Family History of Peggy Ellen Shoch Roth
Table of Contents
Martha & Elmer Kletzing
My Mother: Thelma Kletzing Shoch born 2-26-1909. Daughter
of Martha & Elmer S. Kletzing. Sr. Bridgeport, N.J. Thelma
was one of 10 children. The family was very poor, being
sustained by Elmer's farming his own plot in South
Bridgeport, N.J. Also working for DuPont as a cook and on
the railroad as a bridge keeper over the Raccoon Creek,
nearby.
He had knowledge of medicine as he had some
education at
West Chester Normal School, learning to be a
pharmacist but had to leave school due to his fathers
illness in Dublin, Pa and the loss of eyesight in one eye
due to a farm accident with a whip, which kept him from his
goal. Grandmother Martha did work in later years as a
nurses aid in private duty homes.
Thelma was working at an early age but did graduate from
High School. She was intelligent and was very attractive,
she even won a beauty contest and I remember seeing the
trophy but cannot locate it now. She did waitress work and
did read a great deal.
She married at age 24 to Raymond
Shoch. It was a very hard life at home and she always
contributed to the family finances. Raymond was in the
Coast Guard and became an alcoholic and was some how
involved in "
Rum Running" and was discharged. He insisted
that Thelma live at home with his Mother and Father (on
same road as Kletzing home). His parents were Morton and
Ellen Shoch. My mother resisted all this in to addition to
becoming pregant with Me!!! So the marriage faltered.
The alcoholism became the real problem....
They separated
for periods of time, my Mother living in Swedesboro N.J.
With a cousin Beatrice Kletzing NeVerts who was a nurse.
Peggy was born at this time Jan 26, 1933. At the Mahaffey
maternity hospital.
My Mother was very independent and she would not go to live
with her in-laws, they were very nasty to her. Raymond paid
the bills to some extent. Then it became intolerable and
she took him to court. Thelma and Peggy still living with
cousin Beatrice until things could be worked out.
Then
my Mother and I went to live with my grand parents Elmer and
Martha Kletzing just down the road... We were welcomed by
them and at the time my Uncle Bill was still at home and
unmarried and he did not think well of this situation as he
was helping them pay the bills too. My aunt Winnie was
still at home also and she was epileptic and were raised
almost like cousins instead of aunt and niece.
My Mother and Grandmother worked off and on and there was
always someone about to look after Peggy... They both
worked at times in the big stores in Phila., like
Strawbridges as waitresses with Aunt Mary. Then she worked
closer to home, doing wall papering and a lot of sewing,
she could make her own patterns and make an outfit that she
saw in the windows in stores... then worked in a sewing
factory in Penns Grove.... My Grandfather did a lot of
cooking if you did not mind cleaning up after him, he made
great meals... but at mealtime, youngsters were not to talk
unless spoken too, later on he became more mellow... at my
Mothers urging....
My Mother went back to court to ask for
more money from my Father, but the Judge said, "NO" you
deserted him and the $15.00 per month is all you shall get!!!
These were hard times and part of the depression and a lot
of people were out of work. Luckily we had a large garden
farm with pigs, chickens and duck and in the back fields
were asparagus which we were allowed to help ourselves to
as Grand Father housed the horses that were used on that
farm... I loved that time as I was allowed to ride the horses
within the confines of the yard (bareback)... I guess I was
a little insecure but did not know it as I had trees to
climb, fields to wander around in a creek across the road to
swim after I learned how to swim but just walking out as
far as I could and the swim into shore which was always
muddy as it was tidal...
Our home was an old farm house without
indoor plumbing until I was about 9 years of age, paid for
by my Mother...
I did o.k. in school but did notice other kids had nicer
clothes purchased from stores, mine were all hand made, and
I did not appreciate it then. My Mother could sew anything,
but I never had anything too fancy.... I think I was the
original dungaree kid, and Mother made them when she could
get the material and it helped me keeping my skinny knees
from being scarred... I had repeated ear infections when I
was 10-11 years of age, finally took me to the hospital
and they lanced something in my ear and gave me the only
anti-biotic on hand which was Sulfa. So guess the years of
that causes early hearing loss.
Summers were always good for me as we had so much food then
and melons up the street farm, fresh veggies. Many times
went to stay with Aunt Charlotte and Uncle Al in
Clementon, N.J. which had amusement park and beach... then
to Phila to stay with aunt Mary and Uncle Hamil, and see
all the movies downtown and the big theaters
(
Mastbaum)
which at that time were like big hotels so fancy.
Later years went to stay at times with Aunt Kate and Uncle
Brownie and cousin Florence.... in Mountain View, N.J.
We had such fun Flo was such a card and so very boy
crazy... She was a big tease too. I went to my first ever
Dairy Bar I could not believe the cars lined up to get all
this special ice cream.
Uncle Brownie was a WWII Army vet and stayed in to retire. He was
a good Uncle and great father to Flo as he was her step Dad.
My Mother studied Nursing at this time and became a L.P.N.
graduating first in her class... and then worked at
Underwood Hospital in Woodbury, N.J. In the O.R. Doing many
jobs as they were always short handed... traveling all
these places by bus as we never had a car.
During WWII we are all patriotic and bought
savings bond
stamps which we collected until we had enough to buy a War
Bond... We followed the war on the radio and we were all
Roosevelt Democrats, except Grand Pop was always skeptical
of the "Big Boys in Washington, D.C. He disliked Hitler.
We had rationing and had to use cards to purchase meat,
stockings, gas, etc. Of course we grew most of our own food
so we did o.k. But we were always broke and had to scrape
up enough to pay the taxes and the light bill and we heated
with wood and coal....
One of the worst parts of the war
was finding out how Hitler rounded up the Jews and either
exterminated them or kept them in camps until the war was
about over. Then Roosevelt died and Truman became
President, and to end the war in Japan he ordered the A.
Bomb dropped on two cities in Japan which was awful but to
this day was supposed to have kept the US from suffering
more losses...
High school was pretty good, I liked some of the teachers,
especially the History and English ones. I had taken
College Courses but had to switch due to mothers illness,
to commercial which I did not like as much. I played
basketball, field hockey and then had to quit as I had no
late bus or driver to take me home and the school was in
another town 30 miles north... I could not afford the 20 cents
fair or the mile walk to the bus.
