Epilogue: Dear Mary "Letters from The War"

“Wisdom consists of knowing how to distinguish the nature of trouble, and in choosing the lesser evil.” 

Niccolò Machiavelli, The Prince

When the United States entered "The War" the leaders of our country were wise to know the lesser evil. Though millions of men, women and children were lost in the war, many more are free and the world is surely a better place today as a result of the defeat of Hilter's Germany, Emperor Hirohito's Japan, and Mussolini's Italy in World War II.

World War II was the deadliest military conflict in history. Over 60 million people were killed, (though there are estimates today up to 80 million) which was over 2.5% of the world population. It is staggering to think of the human losses in "The War." (There is a table of deaths by country and very good information on casualties on Wikipedia.)
The tragic loss of human life as a result of "The War" in comparison to today's population, would be equal to literally wiping out all human life in the states of California, Texas and New York. It is unfathomable!

 The "Letters to Mary" however, would not exist had there been no war.

It was "The War" that brought Gwen and Bill and Henri and Mary together while spinning millions of other lives apart. It is hard to see through the horrors of war, and see the goodness of war, but indeed there is, though it may be diminished by the scale of tragedies.

It is hard for a human to even imagine the future paths of our lives, and yet so very easy to look back. We do not know and can not foresee our own fates and it is probably best that way! One thing for sure, one day our lives on this earth will end!

And this blog of "Letters to Mary" has also come to an end...

As we are approaching the 70th anniversary this June 6, 2014, of the landing of allied forces on the the beaches of Normandy France, the "Greatest Generation" is passing on and all but gone. 

Soon all their voices will be silent. Their lives committed to papers only. 

My hope for humanity would be from the lessons of "The War" that we not forget the evil forces of man that walk beside us and that we always know how to distinguish the nature of trouble, and that we will be given the wisdom of choosing the lesser evil. 

It is not possible to say why these letters survived or why I felt compelled to commit them to this blog....only that they did and I did. 

In closing and to share a few poignant quotes of relevance from Marcus Tullius Cicero

 

“The life given us, by nature is short; but the memory of a well-spent life is eternal.”

 

"The only excuse for war is that we may live in peace unharmed."

 

“To be ignorant of what occurred before you were born is to remain always a child. For what is the worth of human life, unless it is woven into the life of our ancestors by the records of history?” 

(This quote was supplied by my sister Carol Ann Garner Clements and led me to search for more closing quotes that had relevance to the end of this post and project)

 

“The life of the dead is placed on the memories of the living. The love you gave in life keeps people alive beyond their time. Anyone who was given love will always live on in another's heart.” 

“History is the witness that testifies to the passing of time; it illumines reality, vitalizes memory, provides guidance in daily life and brings us tidings of antiquities. 
”

 

“The function of wisdom is to discriminate between good and evil.”

 

Marcus Tullius Cicero~ Roman philosopher, politician, lawyer, orator, political theorist, consul and constitutionalist. 

And now I have to get on with my life!  I hope those who followed along enjoyed the journey! 

I am thankful to be the daughter of an American Soldier and his English bride.

Karen Lynne Garner Martin Messick 

Mary returns home to Baltimore 10 September 1945 ~ life after "The War"

Mary Willis Garner, storekeeper First Class V10 USNR was honorably discharged from the U.S. Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Illinois and from the Naval Service of the United States the 10th day September 1945 after 31 months of service. She served from 25 February 1943 until 10 September 1945. Upon discharge, she received an honorable Service Lapel Pin and emblems. Her service during 'The War" was represented by one of the four stars in her Mothers Service Flag.

Mary returned to her parents home at 2425 Calverton Heights Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland, where she and Bill were reunited later that month. 
In November 1945,  after spending two months at home, Mary went to Washington, DC where she set up her home and was employed by the Navy in a civilian capacity.  Mary always lived in small apartments. As a child I visited on occasional weekends, and enjoyed spending time with Aunt Mary. For as long as she was employed in Washington, DC she never drove a car. She took the trains back and forth to visit Baltimore and Bill (Dad) often picked her up at Camden Station. Bill (Dad) would drive to Washington on occasion and bring Mary back to Baltimore for a visit.
Mary purchased a home on Kevin Road in the neighborhood of Edmondson Village, Baltimore for her parents to live in some time after she established herself in Washington, DC. She returned to Kevin Road often to visit and maintained a room there as well. 

