Mary Olivia "Libby" Freeman - Online Memorial Website

The memories are too many to share in this space. This is part of a story that started in the 1946. I met Olivia in Hudson Park, New Rochelle, NY, I had just to moved to NY from Texas. I was with a pal who knew her and the girl she was with, I knew at that moment I wanted to know her. I ask my pal about her and how I could see her again. I got lucky and got her phone number and then we talked over the summer for about a month before I saw her again. As time passes during the years of high school we started to date, movies, church,walks mostly weekends, never during the school week. She would never see me during the school week.

It always seemed like forever for five days to pass. We had many good times together, she always wanted to go places and do things I just wanted to be with her. I was new to New York , amusements parks, etc. a sort of misfit. She always made me feel like I belonged. I really liked to join her at church, she liked to sing during the service and her voice was always pleasing to hear. I would try to see her at Sunday School. Soon her Grandmother invited me to Sunday dinner, which was a major break. Olivia loved her Grandmother so much that she soon begin see me a little more on weekends. I begin to feel I had a chance for her to be "my girlfriend", I dare not assume that. Well in 1949 I finished high school and was trying to figure out how to avoid getting drafted (Korean War).

I got a job and we were still dating but sometimes she would go to New York City with some of her girlfriends to the dance at some of the big dance places.

I was not much of a dancer and so was never invited. She loved to dance. She was going to school in the city after she graduated from high in 1950, so we only saw each other weekends. In 1951, I joined the Air Force this was the big test for me, I had found a way to serve in the Armed Forces without being drafted in the Army, but I would not be able to be with Olivia. I said to myself  if she is serious about me she would have time to decide. I was inducted JAN 1951 shipped to Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, then Kessler Air Force Base in Mississippi , in June 1951 I wrote and ask her to marry me. She accepted; I sent her a ring and was the happiest GI on the base, next I was sent then to Denver, Co. for more training. All training was ending and I was given a leave for the December Holidays. Olivia wrote and told me she had made her wedding dress and dresses for the bridesmaids, invitations were sent out and the wedding date was set for Dec 23,1951.

Surprise.

I took the train from Denver to New York to arrive home on a Sunday. The first thing I did after I got off the train was to call Olivia to let her know I was back, she came to the phone I said hello and the next voice I her was her saying she had changed her mind about getting married. We talked and I called her mother ,my mother and her Grandmother. The wedding took place Dec 23,1951

56 year 8 months and 3 day later we have been together. There are many things to share about our marriage, our children ,grandchildren, great-grand child, relatives, friends, church family, neighbors, co-workers, and community. All of the parts are needed for a family to thrive. Olivia and as a couple we have been blessed with all of these. God has given us many blessing. We have seen the children grown, the grandchildren, and a great-grand child. When took new vows celebrating our 50th year. She said "you want get another 50".

She will always be the light of my life.

I fell in love with her the first time my eyes saw her. She will always be in my heart. The best wife, a wonderful mother, a very caring grandmother, a doting great-grandmother, and a devoted daughter.

Olivia I love you.

Chester