| The courtship of my parents, Lorene and Foy Benton Hester, was
typical of their day. There were parties and many friends were invited to different
houses. One party described to me was a dress-up party to be held at Ruth's house. My mother had already seen my dad and said his black hair and dark brown eyes made him the most attractive man in the county. She had this wonderful idea to have a party so everybody could come dressed up as some character and each one would, while they were there, write a letter to Foy for him to take with him when he left to go back to his base. The plan was for him to open one every day and write a return letter to each. (My mother thought this was one way to make sure Foy came to the party.) Since the party was at Ruth and Lorene's house, she gathered up all the letters, making sure hers was the last one and then she gave them to Foy. This is how it all started. Foy answered Lorene and Lorene answered back. Back and forth the letters flew. Foy went through the Panama Canal and bought a special necklace. He brought it home and asked his mother to keep it because it was going to go to the girl he would marry. His sisters and brothers all knew about the necklace and admired it, also wondering who was going to be the lucky lady. Time came and went and Lorene was the lucky lady. Foy came home on leave and they were engaged. He gave her the necklace and then they were invited to have dinner with Ola and Wayne Black (Foy's sister and husband). This was the first time Lorene had a chance to wear the necklace, and wear it she did!! So it was Ola and Wayne who were the first to know and they knew immediately who was going to be Foy's future wife without any announcements being made. Lorene did not know this; she was just wearing her beautiful necklace.
|