Souil Wade Garner on the piano and Carol Ann by his side.
Standing from left to right, and joining in the singing of
hymns, Gwen, Bernard and Souil William Garner.
Circa 1949

Mary's mother Phoebe Emma Biggs Garner passed away in 1967 at the age of 87 and was laid to rest in Druid Hill Cemetery, Baltimore, Md.

Her father Soul Wade Garner passed away in 1972 at the age of 87 and was laid to rest along side his wife in Druid Hill Cemetery, Baltimore, Md. 
Bill and Mary dissolved their parents marital home.
  
Mary continued to work in the Department of the Navy until she retired after 30 years of service in 1972. While employed she continued her education, received promotions and retired with the title of Deputy Director of the Property Accounting Department, Navy Regional Finance Center, in Crystal City, Arlington, Virginia. 

Upon her retirement, at the age 0f 63, Mary moved to an apartment in Randallstown, Md. near her remaining family, Bill and Gwen, Soul and Harriet, and Bernard and Jane.

Phoebe Emma Biggs Garner, Mary's Mother and Souil Wade Garner, Mary's Dad.

Mary with her nieces, Carol Ann Garner and Patricia Lee Garner and
nephew Wilbur C Garner Jr. Christmas 1951.

The following was written by Mary, and found by Bill when he was clearing her apartment in 1996, preparing to move her into assisted living quarters. 
He typed up her notes and titled the document as follows when he passed it on to me. 

"Musings, written by my sister, Mary W. Garner, found among her belongings upon clearing out her apartment, preparatory to her move to SUNRISE of Pikesville, on 5 June 1996." ~ Wilbur C. Garner 

 

CHRISTMAS 1970 ~ Mary Willis Garner

" The first Christmas that no member of the family, except Souil and Harriet, visited at our house (Pop's and mine at Kevin Road). Also, the first Christmas that the family did not have a real "get together." 

On Christmas Day, Souil & Harriett invited us to dinner. Only Pop, I, Bill and Gwen accepted and, of course, Jessie May was already there. 

Karen, Dale, and their first baby Rachael; Carol, Bruce and Christy Jane (2yr 10 mos.) visited with Harriett until about 4:00 p.m. (about an hour after we arrived), then all departed for different destinations. We ate about 5:00p.m. Then watched TV until 8:00 p.m. Souil and Harriet drove us home. Bill and Gwen left just a few minutes before we did.

I had been sick with a sinus cold this week preceding Christmas and Bill drove to Arlington on Wednesday night and picked up "Bag and Baggage" and took me to Baltimore. As a result of my misery there was no chocolate cake, coconut cake, or special cookies or fixings at Pop's. This probably saved the day (and the weight) for all over-weight dieters. Specifically, Souil, Harriet, Wilbur, Gwen. Three of us are under doctor's directions to lose weight. As of now, I think only Souil has been really successful. He has high blood pressure; Wilbur has weak abdominal tissue problem, and I have circulatory ailment. So you see, time has caught us all (except Bernard). In spite of his leg difficulty and asthma, he seems to keep going with much verve and vigor.

We went to Bernard's house for the day after Christmas (Saturday) and young Bernard, Jr. and Elaine visited. Everyone seemed in excellent spirits and, again, all were troubled with excess weight except Jane and Patricia. As always, they are quite comfortably lean--at least not over-weight. The two dogs were like children, competing for everyone's attention and they are quite smart and intelligent!

Then Sunday, Pop and I were invited to Bill's house. He picked us up about noon. We had dinner about 2:00 p.m. Wilbur Jr., and Carole, finally arrived from Blacksburg about 1:00 p.m. for a two-day visit with his mother and father. He graduated from VPI a few days before Christmas. They left about 4:30 to visit someone else. Bill and Gwen drove me back to Arlington, Va., and Pop seemed to enjoy the ride. None of them came in, only to bring my packages upstairs and then left immediately.

