Mom "at Seawall"

In the process of helping my parents move, I found some photos from my mother Geraldine's high school days at Incarnate Word Academy in Houston, Texas.  Here is one of them, undated, but labeled on the back with all the girls' maiden names and the words "at [Galveston] Seawall":

Standing from left:  Frances Kopenski, Rosalie Marian Triola Zenner (born 1926), Dorothy Jean Gorman Kerkman Bickers (1928-2011), Mildred Bell Fisher, Martha Anne Cabler Clark Skinner Venable Anderson (1928-2003), and Miriam Catherine Jamail Perkins (1927-2004).

Kneeling:  Kathryn (or Katherine or Catherine) Stringer and Geraldine Margaret Guokas Pape


© Amanda Pape - 2018 - click here to e-mail me.

"Mary Joe Danna - Approaching Marriage - Empire Room, Rice Hotel, 9-7-46"

In the process of helping my parents move, I found some photos from my mother Geraldine's high school days at Incarnate Word Academy in Houston, Texas.  Here is one of them, labeled on the back with (almost) everyone's names and the words "Mary Joe Danna - Approaching Marriage - Empire Room, Rice Hotel, 9-7-46":

From the left:  Mary Joe Danna White (1928-2009), her sister Ignatia Marie Danna Albert (1915-2005) and her son Mervin Joseph Albert Jr. (born 1940), Mrs. Joe (Mary Ann Artale) Danna (1893-1962), Shirley Patricia Hogan O'Brien (born 1928), Dorothy Jean Gorman Kerkman Bickers (1928-2011), Ruby Jane Kuhn Porche (1928-2017), Geraldine Margaret Guokas Pape, and Barbara Alice Parker Bruder (1929-1999).

Mary Joe married Harry White at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Houston, Texas, about seven months later, on April 10, 1947.


© Amanda Pape - 2018 - click here to e-mail me.

"IWA 1944"

In the process of helping my parents move, I found some photos from my mother Geraldine's high school days at Incarnate Word Academy in Houston, Texas.  Here is one of them, labeled on the back with all the girls' maiden names and the words "IWA 1944":

Top row, left to right:  Dorothy Jean Gorman Kerkman Bickers (1928-2011), Marjorie Ann Hays Olson (1928-2011), Geraldine Margaret Guokas Pape, Dorothy Rose Rush Johns (born 1928), and Rosalie Marian Triola Zenner (born 1926).

Bottom row, left to right:  Vera Hope Barbosa Stowell, Shirley Patricia Hogan O'Brien (born 1928), Catherine Emma Holderman Williamson Dobecka (1927-2010), Miriam Catherine Jamail Perkins (1927-2004), and Katherine (or Catherine or Kathryn) Stringer.

Interestingly, Mom's classmate Vera Barbosa Stowell has a daughter named Cindy who was my classmate at St. Agnes Academy in Houston.


© Amanda Pape - 2018 - click here to e-mail me.

Mom "in backyard at 916 W. Gardner"

In the process of helping my parents move, I found some photos from my mother Geraldine's high school days at Incarnate Word Academy in Houston, Texas.  Here is one that really has nothing to do with school, other than having a girl who might be one of Mom's classmates in it.  The photo is labeled on the back with names and the words "in back yard at 916 W. Gardner."

From the left are my aunt and Mom's sister, Jo Ann Guokas, Barbara Alice Parker Bruder (1929-1999), and my mother Geraldine Margaret Guokas Pape.  Also in the photograph are "Duchess and her [six] pups."

I wasn't familiar with the 916 W. Gardner address in Houston, Texas, as being associated with my family - but sure enough, I found listings in the 1948 Houston city directory for my maternal grandfather Charles Guokas at that address (he was manager of Park-Ur-Car).  My mother also had her own listing - "student U of T."  The two-bedroom house, built in 1926 in the Greater Heights area, has been well-maintained (and updated) over the years.  In the photo above, you can see the house next door (at 912 W. Gardner) in the background, and the door to the detached garage for 916 is on the far right.


© Amanda Pape - 2018 - click here to e-mail me.

