Emma was born on June 02, 1927, at Modesta, California. The fifth child and fourth daughter of Bessie Ann (Hill) Pitzer and James Paul Pitzer. Emma was eleven years old when her father disappeared, she lived for one year with her mother's cousin, Clinton Brooks and his wife, Isabel, on their farm southwest of Nickerson, Kansas. She then lived with her Grandmother Pitzer on a farm near Garber, Oklahoma for one year. The rest of her young girlhood was spent at her mother's rental place in Hutchinson, Kansas. There was a time when she stayed with her sister in coffeyville, Kansas for a few months.
On January 02, 1948, Emma married Dennis Austin Cessna in Yuma, Arizona. It is interesting how she got to know Dennis (Dink). Emma's mother was making a bus trip from Hutchinson, Kansas to Coffeyville, Kansas, to visit her daughter and family Lorene Anna (Pitzer) Lewis. The year was probably 1946 or 1947. On the bus trip Emma's mother met Dink's mother who had been to Hutchinson and was returning to her home in Coffeyville. In their conversation they both talked of their children. Dink at the time was in the U.S. Army, stationed in Korea (This was before the Korean War). So the mothers exchanged address of Emma and Dink. Emma and Dink wrote and exchanged pictures of each other. When Dink returned to the States and was discharged from the service they were married. Dennis (Dink) was born April 29, 1928, in Coffeyville, Kansas. I'm not sure of the numbers, but Dink had eight or nine step brothers and sisters from his mother's previous marriage, and about the same number of step brothers and sisters from his father's previous marriage. He was the only child by that couple.
Married life started for Emma and Dink in Palm Springs, Calif. in a little trailer house. Their next move was to Hutchinson, Ks. where Dink worked as a City Fireman, from July 1948 until 1952. At that time firemen worked twentyfour hours on duty and twentyfour hours off. On his days off Dink took some business courses in Hutchinson. He also work as a plumber on his days off from the fire station. Emma and Dink lived several locations in Hutchinson, some I remember were, West Second at Monroe Street, and old stucco house, that's where they were living when Dennis Martin (Marty) Cessna was born. The next home I remember was on West sixth or seventh, on a corner (there were dirt streets). Then there was a period when Dink's work took them to Lawrence, Kansas, where Dink was Fire Instructor at Kansas University for two and one half years.
Then it was back to Hutchinson again, where for a while they lived almost to the city limits West on seventeenth Street and a little north, (it was a new addition at that time). Their last residence in Hutchinson before they left for many locations around the world, was a home they had built on West Eleventh Street, by this time Emma had two more children, Mark Allen Cessna and Teresa Mae Cessna. While at Hutchinson this time Dink worked four years as a Civilian Fireman at the Hutchinson Naval Air Base.
In 1956 the Cessna's moved from Hutchinson to Goose Bay, Labrador, in Newfoundland, Canada, where Dink was United States, Air Force, Civil Service Base Fire Chief. Interesting, the only way you can get to Goose Bay is by Airplane or Boat, there is no roads into Goose Bay from other parts of Canada. While living in Labrador they adopted a baby girl, Linda Mae Cessna, in order to have a sister for their daughter Teresa Mae Cessna. From Labrador the Cessna family lived in many locations around the world, Dink's work took them to live near Chanute Air Force Base, in Illinois, at Lompoc, California while Dink was Base Fire Chief at Vandenberg Air Force Base. They lived on the Island of Guam where Dink was Fire Chief of the Air Force Base at Guam. They moved to England when Dink's work took him to oversee the Strategic Air Command (SAC) European's Fire Fighting operations. After England they lived somewhere in Ohio, Where Dink was assigned duty, not sure what.
The last move for Emma and Dink was to Maryland, just outside of Washington, D.C. Here Dink was promoted to Fire Service Specialist, working in the Pentagon. On the morning of January 26, 1973, while on his way to work, Dink was killed in a tragic accident. He was stopped for heavy traffic when a large transport truck coming down and off a ramp crashed into him causing his car to immediately burst into flames. His remains were brought back to Coffeyville, Kansas for burial.
Emma and her adopted daughter, Linda, moved back to Hutchinson where she bought a home south of Hutchinson with a few acres. Her Linda pursued her hobby of raising and showing horses. Emma's son Mark joined them after serving in the Air Force and before he was married. Emma remained a homemaker and mother for her children. After both children were married she sold the home south of town and moved into Hutchinson, where she resides to this day, 1991. She loves to play golf, and is quite good at it, she had a hole-in-one a few years ago before her eyes started to fail her. She does lots of sewing, needle work and Quilts. She also keeps busy with baby sitting with her grandchildren.