Somehow, the holiday seemed an immense disappointment. There are no more considerate responses between the family units, the great grand children only see Pop about twice a year for perhaps an hour or two. The grandchildren never call and never visit. It is disheartening to watch the little superficial gestures and see the total lack of indifference to Pop. No one asks him or wants him to play the Christmas Hymns, either at home or at Bernard's, and Bernard does not want him to ever to touch their organ. For what reason, I do not know and cannot fathom. We seemed to have reached a state of total disregard for, or lack of understanding of the individual members of the family groups.

I found the situation most distressing and depressing and could hardly restrain my tears until I reached the solitude of my apartment on Sunday evening.

It hardly seems possible that Dad will be with us next year. He seems to have the unconscious attitude that with each gathering he is saying his "farewells," at least it seems this way to me. I know I cannot keep him and yet I cannot let him go. It seems he is gradually withdrawing by letting go here with one hand and holding out the other for a "step across the road", Sometimes I feel I cannot watch the going.

CHRISTMAS 1971 ~ Mary Willis Garner

So many things are changed this year. Gwen invited the entire family to their house for Christmas Day.
None of the Bernard Garner family accepted. We really missed Jane & Bernard, Elaine, Bunny and Patricia. They all had dinner at Bernard, Sr.'s for dinner. This replaced the regular Christmas get-together with them. While it was nice to visit, it did not seem like Christmas. 

On the 22nd December, Bill and Gwen came to Kevin Road and put up Pop's tree. We had a lovely dinner together.

On the 24th December, Souil, Harriet, Jessie May, Wilbur, Jr., & Carole had dinner with Pop and me at Kevin Road. We had a 2:00 p.m. dinner so that Souil could get home before total darkness because of his eye problem. The dinner, again, was fine and everyone in a pleasant mood. 

Jessie Mae (Harriet's sister) does seem to have recovered completely from the breast removal operation last September. She looks fine.

Harriet had such a bad cold she could hardly breathe and really did not seem her regular peppy self. 
Pop was somewhat more quiet than usual. No one played or sang Christmas songs. No one turned on the TV because no Christmas programs were scheduled. Pop did not once touch the piano during my visit 22nd thru 25th. We were both "pushing around" either preparing food, visiting or being visited.

Christmas day I drove my car and we went to Bill's around noon. Carol & Bruce and Christy would be leaving for dinner at the Clement's at 6:00 p.m. Karen, Dale and Rachael would go to the Martin's for another late dinner and , of course, Souil, Harriet and Jessie Mae would want to be in before dark.

This year, I, too, have a real problem which I have not made known, generally. I have developed a serious eye ailment since May 1971 which has destroyed the center front vision in my right eye. The problem began after I purchased my car in April. The vision has been getting steadily worse. I do not want to tell Pop and he thinks I am "chicken" about driving my car. However, I too, felt that I should not drive after dark and so we left Wilbur's when the others were leaving about 4:00 p.m. We arrived at Kevin Road just after dusk to find no parking space closer than Rokeby Road. So we parked on Rokeby Road and walked down home. Later I went up the street about 7:30 p.m. and moved my car to Kevin Road when the visitors moved out.
I left Kevin Road about 11:15 a.m., on Sunday, and got back to Arlington without mishap, though my eyes did cause me some concern by the time I was midway trip. 

Called Dr. Golden, on Monday 27th for reference to the eye specialist he had mentioned. Then called the specialist, Dr. Joseph Dessoff's office for appointment which they could not make until they had a cancellation. They called me on Wednesday and made appointment for 10:15 a.m., Thursday. His diagnosis was approximately what Dr. Weiner's had been: vision 90% destroyed in right eye due to cyst having formed on back of eye and perforated the retina when it ruptured. He said the central vision for reading was totally gone and nothing could be done. Described the situation of the cyst as being similar to a blister on the skin that disappears after being punctured. The hole is directly in the center of the Macula. He thinks that there maybe no further deterioration of the sight unless something else develops. He gave me a prescription very similar to the present driving glasses for driving. He said I must wear my glasses at all times, indoor and out, no matter what, in order to relieve unnecessary strain on the left eye, which, with the prescription will give me perfect vision in the left eye.

