8-31-1940 Evelyn to Mr. Orville J. Pace

8-31-1940 Evelyn to Mr. Orville J. Pace

Envelope:

Mr. Orville J. Pace

409 Herbert St.

Cedartown, Ga.

Back:

Mrs. Orville J. Pace

McLemoresville, Tenn.

Postmark: 8-31-1940 McLemoresville, TENN.

Friday Night.

My dear Orville

I expected a letter from you today but was disappointed. But since Monday is Labor Day and you won’t get a delivery I decided to send you a “Special,” though I know nothing special.

By the way several people have said you were quite nice – good looking – and apparently younger than I. Marshall Darnall told me about your conversation at the cafe. I went up there yesterday aft. but only went to the beauty parlor – and didn’t stay to get my hair fixed because there were too many already there. For that reason I am going with Papa tomorrow morning.

We had a letter from Imogene and they are coming tomorrow night & stay over Labor Day – Also Mr. Lenz is coming – I don’t know how Mama will hardly manage.

I have been working on my quilt and almost have the pieces together but have to put it together yet.

You would be surprised to see how much I have improved in my walking – I do hope it won’t be long until I will be well & be completely well again – I have already taken a new lease on life mentally. If I ever do get myself together again you possibly won’t know me since it has been so long since I was that way in fact before Christmas last year. I have been having lots of company which I enjoyed very much. There is lots of difference in being surrounded by old friends and relatives when one is sick in contrast to being around people who possibly think it has become a habit to complain.

I had a letter from Mrs. Thrasher thanking us for the gift. She mailed it on the way home. I think she is taking a mighty big risk traveling with such a small baby. There is lots of difference in me coming up here as is – than her going – with 3 children.

Papa has gone to the Utility Meeting tonight. The Supt & his helper (Mr. Myrick from McKenzie) came the day you left & fixed the switch. The Supt like to have never understood what I was talking about but his helper did & explained to him. I think he reminded me of Mr. Edge – not in looks tho for he one eyed – and doesn’t have any fingers on one hand.

It has been real lonesome without you – I hope that you are missing me as much as I do you; for then I would know that you really love me. Please don’t forget me.

Also please do like you promised about company and money. I will send you the list to pay the first of the week –

I enjoy the family but no one can take your place

Be good and remember

I love you.

Evelyn

8-29-1940 Evelyn to Mr. Orville J. Pace

8-29-1940 Evelyn to Mr. Orville J. Pace

Envelope:

Mr. Orville J. Pace

409 Herbert St.

Cedartown, Ga.

Back:

Mrs. Orville J. Pace

McLemoresville, Tenn.

Postmark: 8-29-1940 McLemoresville, TENN.

Thursday Morning

My dear Orville,

Your letter and package made the day much more pleasant yesterday your first letter was missent to McMimiville Tenn – but rec’d it the next day. I must say you are doing nicely about writing – and your letters are always so much more clever than mine that it makes me ashamed to write. But I do want to take every opportunity to let you know I am missing you dreadfully and that I love you ever so much.

Mama is going over to Trezevant for an all day P.T.A. meeting today. I am going to cook dinner Papa & Carolyn will both be here.

I hadn’t been in the car since you left until last night – we all went to Milan to see “All This And Heaven Too” – it was exceptionally good. Mary & Elsie went with us.

I too hope you win – now that you are entered in the tournament – (but just like Papa’s political attempts) I wish you had “not chosen” to enter (run) I thought you told the man before we left you would not. Now I suppose you will pull yourself back down from your build up here.

Thanks so much for the crystal – In addition to talking you for it when I get home I will try to prepare something good to serve in them.

Now that Emily’s baby is here I can say (with exactly the same confidence that Mrs. Pace knew that I was going to have twins) that I knew all the time it would be a girl. I am so glad that she made it fine and am sure they are fully satisfied with a girl. I do hope she won’t name her Mignon. I remember how Emily thought it was terrible when I told her Nancy’s girl weighed 9 lbs. Emily was just as large as Nancy except she was taller. I had thought I would have written her by now but have just neglected it. I am glad you sent flowers.

