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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