When I was a Senior in
High School my Mother became gravely ill and I had to limit
a lot of things, to help her as she was in and out of the
hospital with Uterine Cancer. After Graduation I worked at
my Aunt Marg's store and she and Uncle Elmer helped me a
lot with food, money and what ever I asked for at the time...
it was only about a 1/2 mile from the home so I could run
home if Mother needed me... which she did many times as
she was really sick...
So we all called my Aunt Phyllis in
Fla as we knew she was out of work and single again and
asked her to come and help Thelma as she needed injections
for pain as was terminal... she agreed and we all chipped
in to pay her bus fair and she was great help and she and I
got along really well... and she always told me, "Keep your
nose clean" which was not meant for my nose but she was
worried about me dating and getting into trouble as she had
many times with men!!!!
Aunt Phyllis and I were thick and when she used to work at
various hotels in season from N.Y. to Fla she would also
bring me home something which I was happy with, like
seashells, things from the hotels and various goodies a kid
would like.
She was always the one the family picked on but
when I needed her she came, the others always said she was
the "black sheep". Not to me!!!
I loved her. She was so
good with my Mother and my Mother
passed away
in November of 1951, I was 18 years old and very lost!!!
Aunt Phyllis took me around and we went to places I should prob not be,
like music bars in Penns Grove, but I was learning what not
to do and what I could do... from the expert.
One time when
Phyllis went to the Music Bars alone by bus guy brought her
home and his name was Bill and he just dropped her off and said
she had too much to drink he said no one else offered and
he felt sorry for her. She was much older than him and he
had been playing darts and saw her staggering and was
afraid for her. Two weeks or so later she was ready to
return to Florida and we all gave her money to do so.
This Bill offered to take her to the train station in Phila he
was a nice guy and I don't know or care to this day what
went on between them he said he was in a relationship with
some one else and Phyllis asked him to take her to the
train... and he did. The last thing Phyllis said to him as
she boarded the train was, "PLEASE CHECK ON MY NIECE PEGGY
AS SHE IS SO ALONE AND I AM WORRIED ABOUT HER".
Now I am 19 or so years of age and this Bill calls me and
said, "Would you like to go to a movie as I promised your
Aunt Phyllis that I would check on you." I did go of
course... He was very nice to me and I did not know his
history or last name, which of course was ROTH.
He was working at DuPonts in New Jersey.
Also at this time I was
attending Banks Business college in Phila, Pa and staying
those nights with Aunt Mary and Mary Fay, by elevated
subway and trolley to N.E. Phila, on Hancock street where
they lived.
At the time, then I did get a Job at Hartford
Ins Co. on Walnut Street in Phila thanks to my Uncle Elmer
who was an agent for them in N.J.
I was just a clerk, those
days all done 'by hand'... no computers of course.
I was
getting better with my grieving and then began seeing this
Bill Roth again and it was a good time he was 8 years
older than me and very kind and considerate about me being
so young... we went to a lot of places together, U of Penn
football, music bars, to dance, etc and I was getting
really attached I thought!! For six months we went out
together. Then we broke up as he had been in a previous
relationship and wanted to see if it would be best for him
and to make sure he was doing the right thing... and I was
not happy!
So now am still working at Hartford in Phila and time goes
on, I dated other guys, YUK! No one compared to this Bill
Roth... so I kept working hard and preparing myself to get a
better paying job, and helping my grand parents with their
expenses of the old homestead... as much as I could with my
aunts and uncles help. Early in 1953 my boss at work called
me in to her office and said I have an important phone
call... It was Bill Roth. "I am down stairs in the lobby of
your building. Will you meet me after work"? I was shocked,
I said "Yes"! He had an
old Hudson car and off we went to
dinner in Phila somewhere...
Elizabeth & Harry Roth
And from that day on it became really serious and I knew
that I was in love with Bill. We went home to Bridgeport and
told my grand parents that we were going together and they
were pleased as Bill's parentage was German delighted Grand
Pop!! In time we went to see his mom and dad Pop Roth
was a delight and his mom was kind of cool at the time as I
guess they knew more than me... oh well!!! In time we saw
them all a lot and so many times I heard about Evelyn and
Buddy and their stories, and how fond of Evelyn Pop was so
I was anxious to meet this special person and when I did I
could see great she was and always would be to me.
Bill served in WWII
in the Navy Air and saw action and was so very proud of
it and we in later years went to many of the buddies
reunions.
Grand Mom Roth thought Evelyn was spoiled as her
Harry married her very young too and I guess Mom Roth
resented it a bit, and through the years Evelyn and I had
many conversations about our Mother In Law!!!
We got along great and she was a great friend to me... Bill and I
became engaged on my 21'st birthday, and my gal friends
hosted a surprise party for us Mary, Barb and their
respective boyfriends....
We were married in Bridgeport
Methodist Church June 26, 1954.
Mary, Barb, Joe, Mary and Jack Dunn, and my cousin Billy were attendants...
We had a
dinner at Black Horse Farms in N.J. And a later reception
for all at Hall in Swedesboro, N.J.
We honeymooned in
the Pocono's at Merry Hill Lodge and all there were on
their honeymoon also, it was fun and so funny Bill even had
time to win a Ping Pong Championship and the guys made him
Chug a Lug whiskey from the small trophy, about 2 oz.
We gathered a lot of laughs and kidded him as to leaving his
new wife to play ping pong, but it was great, he was ever
the competitor!!!
We lived in Essington, Pa in an
apartment only about two miles from the grand parents,
Roths.
Bill now working at Westinghouse in Lester, Pa
nearby and I was working for a Lawyer in Chester, Pa.
He was not a good boss, and I was not feeling well and of
course the reason was that I was pregnant with Charles!!!
I quit my job at the lawyers and had a lot of morning
sickness. I did feel better later and Charles was born on
May 23, 1955 in Chester, Pa hospital...
Blond hair blue
eyes, and good baby but did have some colic (prob due to my
inexperience with baby's)... My cousin Eileen from
Bridgeport came and stayed with us for two weeks until
things improved.
And found a better doctor... Grandparents
Roth's were delighted with Charles and Pop Roth was just so
taken with him that he bragged about him on and on!!!
