Birth to High School -- 1929 through 1946

BIRTH and EARLY YEARS

Gretchen LaVaughn LaMar was born on March 6, 1929 at Monroe City, Indiana (the farm where Gretchen was born was called “Cowmuck” (Kalmuck)). She was the daughter of Eldora Leone Perry (April 7, 1908 to September 21, 1976) and Joseph Franklin LaMar (December 9, 1903 to December 11, 1992). She was the second of four girls. Her older sister is Benita Jo, who married Douglas Russell McKinnon. Her two younger sisters are Jaqueline Sue who married Gordon Neff, and Perilee who married Darwin Joseph Lindsey.

Her paternal Grandparents were Charles Clarke LaMar (March 9 1869 to Oct. 23, 1953 ) and Nancy Jane Harris (November 15, 1872 to June 12, 1964) (The dates Marc has are 15 Nov 1873 to July 14, 1964). They were married in 1895? in Spencer City Indiana.

She was born at her maternal grandparents’, Frank Grover Perry (September 29, 1885 to July 13, 1948) and Elizabeth Agnes Welton ( to 1992) farm. She was told she was born on an ironing board. Her Mom married her Dad at 15, and gave birth to her when she was 19 ½, making her Dad 24 years old at the time. Her Mom and Dad rented a home on Lyndale Avenue in Vincennes, Indiana at that time. From there they moved to 901 N. Second Street, Monroe City, Indiana, also a rental (????? This was what was listed in Mom’s memoir book).

She was a colickey baby and had colitis a lot. When she was two years old she could not talk. Grandma Perry’s dog was named “Bill”. That was her first word, and thus became her nickname for life! All of her sisters, Jo, Jackie and Perri called her “Bill”, as well as all her Aunts, Uncles and Cousins. Her Mom and Dad, however, called her LaVaughn.

When she was little, her Mom and Dad left her with her Aunt Alice while they attended a funeral. She went out and was picking flowers from the garden. Her Aunt told her to stop, Gretchen said “no” and spit on her Aunt Alice. When she got home her Dad gave her a whippin’ – this was the first and only time she ever received a spanking from her Dad.

Gretchen entered school at the age of 5 in January, 1934. Her first teacher was Marie Muford. She graduated from Grammar School in May, 1941, at the age of 12 at Washington School.

When she was 6 years old, her Mom and Dad bought their first home at 1203 Ridgeway in Vincennes, Indiana. The day they moved in she fell and broke her leg while roller skating. She lived at this home until she got married in 1950, at the age of 21.

Her first friends were the Jenkins children, who were neighbors. She also recalls the Herr’s, also neighbors.

She entered Lincoln High School in 1943, attended prom on May 23, 1947, and graduated on May 26, 1947 at the age of 18. Her school colors were green and white. Her high school year book listed her as, “Always ready for a good time. Good Cheer, Library Assistant, Orchestra, Blue Tri and Senior Sentinel). In High School her best friend was Janice Fravel (who married Harold Young, whom she had once dated!). Another good friend was Imy Divine.

Gretchen enjoyed roller skating, bowling and dancing when she was young.

Her parents earned a living by running a gasoline service station, grocery store, and working in defense plants. Granny worked in a department store, Hastings in Vincennes and Washington, Indiana. Granny woked in the parachute factory during World War II.

Bad Memories: Granny would always make me cry every day before I went to school. She would hit me until I cried. She would also make us cut down a cherry tree tee (stick). She used it to spank us. She even carried it to Church with her, so that if we acted up she could spank us in Church.

Granny did teach me how to cook and to clean. My Dad taught me how to be patient, as he was a very patient man. My children have taught me the love of life. My favorite teacher was my home economics teach (can’t recall her name).

Gretchen grew up in Vincennes, Indiana. She attended Washington and Vincennes Jr. High and Vincennes High School. Her best subjects were math and home economics, but she was not very good in reading. Her favorite activities were dancing, dating, parties and living life to its fullest.

Her first date was a movie, with her childhood crush, Jimmy Wheatly. He lived down the street. Jackie and I would be playing paper dolls. I’d keep watch or Jimmy, so he wouldn’t see me playing with the paper dolls. I was about 13-14 years old.

Gretchen recalls that her Grandma LaMar made her own wine. When she was just a little girl (how old??), she got into that wine. During her grandparents 50th wedding anniversary she poured the wine into the punch. She recalls there were a lot of happy Christians at the party.