I left the prescription at Nicholsen & Oldt's on Friday 31, 1971 (as though closing not only the year, but the part of my active life that cannot be recovered).

Perhaps because of my own mental stress, I felt that all the other members of my own immediate family were in a very quiet, reserved and pensive mood. Almost as though mentally letting go of each other."

I am sadder than I have ever been in my life. I cannot look back; I cannot look ahead! 

I now begin this day-to-day unplanned existence of monotony because I can only read a certain length of time and things begin to lose their former interest for me. I know that I must very soon make a decision as to when I will retire and I simply cannot lay plans for that time. ~ Mary Willis Garner

In Mary's personal profile written on 1 October 1976 for our genealogical records, she wrote,
"There were many ups and downs, while working, but nothing stayed the same for very long. This I found to be a perpetual challenge." 

"Believe me, nothing compares to this retirement life - It's really living!"

Mary eventually lost her ability to function independently. In 1996 Bill facilitated a move from her small apartment in Randallstown, Md to an assisted living facility in Pikesville, Md. Bill and Gwen visited her every week sometimes twice weekly, tending to her needs, never forgetting her dedication and thoughtfulness to them both during those war time years and the love she showered on their children. When Gwen passed away in 2000 Bill continued to visit Mary and manage her monies until he became ill and passed away in 2002, at which time her youngest brother Bernard Shelton Garner became her Power of Attorney. 
She remained a resident of SUNRISE until her passing as a result of Alzheimer's disease at the age of 93, on September 21, 2003 and was laid to rest in the family burial plot alongside her parents in Druid Hill Cemetery, Baltimore, Md.

 Mary never had any children and never married. She did have five nieces and nephews, as well as grand nieces and nephews to love, and she did with all her heart! Bernard S Garner, as her Executor, settled her estate.

Bernard Shelbourne Garner after "The War"

Often in the "Letters to Mary" that Bill wrote when he was overseas in "The War" he mentioned Bernard and Jane. Bernard was his youngest brother and the last of the five children of Phoebe Emma Biggs Garner and Souil Wade Garner. Though he was of age when "The War" broke out, he was born on 20 September 1923, Bernard never served in "The War" due to medical issues. Bernard had been physically challenged since childhood by a leg which he almost lost at the the age of 15 months. He was just starting to walk well when he fell to the floor one day and cried. His mother picked him up, consoled him, and set him on his feet again - but once more he fell to the floor. His mother then noticed that he felt feverish and summoned the family doctor, Dr. Walter Grempler. After examining Bernard, he immediately called in for consultation a surgeon, Dr. Johnson. Bernard's illness was diagnosed as streptococcus infection of his right knee, which required immediate surgery if his leg, and possibly his life, were to be saved. He was rushed to Union Memorial Hospital for care and was hospitalized many weeks by this illness. They were able to save the leg, but he never had full use of it.

He graduated from Baltimore Polytechnic School and after trying several lines of work, he finally embarked on his own business of interior decorating, specializing in custom made draperies.
He married Margaret Jane Durding, the only child of Benjamin Francis Durding and his wife, Anna Legg.

Left to right: Bernard Shelbourne Garner Jr, Jane Durding Garner, Bernard Shelbourne Garner Sr, Patricia Lee Garner.

Bernard and Jane produced two children, Bernard Shelbourne Garner, Jr born 13 January 1943 and Patricia Lee Garner born 13 May 1950. Bernard and Jane raised their children to adulthood and then divorced.

Bernard remarried and his second wife Vivian R. Garner predeceased him.

Bernard, in his later years, lived with his daughter, Patricia, until he became ill and passed away on March 23, 2011 at the age of 87.  He was laid to rest in the Garner family burial plot, next to his brother Souil William Garner, Druid Ridge Cemetery, Baltimore, Md. He was the last of the five children born to Souil Wade Garner and Phoebe Emma Biggs Garner, to pass away, and so with the passing of Bernard, ended the "Greatest Generation" of the Garner family.

