80 years ago tonight, you find my father, Carl, in Germany. It is WWII and he is serving in the army as a communication specialist.
My mother’s only sibling, a brother named Erwin, is on a hayride (in January) with his future bride, Ione. My mother, Gertrude, finds herself in labor. Somehow, she is able to get word to her brother that she is in labor. They take my mom to the hospital and at about 12:20 a.m. on January 27th, 1945, she gives birth to a girl weighing 8 lbs 8 1/2 ozs who is named Dorothy Christine Oman.
News took a few weeks before my dad knew he was the new father of a little girl. And, he did not see me for the first time until I was about 11 months old.
Life has been a challenge in many ways. But, I will have made it through the love and grace of God to the age of
80 years in a little less than 12 hours from now.
Mom and dad had a total of six children; William, Dorothy, Donald, Janice, Carol and Julie. Four are still living today.