My grandparents also happy and we took Charles there
often... When Charles was about 7 months old Bill's company
went on strike and Bill was a shop steward and so things
became a little tight money wise, but Grandparents Roth
helped us A LOT.
He helped his Dad do things and paid him
to paint etc. and Bill also worked on the railroad for a
few days and could not believe how tough that was and even
worked on roof tops spreading tar, and once he got down
from that job he said, I cannot go up there again!!!
As time went on he saw an ad in the paper from N.J. that RCA
was hiring technicians to work in the David Sarnoff
Research Center in Princeton, N.J. He was hired after an
interview from his background in WWII radio and his x ray
experience with Du Pont and Westinghouse...
RCA, Princeton NJ
Thanks
God... We moved to Hamilton Square, N.J. in late fall of
1955. Purchased a three bedroom house with garage (ranch)
and had the best neighbors for the new comers we paid
$9,900. For it's with mortgage of course... Charles growing
up there did well and we went back to see Grandparents
often in N.J. And Pa.
In 1957 Pop Roth passed away after complications of gall
bladder surgery... Mom Roth was lost!!! It was a sad
time for all... so now what do we do about Mom Roth.
We were miles away and the only help she had was her sister Emma
who had many of her own problems.
There were no Senior
housing at that time where she lived, so after many months
of thought and prayer we decided to ask Mom Roth to come
and live with us... Evelyn was against it, she said "You
don't know how she will dominate your life, Peg, be aware
that she is not a social person and will be very insecure
about what you and Bill do and your privacy will be a problem,
believe me, I went through it."
Well I knew about that, but
as I was raised in a 3 generation family, I felt I could
handle it.
So we told Mom Roth to sell the house (a duplex)
and she did and we brought her home to live with us and
Charles was delighted... he had some one else to read to
and with and it did provide us with a sitter too. It was
not bad but some times it was a little dicy...
We moved to a home in Ewing Twp, N.J. With two floors and upstairs for
Mom Roth.
We had a 2nd floor bath room put in and then she arrived and
had a nice living area too. Bill and Charles began to do a
lot of things together as he grew up and as their interests
were so similar they did so well and Bill was proud of this
young fellow. Bill was doing well at RCA and became an
Electron Microscopist and did even better with raises and
some papers written and loved the job. We met our new
neighbors, The Whitlocks, Ruchs, Piffaths etc... and
Charles made friends with the kids there. Bill and Charles'
love of trains began an adventure putting up trains in the
bedroom.
Now we are in the year 1961 and I became pregnant
with our dear Polly, she was born Dec 16, 1961. So Charles
moved upstairs taking over the former living room of
Grandma Roth. He was so good about it as we needed the new
baby downstairs closer to us, and Charles even helped clean
upstairs. He was so great about it all and was so sweet with
Polly... Polly born blue eyes and blond hair also... good
baby and together she and Charles grew to love each other
Polly always missed him when he was in school. Grand Ma did
not do well in any of my shopping trips with the baby as
she was nervous and so I waited until Bill was home to
shop. As Polly grew up Grandma did better and enjoyed the
children...
While living in Ewing Twp we got together a lot with Evelyn
and Merle and when they came the kids got so excited as
they loved them and played games with Aunt Yo Yo as Polly
called her as a little child. We had such good times
together. They took us on a trip to the Poconos and told us
they purchased a lot at Indian Mt Lake and asked us to do
the same after a couple of months we did it too. Polly was
still in high chair at the time and Charles was happy about
it too and knew we would see a lot of Evelyn and Uncle
Merle...
The seashore was becoming too expensive and we
also needed a place to get away So we said lets build
ourselves a little cabin and we did, Bill and a friend did
all the electric wiring and hired locals to plumbing etc.
Bill, Charles and I did the wall board and spackling
(a lousy job). So we went up almost every week end, most times
Gr. Mom stayed home as it was as rough structure as yet
and no walls up besides 2x4's and 2x 6's... As Charles
got older he did most of the outside shoveling the gravel
around to fill in as we did not want to cut grass.
The reward for all that was to go to Jonas Restaurant for
dinner and chow down!!!
Bill hurt his back during some of
this construction and he hobbled home in back seat and then
had disk surgery with the great Neuro surgeon who he had
been pals with in the Navy, Dr. Mooney. He rehabbed well and
had a few restrictions but did play golf and tennis after 6
months and returned to work after 2 1/2 months with no
problems. Polly loved having Merle and Evelyn come up there
and it was such fun and though she was still a little girl
she became a very smart kid and was loving and kind and
made friends in Ewing.
The Pocono cabin became our get away and sometimes we went
alone and as the kids grew up we all went to ski at Big
Boulder and other places we all learned together and
Charles became really good at it... Polly did not like the
cold and liked the snack bar which was a warming place and
goodies. Aunt Ann and Uncle Frank even drove down from Erie
Pa where he was Pitney Bowes Manager and stayed for
weekends, we had such good times... Even Uncle Bill and new
wife Flo came up too. We lost two wells up there one not
made right and the other hit by lightning, so it was costly
but worth it.
Polly became a very pretty little girl and
she was ornery with Charles at times getting into his
things, and had to set limits on his stuff... She went to
the Presbyterian pre school and it really helped her become
more outgoing...
Charles advanced early in school and was a
good student... As Polly began regular school we saw the
same thing that these kids are smart kids and so proud of
them... Charles won awards in every subject he took
in Jr High. And in high school also, he did very well and
we knew he would do well in college. Polly did well in
school and was even rounding out into a very
social person and smart as a whip she made many friends and
was active in Scouts and later in high school at Dow High was
a Candy Striper at the Hospital... and participated in the school plays.
In 1973 Bill was laid off from RCA and he did not tell us at
first as we had a trip planned for Disney World in Fla, the
first year it opened... after a wonderful week on the way home
in the car around the time of the tunnel in Baltimore??
he said, "Oh by the way, I got laid off at RCA as they closed
down the whole department as per the New York Office decision".
We were shocked and I was scared to death so on to another adventure...
Charles was preparing for college and in fact a friend of his
Neil's father even went to bat for him and helped him get
a scholarship bigger than the first offer at R.P.I. In Troy
New York... So that helped and that was Charles's first choice
so was happy as we knew this young man deserved to go to
college. Bill took a few different jobs in the meantime and
worked for the Township a bit just to get benefits and then to
Cyprus Mines Lab, which he did not like as it was not interesting enough for his talent...