I think I gave you a list in one of my letters for the bills you were to pay but if you haven’t it is O.K. as long as you leave the money in the bank for I can write them on the first – except you had better pay your Exchange dues – Next pay day I intend for you to pay most every thing in cash to avoid the check situation – but will send you the list.

Have you seen Rhoda – you had better have her come and wash for you Saturday or Mon – if she hasn’t already done so.

I have every good intention of writing Lester Holt also – but don’t know just when I’ll get around to it – not that I have anything special to do but sleep late & then there isn’t much time to write before mail time. In the afternoon I sew on the quilt I am piecing and hate to quit to write – in other words I just like to sew better than

Rebecca has just come & Mama is trying to get off so guess I had better close –

I Love You.

Evelyn

8-27-1940 Evelyn to Mr. Orville J. Pace

8-27-1940 Evelyn to Mr. Orville J. Pace

Envelope:

Mr. Orville J. Pace

409 Herbert St.

Cedartown, Ga.

Back:

Mrs. Orville J. Pace

McLemoresville, Tenn.

Postmark: 8-27-1940 McLemoresville, TENN.

McLemoresville, Tenn.

Aug. 27, 1940.

My dear Orville -

This was to have been our red letter day. I haven’t the courage to even allow myself to think how deeply I feel about our loss. Last night I walked down to Uncle Ewin’s (for exercise) and Mary and Elsie insisted that they wanted to come walk part of the way home with me. Each of them put their arm around me and I did likewise – walking in the middle. When we got to the bridge they turned back. I watched them back up the hill and thought “what might have been” – But just like my girls they soon disappeared over the hill and I was left alone. But I have you and you are doing a wonderful job of making me happy and trying to fill the emptiness – but still there will always be that vacancy regardless of how many other children we might have. My illness has been an ordeal for us both I know; but without you I could never have had the desire to fight for a speedy recovery. As you know I can’t say “pretty speeches” but I so appreciate everything you do for me – I would like to find a way to tell you just how I feel but the more deeply I feel about a subject the more tongue tied I am.

Loudelia is coming this afternoon. I had a letter from her yesterday saying she was sorry to miss you but that she would probably have done that even before you left since you were spending most of your time fishing. Rebecca came yesterday aft.

I haven’t been to ride since you left – in fact I haven’t been away from the house except for a short walk in the morning and night.

Be good! and remember I love you better than anyone –

Love

Evelyn

Two amazing connections regarding the letters...

First, I received a phone call from the nephew of Evelyn and Orville today. He had gotten interested in WWII history and on a whim googled "Orville J. Pace." What popped up in his search but my Evelyn in letters project? After a brief round of phone tag, we reconnected! I hope to be able to harness some of his memories in telling the story of Evelyn and Orville as it unfolds. Just the brief conversation we had tonight opened my eyes to the respect and love that Orville commanded from his family and friends.

Second, the next letter I post will be on the original due date of the twins that Evelyn and Orville lost in 1940. Their birthday was to have been August 27, 1940. I was born on August 27, 1969. I wonder if my grandparents ever made that connection, or if they pushed that date in 1940 far from their minds to avoid the painful memory.

-mpw

8-26-1940 Evelyn to Mr. Orville J. Pace

8-26-1940 Evelyn to Mr. Orville J. Pace

Envelope:

Mr. Orville J. Pace

409 Herbert St.

Cedartown, Ga.

Back:

Mrs. Orville J. Pace

McLemoresville, Tenn.

Postmark: 8-26-1940 McLemoresville, TENN.

Monday Morning

My dear Orville,

I really didn’t know I would miss you as much as I have – you have become so much a part of my everyday life that it is hard to adjust without you. But I will try not to be too lonesome.

I started on my quilt Saturday. Mama & Carolyn went visiting so Mary & Elsie came & stayed with me. They were lots of company. Saturday night Mary Jo & Don came by on the way to take Sue back to Milan for me to go with them but I didn’t go.

