"I Remember Mama" was a television program that was popular when I was a child and this year I thought I would mark the first anniversary of my mother, Marion Dalton's death on December 25th, Christmas Day 2006 with some remembrances of her life.

Mother was a patriot. Anyone who knew Marion, knows that she was born on the 4th of July, 1924.  She rushed into the world prematurely, weighing only four pounds, to celebrate the Nation's Birthday as she continued to do with vigor throughout her life.  She was the first child of Theodore John Verden and Belva Hyink.  She was welcomed by T.J.'s three children from a previous marriage Dolores, Theodore Jr. and Lorraine and was followed by three siblings Russell, Harriet and Paul.  Her father had been sent to Milwaukee by his father to open a branch of Northwestern Barrel Company.  This was before plastic, and steel drums were an important commodity.  Ted and Belva raised their brood in a large three story house on Woodlawn Court in Milwaukee which in Marion's eyes was the most prestigious place to live. Movie stars Spencer Tracy, Pat O'Brien, Jack Carson and Nancy Olson who later married Alan Jay Lerner, had all been raised in the neighborhood.  Marion was an actress with a dramatic flair throughout her life.

Marion was a madcap and a lot of fun! Her childhood friend, Polly Genslin and she were always getting into mischief, dressing up in silly clothes, assuming imaginary identities and generally acting crazy.  When she was eleven, Marion, nicknamed Tinka, was invited by another friend to the 1st Baptist Church where she met Bobby Dalton.
He was tall, dark and handsome and the rest is history.  They went to Washington High School where they met lifelong friends Dennis and Jackie Price.  Marion transferred to a private school, Milwaukee Downer.  She was an excellent student except for her first day in French class where she pronounced "oui" as "o-y" instead of "wee" and had the class marking her as class clown.  Her senior year, her father moved the family to South Milwaukee to a house on the barrel factory property. It was quite a humiliation for Mom and heartache to be so far from Bobby having to court by bus. 

WWII had started and soon Bob joined the Army Air Corps and was stationed in Belleville, Illinois.  Marion was a romantic and after graduating and turning 19 on July 4th, and took the train to marry Bob on July 17th, 1943. Carrying her trousseau in a suitcase, she had worn her oldest garter belt to hold up her silk stockings. Of course, it broke as she got off the train, leaving the troupes on the train hooting and her red-faced.  The morning of her wedding, she decided to give her blonde hair a special olive oil treatment. Unfortunately, it left her with dark greasy ringlets. To make matters worse, Bob was stuck in a long line of soldiers trying to get off base and was hours late.  Once off, he met Marion who was faithfully waiting at the bus stop and went to the County Clerk's office.  As promised, the Clerk was still there, but was dismayed when he realized Bob was only 19 when the legal age for grooms was 21 years, unless they had parental permission.  Marion whipped out the notarized letter from his mother, Catherine Dalton and the license was issued.  By the time they arrived at the church, the soloist had left and the minister's wife had gone to bed, but the minister, her father, mother, sister, Harriet were waiting and the marriage took place. The wedding party went for a late dinner at the local hotel and Mother recounts her embarrassment at riding the same elevator with her parents as she went to the bridal suite. It was also the first time she experienced air conditioning. It was a very fancy hotel and after T.J. and Belva left, she wanted to stay there, so she said that she could work the telephone switch board.  After disconnecting everyone, she was demoted to salad girl in the restaurant. Later she lived in a trailer by the railroad tracks and worked at ammunitions factory supporting the war effort.

Marion believed in marriage.  They were a strikingly handsome couple. Soon Robbie was on the way, born August 10th, 1944.  Fourteen months latter, I came along.  The war was still on and Mom had been afraid to tell anyone she was pregnant again since she was following Bob from base-to-base and putting Robbie in dresser drawers to sleep. She girdled herself in and didn't tell anyone until the last minute.  They were happy to be parents.  Once the war ended, Dad went to work for T.J. but that didn't last long, and he eventually went to work for former neighbors at the Fredman Bag Company.  Daltons moved to the suburbs, Westchester subdivision in Brookfield, WI. 

Marion was a mother. Randy, Ricky and Jimmy were born.  We got a dog, Kippy and pony, JoJo.   Mom sewed us all matching wool plaid robes.  She played in four bridge clubs and had lots of friends, Prices, Giffords, Hansens, Langills.  Mom was religious attending first the local Lutheran Church where Polly Genslin's brother was the minister and later the Underwood Baptist Memorial Church where Albert Calhoun Pittman and his wife, Julie inspired faith, service and friendship. In Detroit, The Golden Band and Church Ladies were paramount. Mom loved acting in "John Loves Mary" or the Blue Fairy at the Brookfield Players. Mom worked outside the home in Real Estate for Wauwatosa Realty and did well, hiring Mrs. Rogers to tend the children.  Dad joined her for a while but then he returned to Fredman Bag.  Later Dad started a business with Lyman Morgan called Rite Type and Mom helped out.  Dad was elected to the school board, the Brookfield city council and the Waukesha county commission.   Mom got political. In 1963, Mom and Dad moved to Chicago where Dad worked for Ralph Traeger as sales manager for Norelco Dictation Equipment. To help out, Mom used the pseudonym, Marion Dale, and worked in Lake Forest selling office products. We lived Wilmette near Lake Michigan and she would take Jimmy down to the lake swimming and fishing.  Marion was always a sun worshiper. 1965 moved the family to Detroit where Dad opened his own Norelco business.  Mom was flexible. First we moved to Somerset when there were two buildings and big plans. Next they moved to Detroit's Rosedale Park with dear friends Millers and Whans.  She worked with Dad when the business opened.  Dad was brilliant, charismatic and bi-polar.  Mom could handle Father.  It was a family secret and we all protected him.  The ups and downs were difficult, but Mom had signed on for better or worse. Dad ran for the Detroit City Council and lost, but Marion was appointed ambassador to Toyota, Japan by Mayor Roman Griggs. She spent six weeks chaperoning students and living with the Noba family, spreading goodwill.  Until her death, she maintained the connection, traveling to Japan three times and welcoming the Japanese to their Sister-City, Detroit. Mom also traveled to Geneva, Switzerland to lobby with the Eagle Forum and her friend Phyllis Schlafly. Marion was American always promoting American ideals and values. She was on a first name basis with Milly Linbaugh, Dan Quayle and other Conservatives. Marion was a letter writer.  You may have noticed that stamps have gone from .39 to .41 cents since she died.

She was the best at keeping in touch with friends and family through out her life.  Marion was the matriarch.  She loved her children, grandchildren and relatives.  She and her sister Harriet, though in different cities, spoke constantly. Marion was kind and loving and everyone who knew her misses her, her spirit and sense of humor, most especially me.  At this Holiday Season, may we cherish our families and friends and hold their memories dear. 

Love, Kathy Dalton   2007