Polly was then 11.
Charles was 18 on or about...
In 1973-74 Bill offered a position at
Dow Corning in Midland Michigan, Michigan of all places, never been there!!!
as X-Ray tech and Microscopist...
We flew out to check it out and they put us up in motel.
Polly really upset about moving out of town period... leaving friends
Aunt Ev and Uncle Merle. Uncle Frank thought the offer too
low and told us to ask for more money and to pay moving expenses,
which they did I was so glad we consulted Uncle Frank
as he was a business man and knew the way to do things...
so we accepted the last offer and prepared to sell the Mt home
and the Ewing home.
That meant taking all of us and Grand Ma
Roth too so it was a big job and Bill was to begin work in
November and so we did what we could... as fast as we could.
Meantime there was a gas shortage in the East and so it just
made thing a little more rough as I had to do more and it w
as weird as I had a job offer at Trenton State College as a
library researcher and was about to do it, so that ended that
non career...
We had to take the low offer of the Mt Home
as the realtor said, "No one is coming down or up here with
this gas shortage..." We gave some of the things to Evelyn and
the rest we sold with the house. Bill left to drive to Michigan
in a new Plymouth Duster on Halloween, and the neighbors
came in and celebrated his new job and when he returned at
Thanksgiving they all gave us a party with gifts. He rented an
apartment and did well and we purchased a modular home in
Midland and he oversaw the construction and placement, and picked
out things that I would have done, but in my absence
he did well considering it was a tri level with 4 bedrooms family
room 2 baths and small basement all with electric heat
and 2 car garage....
Charles was happy for us and knew that
it was the right thing to do and came home when he could from
RPI and helped us and helped Polly adjust as she was still
missing Ewing and her friends and said as we moved in January
"it snows all the time here". It took a while and even tho
we brought Mittens the cat with us, she took her time getting
used to Michigan... eventually she did well and progressed
well in school and in fact I took note that these schools
were much better than Ewing ever was and had so much more for
a bright student...
The saddest part of all this that was Uncle Merle was sick the
week after we left and in the hospital and all thought he
would be getting better. Two weeks after we moved to Michigan
they told Evelyn that he had terminal lung cancer. And not
long after he passed away. Polly was so sad. And here
we were in Mich, so Bill flew into Trenton and Dot took him to Rushland
and he stayed there until the funeral and they drove
our station wagon back as we had left it there for her as we
flew to Mich when we moved... It was a sad time for all and
Ev and I talked a lot on the phone and she was not doing well.
After a while Evelyn did better but it was a serious time
for her financially also and Bud was thinking of coming
home to stay as his marriage was going on the rocks and he
lived in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Almost forgot to mention when we arrived by plane in
Michigan it was snowing and as we got off the plane it was
outside, and really weird, Charles, Mom, and Mittens, Peg
and Polly looking around, like "Oh Boy"!
It was the first
plane-ride for Mom Roth and she did well... Bill met us and we
drove about 25 min to Midland and there was our new home
all ready for us, and the furniture had arrived and we were
so glad to see Bill and their Dad and son.
A lot more of
this info can be found in my written Journal that I keep so
if I forgot something, you can always check it out and any
omissions is clearly not my intent...
In Midland and Bill working at Dow Corning went well and he
liked the job and it provided us with a much better living
for all... Polly adjusting and participating in school well,
and Charles doing well at R.P.I in New York and would fly
home on holidays...
Peg trying to find a church and it was on
and off as we just did not feel right about these churches
so far... but I did get into bowling as did Bill and Polly
advancing to High School and Dow High was a very good
school. She became active in many areas.
We traveled to the west and I also went with Bill to many
conferences in Colorado and from there we took a week and
explored, Utah, Montana, and New Mexico at different times,
one of the best trips was when we were at a conference at
Snow Mass, Col, it was just great and the scenery was
terrific. We even played golf at Snow Mass, wonderful.
I will not go into detail about the most of Midland as you
all know I worked for
Mary Sinclair opposing the Nuclear
Plant, and did I learn a lot, she was such a great
environmentalist and was so kind to me... Polly in college
at U. Of Cincinnati, Ohio and she will tell her stories to
her children someday... As well as Charles and his stories
of R.P.I. In N. York... We missed them so much when they
left for college and basically once they leave it is so
different... we missed them!!!! And loved them.
Polly married Bill Moore Dec 1986, in Dayton Ohio with many
bridesmaids quite a party... Meantime Evelyn found a new love
and married Mel Mack and was happy and moved to his home in
Springtown, Pa and was doing well and traveling all over
the world. I was so happy for her...
Bill had a heart
attack in Midland and also was doing well after that, and
the years go by and now it is time to retire, the same year
Polly married, and then we sold our Midland home and built a
home in
Sugar Springs,
near Gladwin, Mi, deciding to stay in
Michigan because we could not afford to go back east.
We loved Sugar Springs, and the golf, tennis pool, nature, and
the great friends we made there. The same year that Sarah
was born Bill had 4 way heart surgery and came through with
flying colors... and he continued to do well. I had a few
surgeries too and we did well...
Charles graduated from R.P.I. And had a little company of his own and was doing o.k.
And he stayed in N.Y. for a bit and did end up in Michigan too...
Polly also grad from college and Law School and so
these smart kids did well, we are so proud... In 1993 Liza
Moore was born and we now have two grand children,
yeah!!! We visited them often and helped out when we could
as Polly did go back to work. She will tell you all about
that in her history...
Charles and Barb married in 1998 and
we were so pleased that he found his true love, God Bless
and in 1999 New Years Eve our little Emma was born... Yeah!
What a great daughter in law we have too...
Over the years
when we were in Sugar Springs, we traveled to Texas for the
winter and met some great folks there from all over the mid
west and north and had a great time in a rented trailer in
park.
We stopped going to Texas in 2000 as it was becoming too
expensive and and some of our best friends there were not
returning year after year for various reasons, one of our
best friends was Troy and Loretta McNutt of Little Rock, he
had helped build the Mackinaw Bridge between the Upper and
Lower Peninsula of Michigan and was a retired iron
worker... That couple organized every trip to Mexico and
then some and we had weekly bar b q on his lot and he
cooked the chicken, shrimp, fish or what ever that week was
voted on doing and we all chipped in $2.00 per person and
we all brought a dish to pass and our own beer... Troy was
generous guy and both his children had married Mexican
American guys and he was a solid Democrat... They rejoiced
when the Clintons won the election Troy and Loretta have
since passed away... We visited them in Little Rock once on
the way home and they were the best and would give you the
shirt off his back and she was the same.
