I really loved my Uncle Bert, all of my life & still.
I was an only child, and only around adults.
Bert was special, a fun grown-up!
Married to Bea, they were the Ken & Barbie of their day.
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| Bea & Bert |
Bea was beautiful & my Dad's cousin from Indiana.
All had moved to SoCal about the same time.
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| Bea & me age2 |
Bert had been a Marine & had colorful language.
Bert would take me with him on errands, even to ball games.
There was a time when riding in the front seat (no seat belts) and my Mom made a U-turn. I asked "where in the hell she was going?" She pulled over and went into a store to laugh without me seeing. I got a lecture and Bert received a colorful language donation jar.
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| Aunt Bea, with nieces Julie and Jane Caplinger, in Indiana |
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| me age 5 & Bert |
I would have gone to the moon with him gladly, anytime.
Bert gave me a discarded baseball from one of the games.
He wrote "Bert + Jacki" on it.
I treasured that worn out ball with the faded writing forever.
I took it with me to boarding school at age 8,
later to Australia, later on high school & college.
Some would ask who Bert was, I would smile & say "special."
Bert was a graduate of Wabash University, a mechanical engineer.
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| Bert (center) & crew at the brickyard |
He returned to Indianapolis 500 several years as pit crew chief.
A beloved auto mechanics teacher at Van Nuys high school,
he would take his boys to national auto competitions for Ford.
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| 1984 |
Bea & Bert were a special part of young WW's life too.
In later years Bert was ill and moved to Indiana to be near family.
Before they moved, I was given Bert's boots. I have been wearing Bert's boots during the two days of rain. Bea and Bert been gone a long time now, but I miss them still.
So grateful, great memories last a long time.
