We enjoyed a wonderful neighborhood with the Hesches, Castellos, Garbes, Meisers and the three little girls across the street. What a nice life we had. I did not have to work, most women didn’t and it was wonderful being at home, keeping a clean home, clean clothes and meals on time. I kept very busy with five children at home. I drove them everywhere, was a den mother, Girl Scout leader, sang in the choir, taught Sunday School with Evie Meyers, attended everything at church, dinners, bible study, vacation church school, General Assemblies (went to one in Denver and Boston), synold meeting in San Antonio, Texas, was president of Chicago Ministers Wives one year and we always attended things at the children’s school. PTA meetings were always difficult with some in different schools but both of us would figure out which to go to.

Warren was so good about this too, and loved being a part of the sports world with them. We attended their games and he even became a marker for the football games and track meets. I joined Junior League and was a charter member of the Head Start program in the Chicago area. I started becoming more interested in art. I took folk painting, then oil painting and from then on usually attended a painting class. When Sue started Kindergarten Warren and I started to golf, just now and then but we also played tennis and this was our sport until golf took over.

Folk music became popular so several of us from choir went to guitar classes at the high school and loved it. We formed a group and called ourselves The Group and sang at many different events in the community. Warren kept saying he would learn the banjo and play with us but he couldn’t find the time. I enjoyed getting together to practice, and there were seven or eight of us. I always had a solo when we gave a program.

I remember there were times when Warren and I would meet on our sidewalk as I was leaving and he was returning and one of us would say, “we will miss all of this one day,” and laugh, or would say this as we picked up toys around the yard or house. I also kept the manse probably cleaner than I would have my own home. I remember Bob Hoffman telling Fran how clean the manse often was (he was on the committee for maintenance and repairs). We wouldn’t let the children have a dog because we lived in the manse. Warren told me much later how much he regretted that.