Mary Willis Garner, Souil William Garner, Bernard Shelbourne Garner, and Wilbur Cecil Garner
(Joseph Randolph Garner Absent)

Wilbur C Garner and Gwendoline Rosa Wilkins Garner life after "The War"

After their  reunion in February 1946, when Gwen arrived in the United States for the first time on the Queen Mary, Bill and Gwen lived on with Bill's parents at 2425 Calverton Heights Avenue, Baltimore, for one more year, until their second child, Wilbur C. Garner, Jr, was born in February 1947.

Gwen on the steps 2425 Calverton Heights Avenue

Bill on the steps
2425 Calverton Heights Avenue

Shortly after Wilbur C Garner Jr's birth Bill and Gwen purchased a small row home in Hampden, Baltimore, City, Md. They moved their growing family to 1418 Berry Street.

Gwen and Carol Betterton Beach, Maryland 1946

Gwen on the steps 2425 Calverton Heights Avenue circa 1947
with Carol and Wilbur Jr.

Gwen became a naturalized citizen in 1951. The years passed and it wasn't long before Gwen and Bill were welcoming their third child Karen L Garner into the world in August of 1952. They stayed on at 1418 Berry Street until they could afford a larger home for the family and in 1956 they moved to 3800 Elmcroft Road in Randallstown, Md where they spent the rest of their lives.

Wilbur Jr, Gwen holding Karen and Carol looking on
1418 Berry Street circa 1952

Souil William Garner life after "The War"

Souil William Garner

Souil the first child in the Souil Wade and Phoebe Emma Garner family, was often referred to in Bill's (Wilbur C Garner) "Letters to Mary." Souil's service during WWII was represented by one of the four Blue Star's on his Mothers Service Flag, which hung in her window.

Souil took basic training with the U.S. Army Air Force at Miami Beach, Florida and attended Army Finance School at Fort Benjamen Harrison, Indianappolis, Indiana. In January 1944 he was assigned to the Finance Office at Buckingham Army Airfield, Fort Myers, Florida, and served there until June 1945, at which time he was assigned to the Finance Office at Fort Dix, Trenton, New Jersey, from which point he received an Honorable Discharge on September 10, 1945.

Souil returned to Baltimore where he and his wife Harriett Kimpton Garner set up residency. He spent his post war career at The Maryland Casualty Company until he retired.
Harriett, during the war, served as a volunteer worker with the American Red Cross as a Gray Lady, sewing and knitting in the Production Department. She was also a volunteer worker with Civil Defense helping care for children in convalescent homes.

Harriett Kimpton Garner and Souil William Garner Clifton Park Baltimore 1955

7000 Brompton Road 1959 Souil and Harriet's marital home.

Harriet became a homemaker and was active in her church. Harriet and Souil had no children. Because they had no children and because Souil had a rewarding position at The Maryland Casualty Company, they could travel for vacations. They drove west through Colorado and New Mexico and enjoyed spending time on the road in Florida. They made their home in the neighborhood of Woodmoor in Baltimore, Md. at 7000 Brompton Road and lived there for the rest of their lives.

Harriett Kimpton Garner, Phoebe Emma Biggs Garner and Souil Wade Garner enjoying a road trip on the
Blue Ridge Parkway Ravens Roost 1959

Harriet passed away at the age of 79 in 1985 and Souil passed away at the age of 82 in 1988. They both were laid to rest alongside each other in the Garner family burial plot in the Druid Ridge Cemetery, Baltimore, Md.

August 1966 Blue Ridge Parkway

                                                       Wilbur (Bill) C Garner, Souil's brother as Executor of Souil's will, dissolved their marital home and estate.

Joseph Randolph Garner life after "The War"

Joseph Randolph Garner

Joe, one of Bill's older brothers, who was mentioned in Bill's "Letters To Mary" was always in trouble. Having been dishonorably discharged from both the United States Marines and The United States Army: he just could not fit in.
After the war in 1945, he set up residence in the state of Florida. He resided in St. Petersburg and was estranged from the family until late in life. He was absent in family gathering photos.