"Memories of Emma Mae (Pitzer) and Dennis (Dink) Austin Cessna by Phillip H. Pitzer"
My first memory of Dink was when I was about ten or eleven years old. Living in an old rundown house without indoor plumbing or running water, with my mother at 1000 East First in Hutchinson, Kansas. I awoke one morning to find, what I thought was a GIANT in bed with me. It was Dink, he was six foot, four inches tall, and in our old six foot bed he could not straighten out his legs, so he was
sleeping on his back with his knees up. He and Emma had arrived in the night and were not married yet, being short of beds at our house they told Dink to sleep with me. Dink and I hit it off from the very first. He was just a brother-in-law to me, but in so many ways closer than any brother. Dink loved cars, he owned more cars in his lifetime then anyone I've ever known. He owned all kinds of cars, Fords, Mercurys, Lincolns, Cords, Studebakers, Chrysler's, Volvos, and Mercedes. I know there were many others which I have forgotten. He never kept an Automobile very long, always found something he liked better. I remember in 1953 going with Dink and Emma to Kansas City, where Dink purchased a new two door hardtop Mercury, and then we drove it to Coffeyville, I got to drive some. He was very generous to me with his cars be it an old one or his brand new Lincoln. Many of times I would ask to borrow a car for a special date or some other very important, (at least it was important to me) event, and never do I remember Dink refusing me. Emma Mae was my closest sister, in age and family association. My fondest memories as a child were Emma taking me to the Saturday afternoon movies. She worked at the Midland Theater in Hutchinson and would take me with her when she went to work. I got to see all the Saturday Cowboy Western Heroes for free. I was a movie junkie, same as the TV junkies of today, 1991. Emma also worked at a Drugstore Soda Fountain, where for small favors I was able to get my fill of soda's, ice cream and milkshakes. I remember one particular fourth of July, when Emma brought home, from the drugstore, the largest cardboard box of all kinds of Fireworks. My brothers and I had a wonderful time that fourth, it took almost all day to shoot off all the Fireworks she had bought.
On January 02, 1948, Emma married Dennis Austin Cessna in Yuma, Arizona. It is interesting how she got to know Dennis (Dink). Emma's mother was making a bus trip from Hutchinson, Kansas to Coffeyville, Kansas, to visit her daughter and family Lorene Anna (Pitzer) Lewis. The year was probably 1946 or 1947. On the bus trip Emma's mother met Dink's mother who had been to Hutchinson and was returning to her home in Coffeyville. In their conversation they both talked of their children. Dink at the time was in the U.S. Army, stationed in Korea (This was before the Korean War). So the mothers exchanged address of Emma and Dink. Emma and Dink wrote and exchanged pictures of each other. When Dink returned to the States and was discharged from the service they were married. Dennis (Dink) was born April 29, 1928, in Coffeyville, Kansas. I'm not sure of the numbers, but Dink had eight or nine step brothers and sisters from his mother's previous marriage, and about the same number of step brothers and sisters from his father's previous marriage. He was the only child by that couple.
Married life started for Emma and Dink in Palm Springs, Calif. in a little trailer house. Their next move was to Hutchinson, Ks. where Dink worked as a City Fireman, from July 1948 until 1952. At that time firemen worked twentyfour hours on duty and twentyfour hours off. On his days off Dink took some business courses in Hutchinson. He also work as a plumber on his days off from the fire station. Emma and Dink lived several locations in Hutchinson, some I remember were, West Second at Monroe Street, and old stucco house, that's where they were living when Dennis Martin (Marty) Cessna was born. The next home I remember was on West sixth or seventh, on a corner (there were dirt streets). Then there was a period when Dink's work took them to Lawrence, Kansas, where Dink was Fire Instructor at Kansas University for two and one half years.
Then it was back to Hutchinson again, where for a while they lived almost to the city limits West on seventeenth Street and a little north, (it was a new addition at that time). Their last residence in Hutchinson before they left for many locations around the world, was a home they had built on West Eleventh Street, by this time Emma had two more children, Mark Allen Cessna and Teresa Mae Cessna. While at Hutchinson this time Dink worked four years as a Civilian Fireman at the Hutchinson Naval Air Base.
In 1956 the Cessna's moved from Hutchinson to Goose Bay, Labrador, in Newfoundland, Canada, where Dink was United States, Air Force, Civil Service Base Fire Chief. Interesting, the only way you can get to Goose Bay is by Airplane or Boat, there is no roads into Goose Bay from other parts of Canada. While living in Labrador they adopted a baby girl, Linda Mae Cessna, in order to have a sister for their daughter Teresa Mae Cessna. From Labrador the Cessna family lived in many locations around the world, Dink's work took them to live near Chanute Air Force Base, in Illinois, at Lompoc, California while Dink was Base Fire Chief at Vandenberg Air Force Base. They lived on the Island of Guam where Dink was Fire Chief of the Air Force Base at Guam. They moved to England when Dink's work took him to oversee the Strategic Air Command (SAC) European's Fire Fighting operations. After England they lived somewhere in Ohio, Where Dink was assigned duty, not sure what.