So now we stay in Sugar Springs all seasons and of course
pay for snow plowing and leaf removal in the fall as we
thought why not? Use your self for better things than that
and we did so and went to Casino trips and though Bill was
not a real gambler he always won enough to make it worth
while... We helped Habitat for Humanity, many times helping
organizing Golf tournaments and dinners to raise money to
build homes in Gladwin County... Bill worked for 10 years on
the A & E. Committee at Sugar Springs overseeing new
buildings and amenities, I helped out at Gladwin Hospital
on the Aux board for 3 years and oversaw their Golf
Tournament to raise funds for the Hospital... Bill was
instrumental in getting the new tennis courts built as he
pestered our Gen. Mg'r for a year to do it.
We did travel east now and then and when Polly moved to Pa
and a new life with a new husband in Royersford, Pa, we had
some grand times and so good to see the children grow up... so
far away... Of course we travel to Ann Arbor frequently to
see our Emma and Charles and Barb.
We loved going to Interlochen Music events and camped in
that park and sometimes with friends from S. Springs.
And going up to Mackinaw City and seeing the shows given at
that time and spend two anniversaries up there staying over
night and it was grand. We also enjoyed going to the
L.P.G.A golf tournaments and following Nancy Lopez and
Juli Inkster especially.
Our special friends in Sugar Springs
remain in touch today especially Betty and Weilland Lotan,
Dianne Wilhelm, now of Tennessee, Janet Bilodeau, Carol
Wallen, Sue Pearce now of Alabama, and especially our great
friends and neighbors Al and Pat Dethloff, who were
originally from Ypsilanti, small world!!!
So with Bill on
the decline and I having to do more for him and the house
and yard and all responsibilities, we begin looking at
Independent Living some where, Pa is too expensive and
Midland was not close enough to any of our children, which
had to be a priority. So Charles and Barb began a rigorous
search in their area and after the summer of 2011 gave us
three good plans to come and see them. So we went down and
checked them out, Lexington Club was the only one
available at the time and we also liked Cross Street
Village. Our neighbor Pat and Al after looking at the info
told us that they thought Lexington Club would be safe and
a better deal as they were from Ypsilanti and that is where
we decided to go after a time of thought and prayer about
it , so we stayed with Barb and Charles and Emma for two
days and then said let us do it Wow!!!
We returned home
and called the realtor and put it up for sale and as the
market was not good we did sell quickly but a lot less than
I wanted, but after consulting, with Polly and Charles and
Barb, said we were fortunate to have a buyer and to go for
it, so we did and had a large garage sale on a very windy
rainy day and our friends helped us and I provided lunch
for all of them and one kept their eye on the cash box and
another kept Bill occupied... It went well and now pack up
those 60 boxes.
Dec 10,2011. Leaving Sugar Springs was emotional and we
took a last look at the house and surroundings, and Bill
kept saying, "Let's go" We wanted to get to Ypsilanti before
dark...
We stopped to see Betty and Welland Lotan our best friends
on the way out with a completely loaded car including the
computer parts. Betty and I shed quite a few tears... We
love Sugar Springs for 25 years of retirement... The moving
van arrived in Ypsilanti before we did in 2 1/2 hours. I
drove all the way as now Bill is not allowed to drive the
car for medical reasons.
The movers and Charles and Barb and Emma helped arrange the
furniture before we arrived, wow!! We have a one bedroom,
den, bath, kitchen and dinette large hallway, Air, heat,
etc... Barb brought us take out dinner and we had a picnic
like dinner and we were so happy that we were all together,
safely...
Thank God it all went well and we settled in and Barb, Emma
and I did the bedding the the first night we were all set...
Charles doing the phone and T.V. And coming daily to help
us with all of it... We spent many days unpacking and Bill
helping as much as possible.
We were doing well and Bill really liked his Den, computer
and T.V. I met some nice ladies and gentlemen in the
Independent Living Lexington Club. We have activities if
one desires to participate.
After a year Bill's health is declining, sleeping more
often and Dr's just say Heart Failure, Diabetes, plus the
decline of his eyesight....
In 2012 we traveled to Polly's
to see them all and attend Liza's and Sarah's party Grad
from college for Sarah, and Liza high school... Dot and Ed
Panacek came to the party too. We also visited Dot and Ed
on way home trip for lunch... We were sad to leave Polly's
as I knew it might be a while before we see them again... I
drove all the way in the rain, and came home safely, one
stop in motel overnight.
As 2013 progressed Bill was having balance problems and
began to walk with a walker though he resisted until I told
him, It has to be this way now, so don't fret... Some days we
could go for a walk down the hall or outside if it was nice
weather with the walker and sit out under the gazebo and
chat with the other residents... He would not go to the
Social Hours as he did not like the food and said, I cannot
hear them too well, too much noise.... Charles took him to
the plant that made the B-24 bombers that he flew in during
WWII and he was so happy to do that with his son...
His memory with the Computer was failing and was not eating
well, sleeping often between each small meal, being careful
due to the Diabetes, he had to eat... During Thanksgiving
Dinner at Barb and Charles' home Charles had to help him
out of car and up steps, which was not good for Charles's
back but he did it anyway...
I had Esophagus surgery and was weak, I had a visiting
nurse for me and Bill for a few weeks. Then it became
necessary to have Home Health Care for both of us for a
while as I could not leave him while I went to the store or
drugstore. They were good and he did well with them....
Two or three hours a day when needed...
The doctor told us
that there was not much else they could do for him except
keep him as comfortable and happy as possible, Barb,
Charles and Emma were great and helpful as was Polly
calling often.
It was not looking good. Bill failing more and more, not
wanting his sugar free ice cream and unable to watch too
much T.V. Or do the computer well.
Dec 3, 2013 he fell in
the bathroom and broke his left hip, surgery went well, the
next a. m. he suffered a massive stroke... Left side no
feeling and becoming unresponsive after a short time.
