just a cross in a cemetery, not Goldie’s
My father, Charles Leroy HEISER (known as Charlie) had two sisters: Dorothy (Dot) and Mary.
Their mother, Goldie PRICE HEISER, died during the Spanish Flu epidemic in 1919. Charlie was 5, Dot was 3, and Mary was 1. The family lived in Washington, DC at that time.
Siblings separated
After Goldie passed, Charlie lived in Frederick, Maryland with his mother’s parents, Montgomery PRICE and Sally PYLES PRICE. Dot and Mary went to a foundling home briefly while their dad, Daniel Wilbert HEISER, figured out how to raise these young ‘uns himself.
Dan went to York, Pennsylvania where his parents lived. He was matched to widow, Maria HESS, who had three children of her own. Dan and Maria married, and Dan got Dot and Mary from the foundling home just a few months after he left them there.
Charlie continued living with his maternal grandparents. He never knew why his dad never came for him, and he never asked either. There could be several reasons, but we’ll never know for sure.
My dad, Charlie Heiser, in his early 20’s
Dot gets pranked
When Charlie was about 16 or 17, he borrowed a car and took a trip to York, Pennsylvania to see his father and sisters. He hadn’t seen them since Goldie passed away. When he arrived at their home, one person he met was Maria’s son, Allen. Allen and Charlie were the same age and they hit it off.
“Charlie, let pull a prank on Dot when she comes in,” said Allen. Now Charlie loved a good joke and a laugh, so he was all in.
Shortly,Dot came home. “Dot, come here,” said Allen. “I want you to meet a friend of mine.”
Dot with son, Norm, and father, Dan, in 1957.
Dot came in the room and pretty much swooned. My dad was a fine-looking man with sparkling blue eyes and a fantastic smile. Dot pulled out all her charms and flirted with Charlie for a few minutes before Allen started cracking up. I’m told he was laughing so hard he about fell on the floor.
Finally Allen couldn’t take it anymore. “Dot, this is your brother, Charlie. He’s come up from Maryland to see you and your dad and your sister.”
Charlie and Dot in the 1980’s at Charlie’s house. This is one of my favorite pictures ever.
Siblings reunited
Dot turned red and was speechless for a moment. Then she proceeded to playfully hit on Allen for pulling such a trick on her. Charlie was laughing and grinning the entire time.
Dot turned to Charlie and examined him. “You do look something like Dad.” Charlie hugged Dot, and it was the beginning of them being siblings again.
Copyright © 2017 Nancy H. Vest All Rights Reserved
Great story Nancy! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thanks, Colleen. And thanks for stopping by. 🙂