something about her walk....."
By 16 December 1950, he and my mother were married. They married on my mom's father's birthday. Dad would joke that his gift to his new father in law, was marrying his daughter, and having her move out of my Grandpa's house.
They had agreed to buy a house, but it wasn't ready by the time they were married, so they lived in her apartment. They finally moved into 4610 N. Vagedes, in Fresno California. My Mom said that the movers wore mud boots as it had been raining.
Before I was born, Myron helped to coach Little League. That would be in the early 1950's.My Dad ended up working for PG&E for 46 or so years.
This is the obituary that I wrote for my Dad:
Myron E. Winch
Myron E. Winch, loving husband and father, age 89, passed away peacefully at Life Care Center of Casper, WY on Monday October 29, 2012.
Myron was born in St. Paul Minnesota on February 27, 1923 to Cecil and Emily (Jarl) Winch. At the age of two he and his family moved to Fresno, California where he graduate from Fresno High School in 1942. While growing up in Fresno, he would help supplement the family's income by harvesting fruits and vegetables that grew in the are during the Great Depression. During that time period the family survived on oatmeal.
He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1942. In 1945 he was discharge from the Air Corps as a Flight Engineer. He returned to Fresno and worked for San Joaquin Power, the precursor of pacific Gas and Electric. While working at the "Power Company", he met Lorna Triplett. They married on December 16, 1950, his future father-in-laws birthday. He worked as an electrical engineer estimator for PG&E in Fresno, Clovis and Oakhurst, and retired after 42 years of employment. He loved Fresno State Football and had season tickets to the home games. He took up skiing at the age of 45, and skied "The Face" at Sierra Summit ski are. On occasion he would call his daughter's high school saying she was ill, and they would then go skiing. He played golf enthusiastically and frequently. He would play 36 holes of golf during the summer or Saturdays, stating as early as 6:00AM. He and Lorna built a cabin in the Sierras, which they owned and enjoyed for more than two decades. During retirement they cruised to Alaska, the Caribbean, up the eastern coast to the St. Lawrence Seaway, and through the Panama Canal. He enjoyed their trip to China - they viewed the terra cotta soldiers, walked the great wall, and explored the Forbidden Cit. Golfing vacations included destinations such as Mexica, Canada, and Hawaii. In 1990 Myron joined the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Tehran Temple of Fresno. He was active in setting up screenings for handicapped children who would be referred to Shriner hospital for care.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Lorna Winch, daughter, Myra (Brian) Lindgren and grandsons, Andrew and Robert. He thoroughly enjoyed listening to his grandsons' goings on as they grew into fine young men. He is also survived by his younger sister, Lola Page of Fresno, numerous nieces and nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews who live in California, Oklahoma, Kentucky and Arkansas.
The family request that donations be made in Myron's name to Josepha' Storehouse, and the Casper Human Society.
A Celebration of Myron's life will be held on Thursday, November 1 2012, at 2:00 PM at the Oregon Trail State Veterans Cemetery Chapel, Casper Wyoming. A Masonic Service will procead Military rites which will be accorded by Natrona County United Veterans and Wyoming Arm National Guard.
Condolences for the family may be left at bustardsfuneralhome.com.
Lorna Lee Triplett
My mother was born 5 March 1927 to Shirley "Trip" Greene Triplett and Lenoir Inez Leonard Triplett, in Madera, Madera, California, at home. The family lived for many years until her father changed jobs in the 1940s, to Fresno California. Often when my mother and her mother went shopping, Mom would say "I want that". Her mother had to tell her that the money had to be spent on tools for Grandpa;;'s business.
She went to Roosevelt High School in Fresno. She played the xylophone in the marching band.
After World War 2, she married Richard Gordon Hazelton who she might have met at school. They were not married for more than 2 years, when my Mom moved back into her parents house and filed for divorce due to "Extreme Cruelty". When I was 14 years old she and I were cleaning out a drawer I found the divorce papers. I asked "Why did you marry him?" Her response was "I don't know." I don't think she like me finding the papers. Apparently they got married and then toured the Midwest, taking pictures of - now - long dead relatives. After the trip, Richard wanted to move back to Wisconsin - his home state.
My Mom said no. I get the feeling that he beat her up, which caused her to move home to live with her parents. I know she worked for PG&E. During that time she used her check to buy a set of china "Solitaire" for herself and another for her mother. She also bought place settings for eating. She met my Dad at PG&E early in 1950 and became engaged that next summer. They were married and moved into her apartment. They started to build the Vagedes house in Fresno and took pictures of the process. Mom and Dad were able to move into the Vagedes house in January 1951. Apparently it was raining "Cats and Dogs" causing the movers to wear boots to slosh through the mud. Mom worked at PG&E until I was in grammar school. She ended up turning down a transfer to someplace south of Fresno which would have made her drive the 99 Hi-way during the winter when the Tule Fog would be very bad. At that point she quit and went to work for McMurphy's as a secretary. This was a land surveying firm. They stayed at the Vagedes house for nearly 30 years until they sold it and moved to Clovis California, across the old Clovis High School. I don't remember how long she worked there, but she ended up working for PortaTool. This was a self started company that manufactured - I think - they built ball bearing tools for car engines. Mom worked there for probably 10-15 years. Eventually the firm was sold - I think- General Motors. They stayed at that house for nearly 40 years until they sold it and moved to Clovis California, across the old Clovis High School. It was a condo complex that had an atrium. It was also right next to the pool, which delighted their grandson. They stayed at the condo until about 2002 when they moved to Santa Maria California to be near their grandchildren. It was in a "triple wide" fairly immovable modular home. They were within 2 miles of their grandsons. 2 years later they moved to the Rocky Mountains with their daughter's family. Their new home was 4200 sq ft, with a 3 car garage. While they were living there they helped to improved the home. They bought a Subaru so they can transport their grandsons safely.
Mom had started to fall 8-10 a day and went to an orthopedist. She had a total knee place under general anesthesia. Her spine was so fused together, the anesthesiologist could not place a spinal. The orthopedist was not pleased that her daughter said do a general, as I knew she wouldn't be happy being confined to a wheel chair. After 2 weeks she woke and started to walk with a walker. She then spent 3 months in a rehab wing at a local nursing home. She was home by Christmas. In January of 2019 she spent a week on antibiotics IV, and then came home. I think that infection and treatment was too much.
She gradually went downhill, necessitating her to sleep on the floor under light sedation. I had to call 911 and Hospice 3-4 times due to her falling after getting out of be. We had placed a bed alarm under her in bed and sometimes Brian and I could get to her before she fell. On Saturday February 23rd 2019, her blood pressure was lower and she wasn't responding. I did not look at her feet. I called hospice and told the nurse Heaven, what was going on and that I didn't look at her feet as I knew they would be black. Heaven came and called for transport to Central Wyoming Hospice. Brian and I stayed with her until 2000 that night. I told her "Good night" and "I will see you on the other side. "I went home and went to sleep pretty much as soon as I hit the bed. I woke up at 2300 and said "Mom"? Ten minutes later Hospice called me and told me she had died at 2300.
She was buried with my Dad, Myron, in Oregon Trails Veteran Cemetery in Casper, Natrona County, Wyoming.
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