He did not appear to be in pain. I think he knew the family
for a short while... Polly flew in from her home in Pa., to
be with her Dad and all of us... Polly had just begun a new
job so I know how difficult it was for her.
She stayed for
three days and all of us took turns to be with Bill.
Polly and Emma stayed with Bill the night before she had to fly
back home. Thank you all for all you did all my family.
I know he did hear Polly and Charles voices as well as Emma,
Barb and myself. When we all squeezed his right hand he
responded to us for a couple of days... Charles said he heard
his Dad say "Hurry Up". And he tried to say Po. Or Pa for
Polly.
The Neurologist was very kind and she told us at one
point, there was so much damage and it did not look good.
So prepare. She was very strongly agreed with us no Hospice
at least until the end of the week, which the hospital
wanted to do.
On Dec 11,2013 I went home at dark to eat
and then Charles was coming after work, I came home ate a
little, and the phone call came, Come to the Hospital right
away... Charles and I met in the doorway and he had just
passed away, peacefully the nurse told us. I think he
wanted to go so as not to have us suffer, that was his way...
He was cremated and had the service in June of 2014 when
all could be there in New Jersey. He and God had their plan
as I know he would not have been happy in a Nursing Home
and would not have been functioning well at all as he was
immobile....
After his passing in my grief I felt at first "No One Needs
Me Now" as before his passing I was needed so very much and
at times I was overwhelmed and frustrated and that is when
Barb, Charles and Polly told me "Mom that is normal, so
please feel no guilt". Loving Bill was part of me most of my
life... It was hard but it is getting easier... Barb and
Charles had me over for dinner every Sunday for months and
I appreciated it as I was in no mood to cook dinners...
I flew to Polly's in June of 2014 and Sarah, Liza and Polly
and I drove to Atlantic City, N.J. And met Charles,
Barb, Emma, Dot and Ed, Linda, Peter and Polly's friend at the
Steel Pier and the owner, Tony provided us with a section
of the pier to scatter Bill's ashes,which he always said we
should do for him. Tony provided us with a lovely luncheon
and we sat around telling the good stories and laughs and
it was a good celebration of his life. It was not sad and
it was lovely, Thank you Polly & Charles for doing all of
this... Some of us later went to a Fish restaurant in Cape May
for dinner, then Charles took me to the Hotel as I was
really tired; the next morning I walked the pier in
Wildwood, N.J. where we were staying and said my private
Farewell to Bill... Charles walked the beach much earlier
and scattered the few remaining ashes in the Atlantic
Ocean... He saw Dolphins and to me it meant Ride On Bill!!!
We all had breakfast together out on the patio as they went
to get carry out for all of us Thanks so much!
Charles, Barb, Emma and I also scattered some ashes in the Huron
River just for me...
I have other friends here in Ypsilanti and
Ann Arbor and we all do lunches once a month.
I have been doing well and have a good support system with
my family and friends. I hope to keep healthy and God
Willing there are things to do for me, and others. Thanks
to all I love & cherish...
After a good visit with Polly back in Pa and with my cousin
Mary fay and Dot and Ed in N.J. I flew back home to
Ypsilanti, Charles picking me up at the airport. Thanks all
of you for your thoughts and kindness and prayers...
Back in Michigan Barb, Charles, Emma and I went to Island
park and scattered the remaining ashes into the Huron River,
just for me, as when I walk the parks and golf course near
that river I always think of Bill... In fact one day while
golfing an old bomber from Willow Run came over and the
maintenance man on the tractor said to me, "Do you know
what plane that is?" I said it looks like a B-24, he said
"Yes". I was just overwhelmed... The next time I played a
big train went by, it passes by the golf course, and many
times I see these really neat clouds in the sky, so I know
that Bill is watching over me and saying, "Get out on that
golf course, you will be playing a round for me."
A lot of things are not in this history and I know that my
children will do their own with their own thoughts. I could
not recall all but know I did not omit things on purpose.
I will probably remember more some day... But this is the best
I could do at this time, so I don't forget as I age....
My friends from Sugar Springs have kept in touch, Betty and
Welland Lotan, Carol Wallen, Dianne Wilhelm now of
Tennessee, Janet Bilodeau, Susan Pierce now of Alabama,
Barb Widrig, and my dear neighbors Pat and Al Dethloff.
I returned for a visit last Oct of 2015, it was emotional and
I had a great time, staying with Betty and Welland, too
cold to golf but we had fun and laughs and met some of the
other friend golfers that I played with for 20 years, in
the club for lunch.
The closest friend I ever
had was Evelyn Mack, and the Sugar Springs gals, and Dot Panacek...
So that is as complete as I can write it, and now you all
know where and how my life has been, and I pray I shall
have many more years of decent health and your prayers...
Love you all, Mom/Peg and Grand Mom Peggy...
I will add some of The Roth family history as I know it,
which is limited...
Appendix I (Jan 20, 2016) Roth Family History
Elizabeth Reinerth Roth was born in
Mediash,
Germany-Austria or some say Romania, depending on the map at the time.
Born Oct 21, 1892, died Nov 2 1989.
Her father's name was Daniel Reinerth, mother Elizabeth.
They immigrated to the US, she was about 11 years of age.
She always
bragged that she was a Saxon.
She was trained there before they left as a seamstress and housekeeper
as that is what young girls did at the time, no formal education
that she could remember, only when she came to the US.
She then did go to school.
She told me that the Saxons were being harmed so that is why her Father wanted to leave,
he was either a wood worker, or shoe maker, but did have enough work experience to get a job
in the US.
I have no other info regarding the experience in Europe... that they did land at Ellis Island
and were taken first to Cleveland, Ohio, and then moved to Pennsylvania... where he secured
a job with a piano factory.
She had three brothers, Bill, Dan, and Martin.
And two sisters Marie and Emma.
They all settled in Delaware County, PA.
His (her?) Dad also operated a small store, selling candy, etc. which went
out of business as Bill recalled the grand children (he) probably ate more of the goodies
than he sold. I never met her Dad but I did meet her Mother right before she passed away.
Elizabeth married Harry (Henry Roth) when she was 30 years of age... he had two boys from his
first marriage, which Elizabeth raised, as he had custody... Walter died at a young age
of lockjaw after suffering an injury while playing on some rusty things, so they say,
before medical science found answers to that problem.