Garner Family 1949 (Absent Joe Randolph Garner)
From Left to right standing back row: Bernard Shelbourne Garner, Jane Durding Garner,
Souil William Garner, Gwendoline Rosa Wilkins Garner, Jessie Mae Kimpton,
Harriett Kimpton Garner, Mary Willis Garner, Wilbur Cecil Garner.
1st seated woman Eva May Stansbury Kimpton, Seated 2nd from left Phoebe Emma Biggs Garner, 3 rd from left, Kate Hudman Wilkins, 4th from left Anna Catherine Durding,  Boy on man's lap, Bernard Shelbourne Garner, Jr, and man Benjamin Francis Durding, Man in chair, Souil Wade Garner, holding Wilbur Cecil Garner Jr. and Carol Ann Garner

 He took random jobs such as driving taxi cabs and school buses. There are no pictures of Joe in either of his military uniforms from his "service" in the Marines or The Army Reserve. His service in the The Army was represented on his Mothers Service Star Flag.

Joe fathered one child from his marriage with Alice Barham Garner, Joseph Randolph Garner, Jr.
His wife Alice Barham Garner divorced, remarried and moved away to Massachusetts. Her second husband with the sir name of Rushton, adopted Joseph Randolph Garner Jr. and he assumed the last name of Rushton. Joseph Randolph Garner Rushton fathered three children.

Joeseph Randall Garner, Sr. passed away in 1993 at the age of 81 and was laid to rest next to his parents in the Garner family burial plot in Druid Ridge Cemetery, Baltimore, Md.

Henri C Romieux's life after "The War" ~ 25 April 1945 - 8 March 1980

From the 1922 Zenith yearbook, Central High School, Duluth, Minnesota

Henri C Romieux, was born 23 January, 1904 Superior, Wisconsin, the last of three children. His father, Julien taught high school French and Spanish. Julien immigrated to the US  leaving from Bordeaux, France on 1 May 1889.  He became a naturalized citizen 6 Aug 1898. 

His mother, Delphine was born in Quebec, Canada.  Delphine and Julien were married 21 July 1890 in Saint-Felix-De-Kingsey, Quebec, Canada.

Henri enlisted in the Navy on 20 December 1941 when he was 37 years old.  He was released honorably from service on 26 September 1945 at the age of 42, five months after he wrote his last  "Letter to Mary." 

He returned to Minnesota after the war and was employed by Cargill, Inc in their Cargo Carriers Division.

Henri was abducted in 1957 as reported in The Austin Daily Herald, and The Tuscon Daily Citizen. The article below must have been syndicated as it appeared in several remote states papers with slightly different versions.

Herve John Romieux and his brother on the right Henri C Romieux

14 Nov. 1957 – The Austin Daily Herald   “Pair Hunted in North Dakota”  Mill City man tells of kidnapping.  Dickenson, ND

North Dakota lawmen today hunted for two men a Minneapolis businessman said kidnapped and took him on a wild, three state ride.  Henri Romieux, 54, assistant secretary of Cargo Carriers, a Cargill, Inc. subsidiary walked into the Dickenson police station Wednesday and nervously told a story that began after he left a movie in downtown Minneapolis Tuesday night.  Forced into car Romieux said his abductors, one about 23 and the other about 40, forced him into his 1957 model car, then drove west to Willmar, MN.  There, he said, they took $ 20.00 from him and used some of it to buy gasoline.  Romieux said the nighttime ride took them over some highways, some side roads and at speeds occasionally over 100 mph.  Phoned home when they reached Bowdley, SD Wednesday morning.  Romieux said abductors became rough and threatening.

