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from service after Nanan had died Uncle Van mentioned that program to me.
While in Little Woods Uncle Van worked on the farm. He worked hard in the fields. I remember going to call him for supper and he would be bent hoeing. He had a good deep laugh and a nice twinkle in his eyes. As long as I recall he smoked a pipe and it was not uncommon for him to drop pipe ash on his coat and vest. A few burns would at times appear on his clothing.
In all spare moments he played solitare. His favorite radio programs were "Amos and Andy" and "Lum and Abner".
Nanan and Uncle Van moved to Mobile, AL, and operated the restaurant at the Kaiser Alimunum Plant. The first location was in a trailer with a window from which they served sandwiches, soft drinks, etc. In due course they had a nice restaurant facility built at the plant. With the onset of World War II business was a big success. Uncle Martin, Aunt Edna and Luva joined them in the business.
They invested in some property, including a home at 305 N. Conception Street, Mobile, AL. It is located in the city's historic section, currently being renovated. The home is on the National Historic Register.
During their years in Mobile, they enjoyed the company of Uncle Martin and Aunt Olivia and Uncle Albert and Aunt Lil. They were visited often by all of the Blanchards. Some family lived with them for a time, among them were Uncle Van's granddaughter Una, Gloria and Jay, and Donald T. Blanchard.
I went into service in 1947 and returned in 1952. While I was in service Nanan developed cancer. I understand they did everything possible to find a successful treatment. Teen wrote me they went to Hot Springs hoping the baths would retard the growth. All to no avail! After years of a valiant battle, she succumbed to cancer November 19,1951.
The last letter I received in Germany the day I left my post in Aschaffenburg was a letter from Teen informing of Nanan's death. She wrote she didn't know if she should write or wait until I arrived home. She wrote that Uncle Albert encouraged her to write me since I was now a man. The price of manhood was painful. A much awaited homecoming was certainly dampened. I was discharged at Fort Rucker, AL and went to Mobile. It was early January 1952. I saw Uncle Van and we shed some tears. I returned to New Orleans with Aunt Lil, Uncle A1, Aunt Edna and Uncle Van.
Uncle Van stayed in Mobile for a while, lived with one of his brothers, Arthur, then finally njoved to Jackson, Mississippi where he died in 1962. He survived Nanan eleven years.
Once during those eleven years a Blanchard family picnic was held at Teen's in Little Woods in 1957. We asked Uncle Van to attend, but heard nothing from him. You can imagine the surprise and joy when he arrived by taxi. Uncle Van loved all of the
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