Surprising Relatives~Part 1

SUNDAY MEMORIES

 Judy Wills

After meeting Fred – my  husband – and then his parents and siblings, the next part of the Wills family I learned about was his Uncle Bob and Aunt Eleanor Eby.  Such an interesting family.

Aunt Eleanor was middle sister to Fred’s Mother.  She and Bob lived in the Pasadena area of California, and were very special to Fred.  On his return trip to the U.S. after high school graduation in Japan, he stayed with them before heading to Albuquerque and the University of New Mexico.  Even though I hadn’t met them, after we were married, they sent us a Christmas gift each year for many years.  Like I said, just special people.

Uncle Bob was not only a great musician/pianist/organist – one of his greatest accomplishments was to build an electronic organ that produced sounds so like an actual pipe organ, you would have thought you were in a great cathedral.  Please notice that there is a tremendous difference between an electric organ and an electronic organ.  We even have a recording of someone playing on his electronic organ – and it sounds exactly like a pipe organ.  Magnificent!

Another interesting fact in all this is that Fred’s parents met at Wheaton College in Chicago.  Bob and Eleanor met at Wheaton College.  Bob’s brother, Dick and his wife, Maybelle, met at Wheaton College.  Oh, and just a small tidbit here – Billy Graham was a graduate of Wheaton College – just a few years after these guys.

Billy Graham with Fred’s dad, far right

Okay, all that to say that we all learned about Dick and Maybelle kind of by the “back door” a few years ago.  You see, Fred’s middle sister and her husband live in Washington state, not far from the Oregon border.  For as long as I can remember, they have been fans of square dancing.

Hold on…….I’m getting to the story….it really does all connect.

Fred’s sister (Emily) and her husband (Ron) had been square dancing with a dancing club for many years, and some of their favorite people are a couple named Walt and Pauline Eby.  Emily said that even though Eby isn’t that common of a name, she really didn’t think anything about it.  After having been dancing about 10 years together, they began to talk more about their families.  In passing, Walt mentioned that he had an Uncle Bob.  Emily perked up and announced that she, ALSO, had an Uncle Bob.  Turns out – it’s the SAME Uncle Bob Eby!  Walt is the son of Dick and Maybelle Eby.

Pauline and Walt Eby

 Amazing!

Bob & Eleanor Eby, Kitty Wills, Maybelle & Dick Eby

 **********To Be Continued**********

Tags: Christian bloggers, Family, Family Life, Square Dance