| Merle E. Lamb January 10th, 1921 to September 5th, 1991. | Dorothy Petree (Lamb) November 29th, 1931. |
| Merle Elmore Lamb was born in Visalia city of Tulare Co. of California, to Elsie Celina Hicks (Lamb) and George Elmore Lamb, both of Oklahoma, USA.. He loved helping others, camping in the great outdoors, and fishing. He was a life long member of the Cutler-Orosi Veterans of Foreign wars Post No. 7668. He served as a truck driver, mechanic, and as baker in the U.S. Army during WW II. He suffered from burns and was wounded in action from a gas fire, which was started by a bomb. He recovered after spending six months in a military hospital. When he came back to California, he married Dorothy and built several houses for the family in the 1950's and 60's. His mother, Elsie, moved next door and he took care of her during her golden years. He worked as a forklift driver for Del Monte of Kingsburg. He also worked as a mechanic, carpenter, electrician, plumber, and as a devoted husband/father/grandfather. In 1977 Merle gave a special award to Dororthy for being the best wife in the world, later Merle gave a rose to Dorothy and said, "A rose only lasts for a day, but my love lasts forever." | Dorothy was born in Stigler Co. of Oklahoma, to
Alpha Russell (Petree) and James Petree, both of Oklahoma,
USA. Dorothy Lamb is a wonderful elderly lady, who enjoys playing cards and having visitors at her flat. She lives alone now, her husband, Merle of some forty years died of cancer in 1991. Since then she has missed him greatly. She keeps his memory alive with a large number of photos of him, which are proudly placed in every corner of every room. She fondly remembers back to the time when she first saw Merle. Dorothy was only 14 then, but the memory is as strong as ever. Standing in her living room she gazes at an early photo of them standing on a hill with a few oak trees behind them. In the photo, his strong frame standing erect with his wide chest facing the camera. A pair of faded pants and a light coloured shirt shows his love of working outdoors. Dorothy’s slim frame hangs on his side looking up into his deep dark eyes and dark wavy hair. She wears a simple white dress, which covers her ankles, and has a single bow. Her hair is dark and very curly. “I met Merle when I was only 14,” she says as she finds a resting place on a heavily padded chair. Merle was good friends of a cousin to the friend of Dorothy. One day in September, Merle drove his mother and cousins to the school where Dorothy was studying to receive vaccinations from the doctor. It just so happens that Dorothy was assigned to help the people coming in that day to find a parking place. Standing in the heat of that September morning, Dorothy had her study book in her hand, reading as she often did during the long breaks when no one was pulling into her school. Hearing a car slow down, Dorothy looks up to see a 1930’s automobile with four or five people pulling into the driveway of the school. With skill and discipline she directed the car to park in the next available spot. Noticing the extremely handsome man driving the car, she walks closer to the car. Merle opens his door and steps back to open the other doors for his mother and cousins. Looking up at the young girl who had helped him park, Merle gives a kind, “Good Morning,” and helps his mother to the main building of the school. Four years pass before Dorothy sees merle again. This time Merle drove his cousin to Dorothy’s friend’s home, where Dorothy was visiting. Surprised to see the same handsome man again, she walked out to greet him. Strolling underneath the large elm tree of the place, Dorothy caught the eyes of Merle. Noticing her shy demeanor, he walked up to her and asked her if she wanted to go to the coast with everybody. She declined that invitation, but agreed to go out to see a movie with him on the very next Saturday. The dates kept getting better, as the two fell in love with each other. On Sundays, Merle would sing at her church and what finally bought this couple together was a song, which they were singing, in the front row of a little church. The master-singer asked them if they would sing together on the main stage after hearing the two singing together in such fine form. They did, and not long after that, they were married in that very same church. Dorothy was 18 and Merle was 28 when they walked down the isle. Sitting in her chair, surrounded by the many photos, Dorothy looks down at her wrinkled hands and points to the small wedding band on her left hand. “This is the ring Merle slipped on my finger all those years ago.” She says with watery eyes. Sitting back, Dorothy closes her eyes and hums a few bars of a long forgotten hymn |
Their Children
