Tuesday, April 28, 2020

Stringer, Delbert Elloid

I've traced the family line of Pearl (Daniel) Stringer with the Daniel's and Brannon's and presented them here but soon I'll go back on the other lines brought up with these (Rogers, Causey, Fisher, Henderson, Gadd). We are all such an interesting mixtures of our family that has gone on before us and to understand that just see how our blood can be traced back with DNA and aspects of it connect us.

Now I will go to Delbert Elloid Stringer that Pearl Daniel married...the two producing my mother.


                                             Delbert and his biological mother, Jessie Smalley


 Delbert and Pearl Stringer


 Delbert Elloid Stringer
 Delbert and Pearl Stringer


Delbert Elloid Stringer

Delbert was born July 7, 1909 in Calvin, Oklahoma to Joseph Daniel and Jessie Christine (Smalley). Delbert has an interesting beginning. When he was born he had an older (half) brother we knew as Orval (Littleton) who was six and an older (full sister), Unamae, who was three. An exact date cannot be uncovered but very early his mother was found with her ex and kicked out of the house by Joe. Joe kept his two children, Unamae and Delbert, but Delbert did not see his half brother or mother until he was an adult with grown children....he never knew where they were. When he was eight his father married Mary Evelyn Wheeler August 12, 1917 (Only eight years older than Delbert) and they went on to have eight children giving Delbert many siblings but NOW we know his mother went back to Mr. Littleton and beginning in April 1911 went on to have eight children bringing a grand total of Delbert having 16 half brothers and sisters. (*names listed at the end of page) and one full sister. Now that is a story. All my life I knew that Pa (to me) had a mother that had left him and that is about all I knew. Interesting to get the complete picture. I also have recently been told he spent his life wanting to know where his mother was.

The 1910 census of Wolf Oklahoma shows Delbert lives with his father Joseph and grandfather, John, who is 62 and a farmer, his grandmother and sister Mabel. Delbert's father is 24. This census does not list his mother, Jessie, in the home.

The 1920 census shows only his father Joseph who is 34 and step mother, Mary, who is 18. Delbert is 12. His father is a farmer who had no schooling but can read and write. These farmers had amazingly large families and the farms supported a large family. Most of the time the farms were rented.

We already know the complexities of Pearl's young life and now we add Delbert's story. The census show us they lived in the same community...Wolf, Seminole, Oklahoma.

Delbert and Pearl were married November 27, 1928 in Pottawatomie, Oklahoma. A write up about Delbert published in the Eunice paper says they met while attending church. They were married 70 years.

Pearl and Delbert had six children: Mary Magdeline (1929-), Joe Woody (1931-2018), Helen Marie (1935-2018), Jessie Mae (1938-), Baby girl (1941-1941), and George Elloid (1945-).

The article also notes Delbert tried his hand at farming and then went to work for the county before starting his career with Union Carbon Company in 1943. Four years later, the Stringers were transferred by the carbon company to the plant 12 miles south of Eunice December4,1947. There are stories about that long move. They purchased possibly their first small car for the trip. For 16 years, the Stringers lived in the company camp and then moved to Eunice in July, 1963. United Carbon closed up shop in 1970 after Delbert had put in 27 years with the firm. There was no “retirement package”. Delbert was 61 and not wanting to retire just yet, he went to work for Chaparral Service Company and the Reliable Security for another fifteen years before finally retiring in 1985. He is now 76.

Delbert's mother left the home when he was a baby and was found when he was an adult. He was reunited with his mother December 12, 1959. Orval (his brother who brought them together) passed away December 10, 1959. So he was 50 years old when they reconnected.

In November 1948 Pearl started going to the Assembly of God Church. January 1973 Delbert joined the Church of Christ in Eunice, New Mexico.

I thought it was a truly loving act when Delbert told Pearl to call the girls and tell them to get them into a nursing home. The children did not have to make that hard decision. Pa was 87 and Granny was 88. Pearl and Delbert went into the Good Sam Nursing Home in Lovington, New Mexico in 1996. In 1997 Delbert received the Character Counts Certificate for Gratefulness, also they were elected Valentine King and Queen in February.

Pa's advice to (daughter) upon marriage "If you can live with him, I can live beside him".

It was always emphasized that once your brother or sister were married you were to NEVER argue. You would just agree to disagree- emphasize their strengths and ignore their weaknesses.