The Tuscon Daily Citizen Reported the account on 14 November as follows:

Gunmen Kidnap Insurance Man - DICKINSON, N. D.
A Minneapolis businessman said today he believed two men who kidnapped him at gunpoint and dumped him near here were bent on robbery and car theft. Henry C. Romieux, 55, insurance manager of Cargill Elevators in Minneapolis, said the abductors jabbed a gun in his ribs Tuesday night when he emerged from a Minneapolis theater and got into his car. They drove an erratic course westward across three states at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour at times and freed him yesterday afternoon when the car ran out of gasoline east of Sentine' Butte, N.D. Romieux described the gunmen as about 25 and 40 years old. He said they robbed him of about $20 all the cash he had with him, but generally treated him well. At one point yesterday, Romieux said, the soft-spoken abductors stopped at a service station in Bowdle, S.D., so he could telephone a nurse in Minneapolis who cares for his aged mother to assure her he was all right. The abduction of Romieux, a bachelor, was not discovered until he walked into police headquarters at Dickinson late yesterday and related his harrowing experience. Authorities at first investigated, the possibility that one of the abductors might have been wanted for killing two policemen in North Carolina. However, a description of the killer sent police here did not match either of the two kidnapers. Romieux said the two men demanded all his money and used the $20 he turned over to them to buy gasoline. He said he believed the gunmen wanted only his car to flee the Minneapolis area and his money. After freeing him, Romieux said, the men thumbed a ride in a car leading east and left him standing on the highway. 

Henri was one of three brothers:

Charles J. Romieux  Born 1897, the first of Henri's brothers passed away in 1957

Charles was a Sales Manager for American Cyanamid Co., Plastics and Resins Division.  He was a member of Harvard Class of 1919.  He has several US patents for plastic technology.  He lived in quite a few places in the US:  Elizabeth Union, NJ; Scarsdale, NY, Rochester, NY; and Philadelphia.  He also traveled to many foreign locations.  
In fact, he died in Brussels, Belgium in a hotel of a heart attack. 
Charles was buried 17 April 1957, age 60, in Holy Sepulchre  Cemetary, Rochester, NY

Herve John Romieux (aka Harry)Born 4 October 1900, the second of Henri's brothers passed away in 1967 

He attended the State Normal School, Duluth was in his third year 1910-1911. He served in WWI.
Died: 1967, Amhurst, VA (Monroe Co.) Buried: Holy Cross Cemetery, Lynchburg, VA His relatives migrated to NC.

Henri's Mother, Delphine B. Prince Romieux, passed away on 29 of October 1958 in Hennepin County, Minnesota at the age of 86.

Henri's Father,  Julien M. Romieux, passed away on 29 Mar. 1937 in St. Louis County, Minnesota, at the age of 73.
 

Henri's passing was the last of the three children born to Julien and Delphine Romieux. 
He passed away at the age of 76 on 8 March 1980 in Ramsey County, Minnesota and was buried in the Ft. Snelling National Cemetery, Minnesota. 

Henri died a bachelor.  
Henri had no children. 
Henri never married Mary.

*A substantial amount of the information in this blog post on Henri C Romieux and the Romieux family was researched as I was posting the "Letters to Mary" blogs and provided by my sister Carol Ann Garner Clements.

Carol's research led her to contact Marilyn, a daughter of Herve John Romieux. Marilyn shared with Carol a few memories of her Uncle Henry. 

Marilyn, now 80,  wrote in an e-mail dated February 24, 2014.........
"It is good to think of my dear uncle ..........

Herve John Romieux and his brother on the right Henri C Romieux
Images courtesy of Joesph K Freeman (grand nephew of Henri C Romieux)

Henri never married.  When my grandmother (Delphine Romieux) could no longer take care of herself, he maintained a home for them in Minneapolis until her death.  It was during this time that his abduction took place. Henri was a darling.  He was always upbeat and visited our family in Virginia annually during his later years.  We all loved him.  I have five children and they remember him well, especially the youngest.  Before retirement, Henri worked for Cargill and I think he was in the insurance end of things."  

Gwendoline Rosa Wilkins Garner a "War Bride" departs England for the United States 2 February 1946

Telegram sent from Gwendoline's parents upon her departure to America on the Queen Mary.

Six months had passed since Gwen last saw Bill, when Gwen finally boarded the Queen Mary for the United States. 

 

Christmas passed and Bill missed his  Baby's First Christmas, but finally the day came when the US would transport thousands of British GI War Brides with their children to the United States. In Washington, D.C. the War Brides Act (Public law 271, 79th Congress) was passed and signed into law on December 28, 1945 by President Harry Truman. After passage, alien spouses of citizen members of the armed forces were officially "deemed to be non-quota immigrants" and would not need a visa. Application for admission to the country under this act had to be filed within three years of the date of it's passage. After being "medically examined," these war brides could enter the United States as soon as transportation was available. The application for transportation must have been filed by the husband.