Remembering Dad

Above:  Dad cleans my car windows, 12 March 2006, Fredericksburg, Texas

I haven't been posting much for the last two months, even though I have plenty to write about, as my father, Fred Pape, passed away rather unexpectedly eight weeks ago, on November 6, 2017.  I am going to try to post a little more in the new year 2018, particularly photographs (especially since I found some I've never seen before in my parents' home).  This is one I've had for some time, but it says a lot about the kind of man Dad was.  Every time I would drive to visit my parents in Fredericksburg, Dad would clean my car windows before I left.


© Amanda Pape - 2018 - click here to e-mail me.

Sentimental Sunday: Christmas Eve, 1967

Merry Christmas, everyone!

© Amanda Pape - 2017 - click here to e-mail me.

Family Recipe Friday: Happy 8th Blogiversary to ME!

December 1, 2017, marks eight years of family history blogging for me.  The picture above is a close-up of the birthday cake from a picture I posted a few months back of my brother's 8th birthday.  The cake is homemade.

Growing up, my mother never got store-bought cakes for family birthdays.  She always made our cakes, albeit from a cake mix (usually Betty Crocker).  NEVER frosting from a can or a mix, though!  Here is the recipe she used, as best as I can remember (and adapted from Betty Crocker):

Birthday Cake Buttercream Frosting

• 4 cups of powdered sugar
• 1 cup (2 sticks) of softened margarine (or butter, salted or unsalted.  We always had margarine growing up)
• 2-3 teaspoons of vanilla or other flavoring
• 1-2 tablespoons of milk

In medium bowl, mix powdered sugar and butter with spoon or electric mixer on low speed. Stir in 2 teaspoons of the vanilla or other flavoring, and 1 tablespoon of the milk.

Gradually beat in just enough remaining milk to make frosting smooth and spreadable. If frosting is too thick, beat in more milk, a few drops at a time. If frosting becomes too thin, beat in a small amount of powdered sugar. You can also add more vanilla or other flavoring to taste. 

Frosts 13x9-inch cake generously, or fills and frosts an 8- or 9-inch two-layer cake.

You can also add food coloring (with the milk), or for chocolate frosting, 3 oounces of unsweetened baking chocolate, melted and cooled (with the vanilla).


© Amanda Pape - 2017 - click here to e-mail me.

My Dad: Frederick Henry Pape, February 4, 1929 - November 6, 2017

Here is why I haven't blogged in a while.

© Amanda Pape - 2017 - click here to e-mail me.

Military Monday: Korean and Vietnam Memorial, Nueces County Courthouse Grounds, Corpus Christi, Texas

Korean and Vietnam Veteran Memorial [7 July 2007; modified] / Terry Ross / CC BY-SA 2.0

One of my former homes, Corpus Christi, Texas, has a memorial honoring 199 Nueces County residents who died in the Korean War or the Vietnam War.  It is located on the grounds of the current county courthouse.  It was originally erected by the Corpus Christi chapter of the American Gold Star Mothers, Inc., in 1976, but was not dedicated until Mother's Day, 1978, to allow for the completion of the new courthouse.

The memorial was re-dedicated in September 2005 after a $4,800 restoration.¹  The 3,000-plus letters in the names "had been treated with Lithochrome, a dye capable of penetrating granite. Over time, the names faded, blending into the background and making them hard to read,"  according to an August 15, 2005, article in the Corpus Christi Caller-Times.² Three months later, the memorial was vandalized with graffiti.  Chemicals and steam were used to remove the graffiti, but the names had to be repainted and a sealant applied on them "to prevent graffiti from ruining the monument again."³ However, the memorial appears to have suffered further damage or needed cleaning by the time these July 2007 photographs were taken, as some names are difficult to read.

Rededication in 2005 [7 July 2007; cropped] / Terry Ross / CC BY-SA 2.0

The inscription on the center panel reads as follows:

In loving memory of those men of Nueces County, Texas, who gave their lives for their country in the Korea and Vietnam conflicts.  

Re-dedicated 9-12-2005 by David Chappell, USAF, Ret. * Abel A. Chapa, CVSO

Erected by American Gold Star Mothers, Inc., Corpus Christi Chapter, in 1976.

