November 15, 1941 Methodist Parsonage Yukon, Oklahoma
Robert Lehmann and Anita Allen were married in a quick ceremony after Anita's work (Crowell Collier Publishing Company) as a typist, bookkeeper, and file clerk: doing whatever was needed to be done. My girl friend from work came along to be our witness (Evelyn McIntire). After the ceremony we ate dinner together and then Evelyn went her merry way. Robert and Anita Lehmann spent the night in a romantic setting, (Ha!) by ourselves in a motel south of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Anita was living with Bea and Elmer Burroughs who had 3 boys, so they had slipped off to get married. They had to return to tell them what they had done.
Monday November 17, 1941 Anita returned to work. Robert returned to Geary, Oklahoma, but was back November 20th with his clothes, looking for work and a place for us to live. We moved from Bea and Elmer Burrough's home on 17th on Capitol Hill in the city. We got our first apartment in the north part of the city. Robert got a job (press machine shop) making $16 a week. Anita was making $14 a week working for Crowell Collier. Our groceries were $5 per week and rent was $14 a month.
January 1942 We moved closer to the Burroughs, Anita missed those three boys: David, Jerry and Leon. Bea missed Anita babysitting too. We had hardly moved when Robert got a job in California, so the last of January we left Oklahoma for California in our '37 Chevy - all of our clothing and meager amount of worldly things packed in the car.
February 1942 We arrived in Upland, California on February 2nd. Robert had a job with Upland Citrus in Upland, California. Our rent was sixteen dollars a month. When we arrived we had only $16... so we paid 1/2 of the rent, bought groceries with the last $8. Robert went to work the afternoon we arrived. As you can see we needed that first paycheck, Robert made 35 cents an hour.
May 1942 Robert's job with the citrus company caused us to move to Fullerton, CA. Our new home was at 3421/2 Wilshire Blvd. Robert began working for Orange Belt and Orangethorpe Citrus until "the war."
April 1943 Robert was hired by Douglas Aircraft Company for 75 cents an hour.
October 16, 1943 Roberta was born. By April 1944 the war was progressing to the point that Robert was being drafted. Since we had no one in California to help with our baby we decided to go back to his hometown (Geary, Oklahoma). While we were there his deferment came and Robert returned to California by bus to his job with Douglas. Robert became a star border at A.U. and Verna Mitchell's until Anita and Roberta could rejoin him.
Anita and Roberts remained in Oklahoma with Robert's folks until June 1944. With the help of Robert's brother Herman, we loaded all of our belongings into the '37 Chevy and made the trip back to California accompanied by Mildred Gwaltney and her baby. We drove almost night and day - it was quite a trip.
The Landlord of the Wilshire Apartments rented to us again and we lived there until after Dona was born.
May 27, 1946 Dona was born. Our apartment became smaller.
September 1947 We bought the place in Buena Park, California (6062 Fullerton Avenue). It was small but it was a home. Our good friends from Douglas - Willie and Lois Lowther - helped us with our move. Robert worked and played ball with Willie. After Willie's passing Lois married Cecil Milliner and we remain long-standing friends.
December 20, 1950 Kenneth was born. The house became even smaller. We bought a lot on 7th Street (8141) and had our house built. It is our home still today.
We loved our neighbors, which became a friendly group. Boettchers, Waddells, Bullens, Miles and the Schums. Some moved away, others moved in; however, the Lehmann's and the Boettcher's are still hanging in there.
April 1955 Neal Mize came west and into our lives about this time. Neal graduated from High School in Colorado and we brought him to live with us for a while here in California. He went to college, got a job with IBM, got drafted, returned to California after the service, continued at IBM and is now retired living in Boulder, Colorado.
Barbara May Lehmann (Horney) married Bob in Colorado, and then moved to California. Barbara is Robert's daughter from his first marriage to Juanita Nickell. Barb came to meet her father and she has been a big part of our family ever since. Bob had a job for Lockheed as an Engineer until we was called into the service. They moved to Alabama - their first child was born in Alabama. Randy Dwaight Horney arrived on April 23, 1957.
When Bob finished with teh service they moved back to California, envetually settling in Simi, California. Andy James was born in California on June 24, 1959, and Mr. B (Brandall) came along February 11, 1963. They are all great guys and the apple of Grandma's eye! Bob and Barbara are both retired (he from Lockheed after 36 years and she from nursing) and living in Lake Tahoe, California.
Roberta married July 2, 1966. Scott Sullivan was born in Fullerton, California February 18, 1969. Roberta's husband's work took them to Washington State and Matt was born in Bellevue, Washington December 14, 1970. Roberta (no longer married) teaches school in Washington (High School Mathematics) and sells Longaberger products. She lives in Woodinville, WA.
Dona and Richard got married on August 27th, 1966. Travis Garrish was born on Jun 7th, 1973. Dona is a cerificated Special Education Teacher who teaches in the Cypress School District. She has returned to the regular classroom and is currently teaching second graders. Richard works in construction as a construction estimator. He is looking forward to retirement!
Kenneth married October 25, 1969. Julia was born April 11, 1970 and Shelly on March 18, 1975. Ken's wife worked while he finished his college education. He is also a teacher. He has had assignments in Physical Education for years and is currently teaching Sixth Grade. Ken (no longer married) lives in his home in Grover Beach, Ca. He enjoys his yard and the Beach!
Robert and Anita are looking forward to their 60th Anniversary in November 2001.
Let us Celebrate!!