Very soon after Christmas 1945 a conference was held in Washington, D.C. by representatives from the War Department, Public Health Service, Department of State, Justice Department, American Red Cross, Immigration and Naturalization Service, War shipping Administration and several domestic and foreign steamship lines, and a coordinated plan of operation was drawn up. Over time more than 70,000 women and children would be transported by the US Government to their new homes in the United States. The first official GI Bride ship departed on 26 January 1946 amid a blaze of publicity when the Argentina left England with 626 U.S. dependents aboard. It was soon followed by the Queen Mary carrying 2,340 passengers.

Gwen wrote about those days crossing the Atlantic in her memoirs ~ dated 1999

"The next big event in my life took place the day I walked up the gangplank of the liner R.M.S. "Queen Mary", carrying Carol in my arms, destination New York, U.S.A. By now it was February 1946. My dear mother and father journeyed to Southampton to see us depart and I have often wondered just what thoughts were going through their minds and what their feelings were as they watched their only child and grandchild on the deck of that ship and become but a memory as each successive wave from the wake of the "Queen" increased the distance between ship and shore. Thus ended a 22-year era of my life --happy, yet unhappy. happy because I was starting out on a new adventure, but unhappy in the knowledge that I was leaving behind two very dear people who had made my journey through life to that date the most pleasant experience.

And so we journeyed on across the stormy Atlantic, sharing our stateroom with three other British girls, each with one child of their own. And what a challenge that journey was!  Washing diapers and getting them dry in time for their next use; warming up bottles of milk and thin oatmeal; elbowing each other as we maneuvered in that tiny space to get our babies clean and presentable. The trip was rough-- but I have always loved the sea and I made the most of every minute of the time spent on board. 
After 5 1/2 days we docked in New York and I will never forget my first night and morning in America. It was close to midnight when I was told to get ready to  leave the ship to be taken to the 7th Regiment Armory in New York City where I was told my husband would be waiting for me. However, after waiting for several hours and watching the many joyful reunions that took place that night (but no Bill), an elderly couple who had befriended me gave me sufficient American money to enable me to place a phone call to Baltimore to find out what had gone wrong! Well, it turned out that the Red Cross organization had told Bill to stay in Baltimore and to meet me at Camden Station.......and the Red Cross in New York had told me he would be at the Armory in New York! Any rate, after eventually being taken to the American Hotel to try to get a little rest, we were put on board a train the following afternoon for Baltimore, arriving some 2 1/2 hours later --and there was Bill waiting at the station. It was sheer ecstasy to finally be with him to live what I hoped would be, and what has turned out to be to this moment in time, the rest of our lives together.  " 

Gwen and Carol on the right on board the Queen Mary.
Even the AP guys misspelled Bill's name, it's Wilbur!

The Queen Mary was the second transport ship to arrive New York, New York 8 February 1945. On board daily mimeographed newsletters were produced to keep the brides informed of daily goings on, meal times and cartoons. 

This is a reproduction of a drawing found in one of the on board newspapers.
Both the women and their babies were tagged when boarding to keep things straight.

This is another image reproduced from the daily newspapers on board the Queen Mary
while transporting it's precious cargo of War Brides and their babies to America.

Menu from the Queen Mary while transporting the War Brides and their babies.
Seems by the hand written comment, Gwen was very  happy with the menus!
After six years of war time food supplies in England.

Image from one of the daily new sheets produced on the Queen Mary February 1946

Gwendoline was interviewed as she arrived by train in Baltimore by reporters of The Sunpapers.

Arrival in Baltimore...seems the paper got Bill's name wrong again! February 1946

The British Newspapers ran headlines "The Petticoat Pilgrims."
This paper clipping was sent to Gwen in the US, in a letter by Kate Hudman Wilkins, Gwen's mother.
(Notice the TAGS on all the coats of the women and babies)

Many books have been written over the years about the War Bride phenomenon of WWII.