Helen was from Randolph and Glenn was from Woodruff and several years older than she.
They courted as young people did in Rich County in the 1930s.
He was accepted by her family. Glenn is here with Helen on the right. Her sister Winnie is on the left. Beautiful blonde Flora is in front.
Glenn moved to California to seek his fortune in 1936.
Helen visited him there in May, 1937.
She returned for their marriage November 20, 1937 in Oakland, California
Helen's letter home to her parents describing their wedding is below.
The following year they had this picture taken to send home to their mothers for Mothers Day!
“November
21, 1937, from 4180 Opal Street, Apt. 5., Oakland, California
“Dear
Folks:
“Well
I have been married just exactly 21 hours, and it is grand.
“We
had lots of fun last night. Eve and Erle [Bill and Mabel
Rufi’s daughter and son-in-law] came for us about 6
o’clock. Eve brought my flowers. It was a co─
(can’t spell it) [corsage]. Anyway you know mother you wear them on your shoulder. They were 3
white ones, (don’t even know the name of them [gardenias]). No comments on the English up above.
"Bishop
Shields is a fine man. He used the Latter Day Saints marriage ceremony, instead
of the one Lewis uses. I was glad. We talked to him about our recommends, and
tonight when we go to church he is going to get the clerk to get our names and
the wards where we lived. He asked us what we could do, or what our talents
were and said they had plenty of use for people here in the ward. …
“After
that we went up to Uncle Bill and Aunt Mabel’s. Just as we got out of the car
down came the rice. Eve and Erle had filled their pockets. When we went in the
house they gave us a lovely white lamp. It was from all of them to Mr. and Mrs.
Helen and Glenn.
“Then
we went to Robin Hood Inn. It is the cutest place and they had a table all set
for us to ourselves. It was for eight, but Glenn’s Uncle Dave and his wife
couldn’t come. We had a wonderful dinner, roast turkey, and everything.
“Right
now Glenn is writing to his folks and we write for a few minutes then read to
each other what we have written.
“After
Dinner we went for a drive around Merritt Lake and up in the residential
district of Oakland and Piedmont. It was up where all of the wealthy homes are,
and then we looked down on the city, but it was so foggy we couldn’t see the
bridge.
“Yesterday
after we got our license we went up town and got in a lovely rain storm. It was
the worse storm they have had down here for a long time. Consequently we had to
buy an umbrella.
“Have
felt kinda punk though, but am feeling better. My things haven’t come that I
sent freight. They may not be here for a day or two yet. It is a good thing I
sent the blankets and sheets in the box, or we would have been in a fine fix.
As it is we’re without a table cloth and luckily Glenn had a couple of bath
towels. Oh well we are happy.”
These pictures have been published on this blog before. Letter from Histories of Percy Harold Rex, Bessie Morgan Rex, Mary Elizabeth Herbert Rex and their Descendants, pages 83-84, published 2014.