Harry (Jr) died in WWII in the Pacific, he was a medic and was treating the natives
and contracted some disease and passed away there, leaving Evelyn his wife a widow
and a small child Buddy.
Elizabeth was a homemaker and did sewing and Pop Roth worked at the piano factory, too,
and did a lot of cabinet making on the side,
of which I still have the tables he made for our home.
Bill was born in 1924 and she had a baby girl one year later who was a blue baby and
did not survive.
It took its toll on her and she was easily depressed through the years.
One of Elizabeth's brothers Dan taught Phys. Ed. to soldiers during the war,
and was friendly with
John B. Kelly
the famous brick tycoon and father of the famous actress Grade Kelly in Phila, PA.
Harry Roth was born Aug 30, 1889, died Jan 30 1957.
He was born
in West Brunswick Township PA.
His father Michael Roth immigrated from Austria, he became a citizen
in 1896 in Hartford, Conn and moved to PA later.
His mother was Susan Nihaly, he had a sister Katy and they never
got along according to Elizabeth.
I have no knowledge of the time before WWII.
During WWII she told me the FBI would come and investigate all the neighbors
as they were all from different parts of Europe, so they did not get too
friendly... so at one time the FBI took this couple across the street as they
were declared members of the
German Bundt
that were sending money to Germany to fight against the USA.
So if you were of German descent you kept a low profile at that time and I remember
myself asking why I could not take German in High School, and it was because
we are fighting Germany, why would you wish to take that language... so I did not
tell them my own grandfather was of German descent... so I took Latin.
There are no family left from Reinerth-Roth ancestry except grand-children and they do
not know any more facts than I do, and I have contacted Bud Roth (Evelyn and Harry his parents)
and seemed not to know any more than I do, unless we really keep digging up more information,
which now is up to my children to do so, if they are interested in history of the family.
Appendix II (2017)
Addition about my Mother, Thelma...
Being a good Mother is a wonderful thing... My Mother taught
me how to be gentle, as she lived by example... To love.
She made all my clothes, I was lucky to have her for 18 years.
I think she brought out my good heart. I hope so to this
day. She always told me "To Smile Even When Someone Is Not
Nice To You, then they will wonder why you are smiling".
We lived in an old farmhouse. In the winters the colder days
one could see your breath in the morning before going down
the stairs. We heated by coal and wood stoves... During a
Northeaster snow storm snow would enter the window sills
inside, no storm windows those days... Our bath times were
downstairs by the stoves. In a large tub water heated on
the stoves, no bath every day unless you were ill... When I
was about 9 years old my Mother worked hard to pay to have
a bathroom installed, and a furnace in the basement, great
improvement for this kid, now I could be like all my
friends with a bathroom and central heating... If not for my
Mother we would have been considered back woods rustic for
years as my Grandparents could not afford to do so... Thanks
Mother....
My Mother also cooked special for me as some of
the food my Grandparents cooked was not to my liking, all
Pennsylvania type cooking, stews, soups, and fried food...
except the vegetable garden and the fresh meat he
raised... Thanks Grand Pop and Grand Mom... My Mother made
the best Pumpkin Pie I have ever eaten, it was a Pumpkin
Custard. Yum.
When my Mother became critically ill, instead of lamenting
how sick she was, she would tell me she was so worried
about me. I know how that is being a Mother and Grand
Mother. I knew that no one would encourage me like my
Mother did... She wanted more for me than she had ever had and
said "Don't be sad" "Go on and live and work hard at
whatever you do" "Be safe out there and listen to your Aunt
Annie she will help you now and keep safe" She did help me...
And Aunt Phyllis the Black Sheep of the family was always
my favorite... I was 18 when my Mother passed away. Aunt
Phyllis helped me and kept telling me. "Don't live as I
live, be better than me". Thanks Aunt Phyllis...
My Mother came from a line of strong women... My Grand
Mother Martha worked hard raising 10 children. Working part
time as they grew older and could care for each other... When
times get tough I often think about these women. How they
survived these times...
They were my family... May You all rest in Peace... You have
given me so very much and I hope that I have done well.
Thank you all... With love forever...
May my children and grand children read this and appreciate
what those days were like and know how much I love you...
2017...
Appendix III (July 18, 2020)
In talking with my cousin Mary Fay Nagle (nee Burns) asking if she
remembers the Jewish lady from Phila that used to come down to see us
in the country town of Bridgeport, N.J.?
Her reply was as follows:
Her Mother Mary Kletzing Burns (Hamilton) lived with Mrs. Weingarter
when she moved to Phila to work and her Mother called Mrs.
Weingarter Momma...
Sometimes they would all come down to our country for a short
overnight visit to get out of the city... this was still in WWII
time frame.
They would come by bus and bring wonderful food that we could
not get, as a gift to us...
They travelled by bus as no one had a car or even could get
gasoline anyway... Sometimes they would go from there
to Delaware, as Mrs. Weingarter had some family there...
mostly they came to see us.
We enjoyed their visits so very much as she was a fine lady
and the only Jewish person we knew at the time... I don't
or does Mary Fay remember if she came directly from
Austria before the war, as it was
never talked about at that time, Mary Fay seemed to think
she wanted to forget it.
As I have done much reading about Austria and WWII know that name
is definitely Austrian... and Jewish...
Sadly she passed away at our home in Bridgeport from a Heart Attack
and by the time the Dr. arrived she was gone.
Mary Fay and I were just kids and as Mary Fay is a few years
younger than me, she said she just remembers the awful
bus rids from Phila, so hot, no air cond at that time...
And she was always anxious to get back to her home in Phila,
living in a row house and see her Dad play Soccer... He was
born in Scotland and worked at the Quaker Lace factory
and converted to fabric for the war effort...
Aw the Memories...
When all this racial thing has been happening in this country
I was thinking back to when I was a child in
Bridgeport N.J. at the latter part of WWII...
My Grand Father Elmer S. Kletzing was always driving his
horse and wagon places and I would go with him at his
various stops... loved it...
One day as he was loading some vegetables and fruit on the wagon
I asked if I could go with him and he said rather protectively
that I could not, period...
I asked him, Why Not?
He said it may not look good or be safe to go where he was going
today... and I asked where he was going...?
He said I am going to deliver some things to those
Black Soldiers guarding the bridge over our Raccoon creek
which is tidal and connects to the Delaware River...