Following are transcriptions of the 199 names on the four other panels:

Names left slab [7 July 2007; cropped to left half of slab]
/ Terry Ross / CC BY-SA 2.0

Names on the left side of the left-hand panel:

Ables, James L.
Adams, James C.
Aguirre, Fidel Jr.
Alaniz, Paul G. Jr.
Alvarez, Ignacio Jr.
Amador, Ernest B.
Amador, Severiano
Angermiller, James A.
Auten, Norman D.
Ayala, Bernardo R.
Baker, Willy S.
Barnes, Merrill
Beardsley, William M.
Beatty, William T.
Blakey, Robert T.
Blunt, Samuel
Bowers, James E.
Boyd, Thomas M. III
Bradshaw, Faybert R.
Brooks, James E.
Browne, James G.
Browne, Robert G.
Buitron, Carlos S.
Caballero, David J.
Campbell, Ronald S.
Cantu, Raymond D.
Carr, George D.
Castanon, Alfredo
Castillo, Pablo A.
Cavazos, Reynaldo
Cavin, Douglas J.
Chavez, Ruben G.
Chuter, John D.
Coalston, Echol W. Jr.
Conolly, Sidney M. Jr.
Cortez, Jose G.
Davila, Guillermo Jr.
Davila, Jose
Davis, Kenneth A.*
Day, Joe B.
Deleon, Mario P.*
Dickey, Douglas P.*
Ducote, Lonnie J. Jr.*
Dulak, Raymond R. Jr. *
Durham, George B.*
Eaglin, John H.*
Elizondo, David*
Esparza, Israel *
Everett, Arnado


* Damage to monument makes these names difficult to read.  Some names were transcribed from a December 2005 photo.

Names left slab [7 July 2007; cropped to right half of slab]

/ Terry Ross / CC BY-SA 2.0

Names on the right side of the left-hand panel:


Eyring, Kenneth R.
Ferrell, E. M.
Flores, Jesus C.
Flores, Raul F.
Fortner, Carv D.
Franco, Noe
Galindo, Guadalupe
Garcia, Gilberto
Garcia, Guadalupe
Garcia, Miguel Jr.
Garcia, Pedro
Garcia, Arnoldo
Garcia, Raynaldo C.
Garza, Alberto B.
Garza, Ben III
Garza, Francisco
Garza, Frank
Garza, Marcello C. Jr.
Garza, Margarito
Garza, Pedro
Garza, Ruben V.
Gauna*, Daniel Jr.
Godinez,* Daniel
Gonzales, Benito R.
Gonzales, Guadalupe
Gonzales, Jesus
Gonzales, Manuel E.
Greathouse*, Julius Jr.
Grim*, Kenneth E.
Guerra, George Jr.
Guerrero, Richard Jr.
Gutierrez, Adolfo M.
Hammons, James L.
Haskett, George N.
Hernandez, Manuel Jr.
Hernandez, Rolando
Hibrich, Barry W.
Hobbs, Gary L.
Holtzclaw, John M.
Horton, Bill
Hoskins, Dale O.
Huth, Phillip N. II
Jennings*, William A. III
Johns*, Ronald E.*
Johnson, Howard H. Jr.
Jurecko*, Daniel E.
Kearns, James 
Kellum, Norman W.
Kettrick, William C.

* Damage to monument makes these names difficult to read.  Some names were transcribed from a December 2005 photo.

Names right slab [7 July 2007; cropped to left half of slab]
 / Terry Ross / CC BY-SA 2.0

Names on the left side of the right-hand panel:

Rodriguez, Bonifacio P.
Krussow, Donald J.
Lamas, Raul R.
Laurel, Desiderio C. Jr.
Ledesma, Incarnacion
Leos, Leonardo
Logan, Francis M. III
Lynch, Carl D.
McCartney, Ken A.
McDonald, Jerry C.
McGarvey, Charles E.
McKeown, John M.
Maeckel, Eugene A.
Makintaya, Alejandro
Mendez, Roberto
Meerdink, George Jr.
Mindach, William R.
Moneachi, David K.
Mora, Robert C.
Moreno, Jesus Jr.
Neely, James E.
Niedecken, William C.
Newcity, Theodore C. Jr.
Ochoa, Robert
Ojeda, Joe B.
Ortiz, Jose A.
Ownes, Frank Jr.
Padilla, Gilberto
Parker, Maxin C.
Patino, Roberto L.
Pena, Fernando S.
Pena, Manuel J.
Perez, Adolfo M.
Perez, Benito
Perez, Espiridion
Perez, Rodolfo
Phillips, Jerry
Poston, Willam T.
Price, Coy W.
Pritchett, Willie G.
Queen, Cary P.
Ramos, Jose Jr.
Raper, Alvin L.
Reyna, Samuel
Riley, Glenn A.
Roberson, Robert S. Jr.
Rocha, Ruben L.
Rodriguez, Juan A.
Rodriguez, Roberto P.
Ronje, Joe L.

Names right slab [7 July 2007; cropped to right half of slab]
 / Terry Ross / CC BY-SA 2.0

Names on the right side of the right-hand panel:

Ruiz, Leopoldo L.
Patterson, Joe N. Jr.
Ruiz, Alto
Ruiz, Manuel R.
Russell, John E.
Rylander, Robert J.
Saenz, Alfredo J.
Salazar, Joe Jr.
Salazar, Jose L.
Samford, Jesse L.
Sanders, Alan E.
Satterwhite, Dwight K.
Scalljan, Clinton
Simmons, Nolan L.
Simpson, Lloyde H.
Sims, John C. Jr.
Sims, Kirk W.
Singer, Kenneth E.
Smith, Linton C.
Solis, Antonio A.
Stoddard, Clarence W. Jr.
Stroud, Sanders K. II
Stroud, Roger L.
Taylor, Robert A.
Terry, Robert I. III
Thomas, Darwin J.
Thompson, Billy
Thornton, Kenneth R.
Till, Ralph G.
Trejo, Jose M.
Trevino, Faustino A.
Trammell, James
Vaught, Michael E.
Veit, Freddie J.
Vergara, Eliseo C.
Garza, Richard C.
Vetters, Scott
Vilano, Evaristo
Villarreal, Jesus Jr.
Waid, Billy G.
Weaver, Charles E.
Welborn, Joe T.
Whaley, Henry N. Jr.
Williams, Gayle E.
Williams, Gerald D.
Williams, Howard C. Jr.
Wokaty, Eugene A.
Wranosky, Robert W.
Yanez, Jesus Jr.
York, Emmett L. Jr.
Zanga, Peter A.



This post was done in honor of the upcoming Veterans Day for The Honor Roll Project begun by Heather Wilkinson Rojo of Nutfield Genealogy. 


Sources:

¹ Chirinos, Fanny S.. "Local veteran helps restore war memorial - The former master sergeant in Air Force donates $4,800," Corpus Christi Caller-Times (TX), August 30, 2005: B2, accessed September 17, 2017, http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/10C598C7AA50B7C8?p=WORLDNEWS.

² Chirinos, Fanny S.. "Monument may get repairs - Names of residents killed in wars faded," Corpus Christi Caller-Times (TX), August 15, 2005: B2, accessed September 17, 2017, http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/10C0A3FC46EC4338?p=WORLDNEWS.

³Saugier, Mari. "Bond raised for suspect in monument damage," Corpus Christi Caller-Times (TX), December 17, 2005: B2, accessed September 17, 2017, http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/10E9D0CD9B6B5538?p=WORLDNEWS.



© Amanda Pape - 2017 - click here to e-mail me.

(Not-So-) Wordless Wednesday: Astros Fan Since 1970

My hometown baseball team, the Houston Astros, just won its first-ever World Series tonight, November 1, 2017.  The team has been in existence (originally as the Colt .45s, through the 1964 season) since 1962.  At some point (definitely by 1970, when I was in middle school), the team partnered with one of the local newspapers, the Houston Chronicle, to award two tickets to three games to students who had straight A's on their report cards during a particular grading period.  Smart move on their part; I think that created a number of fans at a young age.  I can still remember listening to Astros games on my radio at home, and while recovering from an appendectomy in the summer of 1972.  For a while, I had a crush on third baseman Doug Rader.


© Amanda Pape - 2017 - click here to e-mail me.