Of course Mama & Carolyn went to Sunday School & church. Papa & I stayed here. He slept most of the time. Hall, Thelma & Sue came in the afternoon. they have adopted Sue – so of course her name is Galloway. I believe I think Janice May is lots cuter. Sue will have lots of advantages that Janice won’t however.

Lillian (Joe’s mother) went to Latonia Key (?) to visit her husband for a few days. If I stay a month you may have to come see me in the meantime.

I rec’d the deposit slip from Mr. Thrasher just after you left. It was for $70.23 – I had checked 39.00 that would leave you 30.00 to check on – one for Mark 10.00 Exchange 3.00 Stubbs & H 3.00 Cobbs 3.00 and 10.00 for your expenses (they should run less with the money you left with) Try to have some of it left for with the gasoline bills our bills will be rather high the 6^th. Let me know what checks you wrote – or rather send me a check book & leave the stub showing them –

Well darling in spite of dollars and cents – and there being no balance – there is an overflow of love in my heart for you. To prove this I had better tell you again to be careful of your diet & don’t work too hard & get too hot.

I love you

Evelyn.

I wrote Agnes yesterday-

Take care of my mail that you don’t forward.

3-4-1940 Mother Pace to Mr. and Mrs. O.J. Pace

3-4-1940 Mother Pace to Mr. and Mrs. O.J. Pace

Envelope:

Mr. and Mrs. O. J. Pace

409 Herbert St.,

Cedartown, Ga

Postmark: 3-4-1940 Miami, FLA.

March 4,1940

Dear Orville and Evelyn,

How are you all this beautiful sunshiney day. I had a real good trip down here and I sure am having a nice time the children down here are just to [sic] nice to me they all try to see just who can do the most and they are all doing so well. I will tell you all the news when I get home. Well Evelyn I hope you are feeling better be sure and take care of your self and I hope Orville is not working so hard as he was when I left. Tell Ruby Fred and Margaret I will write soon and see them Saturday or Sunday and tell Ruby to send that pass just as soon as she can lots and lots of love

Mother Pace

2-4-1940 Evelyn to Mr Orville J Pace

2-4-1940 Evelyn to Mr Orville J Pace

Envelope:

Mr. Orville J. Pace

Cedartown, Ga

Postmark: 2-4-1940 West Palm Beach, FLA.

Sunday a.m.

Dear Orville-

I had expected a letter from you not later than yesterday. I am still planning to leave here about Wednesday & not later than Thursday. One minute I have the family in the notion to stay until about the last of the month then they declare they will leave when I do. Still my problem children! It is really Papa. Mama is willing for she thinks “the meeting” is to my interest – but Papa always wants things his way and has suggested several times that I just wire & say I can’t make it. Of course as circumstances are he hasn’t a chance for I can’t run the rist – and anyway darling I want to see you & am ready to come home. I have enjoyed it heaps and think it has done me a world of good. I feel fine except very tired from the trip to Miami yesterday. I have made it so well as yet that there is no cause for suspicion.

Mama, Carolyn, Tamie (the cousin’s wife that I mentioned being pregnant) and I went to Miami after Mary Sue (my cousin – Cousin Mamie’s daughter) and her two children – we drove all over the beach & saw many interesting things. One of the greatest coincidences I’ve ever known was seeing your Aunt Emma and I didn’t get to speak to her – it just wasn’t possible. I had the entire crowd in the car & was driving and very thick traffic when I saw her – alone – with an armful of groceries on NW 7^th St about 22^nd or 23^rd St. It was totally unexpected as your mother had never mentioned even what part of town she lived in – I wasn’t so sure it was her until I was even with her then I was so shocked and as I said it was a main thoroughfare and I couldn’t have stopped at all. But that it was her I am sure. It was at about 3:30 p.m. I would have sure given her a surprise if I had stopped and I would have liked to have done just that.

I hope the family are well and that you have been making it fine – I will be so glad to see you – And unless your letter contains news that I don’t expect I will see you about Thursday – if not then I will be there in plenty of time Friday.

We haven’t seen Aunt Florence yet – that is anyone except Papa he spent the day there yesterday while we were in Miami – he is going deep sea fishing Tuesday –

Love & kisses

Evelyn