Oh, I said, why are you doing this as everyone stays away from them...
His reply was well those guys lived on K Rations and not much else
and have little money... and so I am going to get them some fresh
food from our garden that we don't need and Peggy they have to
eat too...
I asked him if he was going to get paid for them?
He said, "They give me what they can, and that I will accept
even if it is very little. Any coin is better than nothing
and they are good guys."
My Grand Pop was a stern person in many ways, so that kind
of surprised me as he expected so much of all of us.
My Mother could get around some of his strict ideas, for my sake...
The things I remember as I have had so much free time now,
so always remember to think of others when we are able
with things and caring...
Appendix IV (September 19, 2020) -- STRONG WOMEN
My Grand Mother Martha Jess Kletzing was born and raised in Salem County,
N.J.
She grew up with very little education probably about 3rd or 4th grade
before she went to work at what ever her parents needed as they were very poor.
She met my grand father at a young age; he living in Chester, PA area.
And he travelled across the Delaware River by row boat at low tide to visit her...
They married when she was very young which helped her get out of the poor
family situation... Had to be strong to do that in those times...
He lost his ability to become educated in some form of medicine
from an accident at home in Dublin, PA with a whip and lost eyesight... in one eye.
Therefore my Grandmother Martha and he purchased a run down farm that at least
was fertile ground, near a tidal creek in Bridgeport, N.J.
She had many children, very close in age every year another child... Strong to do all that...
They had 10 surviving children... Twelve in those years... Heart breaking to lose a child,
being strong again!!!
As their children grew they were expected to help on the farm... and did so
till they rebelled against my grand father and left home as soon as they could do so...
Years passed and he wanted to buy a lot for corn with another mortgage,
and she said: No I will not sign it and so he leased it and indeed did grow
corn well, there for all and to sell too.
That caused some problems between them and she held fast... strong again.
So he went to work as a watchman on the near by railroad... worked for DuPont
as a cook at times... as they needed money...
Later years she went to work in various jobs paying little, but as I recall
her saying to me, it got me out of the house and his anger.
Strong again...
Next issue will add their children and esp my Strong Mother Thelma...
Appendix V (January 2021) -- MENTOR
Many years ago as a child my Mother encouraged me to attend Sunday school
at the Methodist church in Bridgeport, N.J.
It was next door to my Uncle Bill later on...
My Mother was a member of the Women's Christian group.
Attending when she could as she worked nearly every day... My Grand Mother did
not attend at all.
Tho my Grand father was the grave digger for the church and others,
all by hand, it was sandy soil... and he had to board it up so as to not cave
in... I watched him many times.
During my early years of attending Sunday School when I could, as it was quite
a walk to get there... my teacher was a wonderful lady Dottie Nicholson...
She was so kind and never pushed religion just showed us how God works and helps us,
which during hard times was hard to believe her, but we did eventually...
As our class became older she did not teach religion but became our counselor.
As we were all early teens then...
She had such vision and encouraged us all so very much and she became my mentor...
It was very fortunate for me as we became good friends all the rest of my life
while living in Bridgeport.
When my Mother passed away in 1951... she was there for me.
She was divorced and worked at the Navy Yard, across the river in PA...
When I first dated my Bill, she encouraged me all the way, on all things about life.
When Bill and I broke up for a few months, she was there for me...
She said, "Don't give up home..."
And when Bill and I got back together she was as happy as I was.
I was concerned that if I marry Bill, who will help my Grand Parents??
"Their family, not you, Peg, just love them but you cannot support them any longer..."
Her reply: "Peg you must do what your heart and mind tells you to do..." and
she encouraged me to marry Bill Roth... She was so joyful when we married
and was at the ceremony and I knew then that my Mother would have been the same.
She was a wonderful friend and she felt I was more adult than many of my friends...
and we were friends for years...
I don't know what or where she is now and probably passed away.
When we moved to Ewing N.J.
I loved her dearly.
Appendix VI (April 2023) -- OBITUARY
Peggy Roth, 1/26/1933 – 4/29/2023
Peggy left us after 90 years, on April 29, 2023, at St. Joseph's Village in Ypsilanti. A sports fan to the end, her last call was advice on who the Seahawks should draft.
“Peg” is remembered by her son Charles Roth and daughter-in-law Barb McRae, daughter Polly Elizabeth Moore, granddaughters Sarah Elizabeth Moore, Liza Nicole Moore, and Emma Lynne Roth; and nephew Harry Roth. Her husband William (“Bill”) Roth left us in 2013; she still carried his wedding ring on a chain around her neck.
Born in Swedesboro, NJ in 1933 to Thelma Kletzing and Raymond Shoch, Peggy grew up during the tail-end of the Depression, in her grandparents' farmhouse. To her last days, she would still remind us which store had the lowest price for cans of peaches on any given week, and could be thrifty to a fault – while still sending gifts to her granddaughters on every birthday.
Peggy worked briefly as an insurance adjuster, before she married Bill in June of 1954. They moved to the Trenton NJ area, and quickly started a family. She became very active as a volunteer in the Democratic party; when the family moved to Midland Michigan in 1974, she assisted
Mary Sinclair's
work that stopped the ill-fated and ill-designed nuclear power plant there... and passed her quiet but determined activism on to the rest of her family.
In the early 1990's, she and Bill retired to
Sugar Springs,
outside Gladwin, Michigan, where they made many good friends, especially among the golfers (who nicknamed her “Julie” after the golf pro
Juli Inkster).
Peggy tells her own story, and that of her era, at
peg.thedance.net.
No memorial service is planned as yet; in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Global Lyme Alliance
(
www.globallymealliance.org
or Planned Parenthood
(
www.plannedparenthood.org).
(This obituary is also published on the
Ann Arbor News and
Nie Funeral Home
websites.
Appendix VII (May 2023) -- Thoughts and Memories
One of Peggy's favorite poems, according to her son Charles, was Robert Frost's
The Onset.
(You can also
hear him read it.)
This snippet captures the heart of it:
Yet all the precedent is on my side:
I know that winter death has never tried
The earth, but it has failed...
Nothing will be left white but here a birch,
And there a clump of houses with a church.
Some other pictures of wonderful moments with Peggy:
(Christmas 2021 with Emma, Barb, and Charles)
