Dorothea Jane Lehnert and Arvid Keith Shook were neighbors in Akron, Ohio. They both attended North High School where they became sweethearts. They married on May 9, 1942 at St. Martha's Church on Talmadge Avenue - high school friends Joe LaSalle and Fran stood up for them. Dad was on a 15 day leave from the Royal Canadian Air Force, went to Akron and my mom said, "In case you don't know it, you are getting married tomorrow!" ( ooooooooh......could this be shades of my own controlling ways?!!! ) Dad was in flying school and mom joined him in Miami, Ok. Christmas of l942, they got an apartment in Alexandria, VA where mom worked for the Red Cross. Then, in the spring of 43, they headed to Long Beach, CA. Dad was in the Air Transport Command. Dad said he was gone a lot.....they had a little house in Palm Springs and mom spent a lot of time around the pool. It was the good life!! Mom learned to drive a car in the desert. In 1945 Dad was called overseas to India to live in tent city. he had a monkey named Suki!!! He was a Hump pilot meaning he flew the Hump from China to Burhma during the war. These men were fearless!!
Now you'll begin to see how my worldview was shaped....................
