Marriage - Bob Greenley and Barbara Becker meet. (Part 4)

Dad arrived home from his army service Wednesday, Dec. 12, 1945.  His mother wrote in her diary, "Bob's Home" ... underlined

Bob Greenley and Barbara Becker,
spring of 1946

twice.  Her words reveal the excitement she felt, of having him back after three years away.  She also captures his pleasure in being home and seeing family and friends.

In January 1946, dad started working for Consolidated Freightways as a truck driver.  Finding a good job was just the first step of the newest chapter in his life.  He soon met 18 year old  Barbara Becker who worked in the office.  Barbara and Ansel (Bob's dad) had become friends, and she had been hearing about Bob and Ansel’s excitement  for his son to be home.  More about Bob and Barbara's courtship here - 70 years ago today

They were married June 23, 1946, in Grants Pass (60 miles south of Roseburg).  Some of the story is revealed in letters.  In the lingo of the time, they ‘had to,’ as mom was already pregnant with Dale.  But no mistake, they also wanted to, even though for many years they never openly discussed that Dale was an "early" baby. 

Later on, mom expressed how naive both she and Bob were.  They wanted to get married, but didn't really know how to do it quickly and cleanly.  Dad's good friend Glenn Nickell helped figure it out.  Glenn helped arrange for the wedding in Grants Pass. (Mom kept the dress she got married in - I still have it!).  Despite the hasty manner of the wedding, their joy shows in the picture taken that spring.

Best Friend - Glenn Nickell

A side note about Dad's friend, Glenn Nickell.  Glenn was very gregarious and friendly -- His laughter and personality filled any room.  Their friendship started not long after Bob moved to Oregon in 1936. My brother Dale remembers hearing how their friendship started when the two boys were classmates.  Glenn was small, and had a physical disability (Dale thought he had a club foot) and other children teased him cruelly.  Dad was a big healthy guy, and was able to intimidate the others to put a stop to it.  Glenn was devoted to Dad after that.

Glenn Nickell - 1951

By the early 1960s, Glenn a made a home in the Eugene area after spending time in Grants Pass, North Bend, and Roseburg involved in radio and TV broadcasting.  He was extremely successful.  He eventually became the general manager of the three sister TV stations, KPIC (Roseburg), KVAL (Eugene), and KCBY (Coos Bay), and was prominent in the Eugene business community.  He and his wife Nadine had four children, similar in age to Dale, Susie and Ross.

Bob Greenley - 1951

Glenn's wife herding the children

The above pictures were the only ones I could find of Glenn and family. These pictures are from about 1951. The two families enjoying a day on the river. Glenn's wife is shown trying to keep them all out of the river. I think she has hold of Ross's shirt. Susie and Dale are part of the group. 

Marianne with her 1968 Ford Mustang
purchased in 1974

Glenn was an important presence throughout our lives. When my sister Susie moved to Eugene in 1968, he helped her find a job.  And even after Dad died, he continued to help.  He helped me buy my first car (a 1968 Ford Mustang for $750) in 1974.  That same year,  he helped Mom buy her house in Eugene.  He also helped her sell the variety of properties we had in Roseburg, and use that money to purchase rentals in Eugene.  She eventually ended up with about 17 rental properties in Eugene.