TRIBUTE WRITTEN TO MOM AND DAD
by YOUR CHILDREN
(Mary, Jay, Dutch, Jessie and George)
1998

We have always been proud to call you mom and dad. We don't know how to say in words how much we appreciate all of the things you did for us while we were growing up. Your first and foremost thought was always to provide for the family. We always had clothes, food and most of all lots of love from our parents. You have always given us unconditional love. We were taught to be honest (do what we said we would do), work hard, take care of our business and let others take care of theirs and we would do ok in life. You supported us through good times and bad. We know how hard you have worked all your life and the sacrifices you made for family and friends. Anyone who came to your door was welcomed. You made many lifelong friendships and were respected by neighbors and the community. You helped the extended family, also friends and neighbors when you could. We have no bad memories, we forgot the few times we got a whipping or the few times we didn't get to do what we wanted. We suppose that in every family there are good times and bad -but when we look back the good times stand out and the bad times tend to fade out. We choose to dwell on the good times and the positive aspects. You have always set a good example. When you decided it was best to go into a nursing home, the two of you went and have never griped or complained. You treat all of the people at the nursing home with respect and in turn they treat you with respect and dignity.

Dad you was always there when we needed anything. You gave us everything we wanted, if you possibly could. You were always proud of us and supported us in every endeavor that we wanted to try out. You never told us that we couldn't do something that we wanted to try, but encouraged us and said that we could do anything that we set our mind to. Looking back on things that we did in life, some turned out as real messes or failures, but you bragged to everyone that we did a great job in all that we tried to do. You were very strong when it came to discipline, and made us not want to do anything that was considered wrong, because when you administered discipline, you felt it for life. You taught us to be honest, hard working, a good neighbor and all the other good things. Dad, we remember how you worked so hard to make a living for all of us. We were not to mess into each others' lives and to help each other when we could and keep our mouths out of their business and not criticize. Dad, you were always going to work, coming home, eating supper, and watching news, and going to bed. You didn't like any sports, didn't go to church as we grew up, or do anything that we thought was interesting, so I wondered if there was anything in life you enjoyed. After growing up and getting married, we realize that you can be satisfied with raising a family. You had told the merchants in town to let any of us have whatever we needed and you would pay up later. As far as we know, none of us ever abused this because we knew we'd have to have a good talk with you. The merchants knew your word was good as gold. We remember how hard you tried to get along and associate with all of your 16 siblings.

We remember how hard you worked to keep us all going. You definitely impressed to us that we were to treat each other and our families with gentle care which is a legacy you have passed on to us. We don't ever remember you verbally telling us to do so but we just knew it was important to you and mom, and we wanted to show the two of you respect by carrying it on.

For all of this and much more we feel blessed and we love you. God truly blessed us with parents who loved and took care of us. We really appreciate both of you and thank you for everything, and for always being there when we needed you. We just want to say that thanks to your influence, that we will always strive to be there for our spouses and children, and try not to be a hindrance in their lives. Thanks to both of you for being there when we needed you.


In Hobbs, New Mexico obituary (December 18, 1998):

Mr. Stringer, 89, died at the Lovington Good Samaritan Center on Friday, December 18. He was born July 7, 1909 at Calvin, Oklahoma. He married Pearl Anna Daniel on November 27, 1928, in Tecumseh, Oklahoma. He was a farmer and plant operator beginning in 1943 for United Carbon Service. He was a member of the Eunice Church of Christ and served with the Oklahoma National Guard from 1927 to 1929. He moved to Eunice in November 1947 from Stonewall, Oklahoma. He also worked as a roustabout for Chaparral Service for four years and was a security guard for 12 years with Reliable Security. He lived in Lovington at the nursing home for the last three years. He had 5 children, 17 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; and 10 great-great-grandchildren.



*Siblings of Delbert Elloid Stringer:
Children of Step-Mother Mary Evelyn            Children of Mother Jessie Littleton
Walter Reed Aug 4, 1920-2009                      Phillip Orval Dec 9, 1903-1959
Lou Ellen April 12, 1922-2007                        Otha April 23, 1911
Lillie Mae May 20, 1924-1997                        Ethel April 2, 1913
Melvin Eliza June 16, 1926-1962                   Jessie M Jan 18,1918-1990
James Chester April 1, 1930-1993                Edna Mae Aug 28, 1920-2010
William Edward Dec 21, 1933-2007              Esther Lorene Dec 6, 1922-2015
Netha Francis Jan 28, 1942                          Leona Janice Aug 8, 1925-2019
John Henry Oct 27, 1943                              Oscar Clifford “Tom” Dec 22, 1926-1999
Full Sister Una Mae (sometimes listed as Mabel) Stringer 1906-1912



As I look at our family history is it any wonder that Delbert wanted his children to have a high school diploma? That was very important to him. It is easy for the next generation to not understand where these desires are from. Perhaps he saw the struggle generations had had with little or no education. He knew the importance. How awesome the generations after his children with the high school diplomas have children that have certainly finished high school and even college. I think the generations going forward will certainly finish high school and many college. Education cannot be overestimated!! Those desires of Delbert and Pearl....good education, love for the Lord, treating others nice continue on.



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