January 19, 1969
Sunday, January 19, 2969
7:30 P.M.
Dear Larry:
Well, here it is, Sunday evening and we just got through with supper. We had steak which dad just bought at Matthews. Dad said, “Boy, if Larry was here, he sure would like to have one of those steaks.” I fixed the steaks so Dad made me sit down and Tresa and Carol are doing the dishes, so I thought I would write you a few lines.
January 10, 1969
Friday, January 10, 1969
9 A.M.
Dear Larry:
Well, here it is Friday morning. The sun is shining, but it is a very cold day. The temperature is 1 above zero this morning. The kids where not in school yesterday and again today because the roads are covered with ice and it is really slick. We went to one of Karl’s games at North Side Wednesday and it took about 30 minutes to get there because the traffic was so slow. This is Dad’s week off and he said he was glad because he had a few days of rough driving. He said his truck broke down two times yesterday so he had to work overtime and didn’t get home till almost 7 last night. I had hot vegetable soup for supper and then after supper, he went to work at the club.
January 9, 1969
Dear Larry,
Here it is January 9, 1969. It is Thursday and everybody is out of school because of the slick roads. It rained last night and the rain froze. The roads are too slick for the buses to pick us up. When I go to school, I have to get up at 7:00. The bus picks us up at twenty till eight.
I am sending a clipping of the basketball ratings [not included]. Anderson is doing pretty good. This is the first time they are rated this season. They’re record is 6-2. They lost their first two games of the season to the 2nd and 5th ranked teams this week. Anderson beat teams like Indianapolis Tech, East Chicago Washington, rated 18th, Muncie South and Muncie Central in the holiday tourney, Lafayette-Jeff, and Ft. Wayne-South. Sports writers all over the state say they have the toughest schedule in the state.
Our basketball team had a game last night and we lost 25-8. I have to go for now.
Your Brother,
Karl
Karol and Apolonia Rudolf’s Gravestone – 1960s
This photo was taken at Maplewood Cemetery in Anderson, IN. It shows Joanna, Carol and Larry in the back and Tresa and Karl in the front. They are standing behind the grave of their father Charlie’s parents and their grandparents, Karol and Apolonia Rudolf. We can only assume this photo was taken before 1963, which is when Apolonia passed away, because the date is not filled in yet. Most of them never met Karol as he passed away in 1948 when Larry, the second oldest, was only one year old.
January 1, 1969 – New Years Day
January 1, 1969
Wednesday 1 P.M.
New Years Day
Dear Larry,
Well, here it is a new year and is it ever cold outside. The windows are frosted from top to bottom. The temperature was below zero this morning and right now it is 11 degrees above zero, so it is not warming up much. This morning we went to the 10 o’clock mass and we about froze our fannies off. HA. It’s windy out and it makes it feel that much colder.
Well, in a way, I am glad that the holidays are over. Now things will be going back to normal. I can’t believe that in a couple of days you will be in the service a year already. Did the time go by quick for you? In a few months your time will be up in Vietnam and I am looking forward to that day.
December 30, 1968
Larry,
Hi, what’s happenin’? What did you do on Christmas? We all went to Charlene and Uncle Jack’s house. It was boring there. Believe me. I left about 5:30. Me, Carol Porter and a bunch of kids went bowling at Cooper’s that night and then went to this party. These two guys were giving it. Both of them were 1967 grads from Anderson High. I thought that party was going to be a drag, but it turned out great. With Pabst, a party can’t be bad. We had fun. Did I ever tell you what I got on my report card? I got one “A”, two “B’s” and one “C” and one and my first “D”. Isn’t that great? Still probably be a “F” the next time. Ask me if I care! Well I better go now. I’m tired and its about 12:00 A.M. now. I have to wake up early and do something with my hair. Write once in a lifetime to me, please…
Love ya,
Carol
December 22, 1968
December 22, 1968
5:00 P.M.
Dear Larry:
Thought I had better write a few lines since I hadn’t written you the last couple of days. How are you? Ok I hope. Here everyone is ok so far.
Today is the Children’s Christmas Party at the club, so Tresa and Karl went. Tresa just got home with 4 bags of nuts and candy and a gift from Santa. Karl isn’t home as yet and neither is Dad. I imagine Dad will stay until the last dog is gone. Ha. He didn’t have to work today, but I imagine his day will be busy tomorrow.
Today here is a very cloudy, rainy day. The weather man said it is supposed to snow tomorrow, so maybe we just might have a white Christmas.
To Wish You Many Joys at Christmas and Every Happiness in the New Year
December 18, 1968
Hi Larry,
I bet you thought I would never write. I think I got my letter writing done when I was in the service. Their isn’t a day that goes by that my thoughts aren’t with you. We are always praying for you.
Jackie and Kathy are really growing up. you won’t recognize them when you get home. The get into everything, just like you used to. I always mention your name and show your picture to them so they still remember their cousin.
Hope you aren’t having it too rough Larry. I hope you had a good time when you went on R&R. You’d better watch them women!
I was telling Charlene the other day, when you get home we are going to take you over to the Shrimp House in Indianapolis for a lobster dinner. We took a vacation last summer to Maine. That is where they raise them. We had our fill. You could get them a lot cheaper.
Cheryl said to say, “Hello” an d that she is thinking about you!
Charlene said the same. She wishes the best of luck to you. Larry, I am a pretty lucky guy. She is a pretty good gal.
I hope this letter finds you in good health and Larry, whatever you do, always keep your chin up. I am going to close and I know that I am bad at writing. But I always think of you.
God bless you and be careful.
Your Uncle, Jack
1965 – Miss Postwoman
This is Larry’s younger sister, Tresa, wearing their father’s postman uniform in January of 1965.