The last move for Emma and Dink was to Maryland, just outside of Washington, D.C. Here Dink was promoted to Fire Service Specialist, working in the Pentagon. On the morning of January 26, 1973, while on his way to work, Dink was killed in a tragic accident. He was stopped for heavy traffic when a large transport truck coming down and off a ramp crashed into him causing his car to immediately burst into flames. His remains were brought back to Coffeyville, Kansas for burial.
Emma and her adopted daughter, Linda, moved back to Hutchinson where she bought a home south of Hutchinson with a few acres. Her Linda pursued her hobby of raising and showing horses. Emma's son Mark joined them after serving in the Air Force and before he was married. Emma remained a homemaker and mother for her children. After both children were married she sold the home south of town and moved into Hutchinson, where she resides to this day, 1991. She loves to play golf, and is quite good at it, she had a hole-in-one a few years ago before her eyes started to fail her. She does lots of sewing, needle work and Quilts. She also keeps busy with baby sitting with her grandchildren.
"Memories of Emma Mae (Pitzer) and Dennis (Dink) Austin Cessna by Phillip H. Pitzer"
My first memory of Dink was when I was about ten or eleven years old. Living in an old rundown house without indoor plumbing or running water, with my mother at 1000 East First in Hutchinson, Kansas. I awoke one morning to find, what I thought was a GIANT in bed with me. It was Dink, he was six foot, four inches tall, and in our old six foot bed he could not straighten out his legs, so he was
sleeping on his back with his knees up. He and Emma had arrived in the night and were not married yet, being short of beds at our house they told Dink to sleep with me. Dink and I hit it off from the very first. He was just a brother-in-law to me, but in so many ways closer than any brother. Dink loved cars, he owned more cars in his lifetime then anyone I've ever known. He owned all kinds of cars, Fords, Mercurys, Lincolns, Cords, Studebakers, Chrysler's, Volvos, and Mercedes. I know there were many others which I have forgotten. He never kept an Automobile very long, always found something he liked better. I remember in 1953 going with Dink and Emma to Kansas City, where Dink purchased a new two door hardtop Mercury, and then we drove it to Coffeyville, I got to drive some. He was very generous to me with his cars be it an old one or his brand new Lincoln. Many of times I would ask to borrow a car for a special date or some other very important, (at least it was important to me) event, and never do I remember Dink refusing me. Emma Mae was my closest sister, in age and family association. My fondest memories as a child were Emma taking me to the Saturday afternoon movies. She worked at the Midland Theater in Hutchinson and would take me with her when she went to work. I got to see all the Saturday Cowboy Western Heroes for free. I was a movie junkie, same as the TV junkies of today, 1991. Emma also worked at a Drugstore Soda Fountain, where for small favors I was able to get my fill of soda's, ice cream and milkshakes. I remember one particular fourth of July, when Emma brought home, from the drugstore, the largest cardboard box of all kinds of Fireworks. My brothers and I had a wonderful time that fourth, it took almost all day to shoot off all the Fireworks she had bought.
Emma was born on June 02, 1927, at Modesta, California. The fifth child and fourth daughter of Bessie Ann (Hill) Pitzer and James Paul Pitzer. Emma was eleven years old when her father disappeared, she lived for one year with her mother's cousin, Clinton Brooks and his wife, Isabel, on their farm southwest of Nickerson, Kansas. She then lived with her Grandmother Pitzer on a farm near Garber, Oklahoma for one year. The rest of her young girlhood was spent at her mother's rental place in Hutchinson, Kansas. There was a time when she stayed with her sister in coffeyville, Kansas for a few months.
On January 02, 1948, Emma married Dennis Austin Cessna in Yuma, Arizona. It is interesting how she got to know Dennis (Dink). Emma's mother was making a bus trip from Hutchinson, Kansas to Coffeyville, Kansas, to visit her daughter and family Lorene Anna (Pitzer) Lewis. The year was probably 1946 or 1947. On the bus trip Emma's mother met Dink's mother who had been to Hutchinson and was returning to her home in Coffeyville. In their conversation they both talked of their children. Dink at the time was in the U.S. Army, stationed in Korea (This was before the Korean War). So the mothers exchanged address of Emma and Dink. Emma and Dink wrote and exchanged pictures of each other. When Dink returned to the States and was discharged from the service they were married. Dennis (Dink) was born April 29, 1928, in Coffeyville, Kansas. I'm not sure of the numbers, but Dink had eight or nine step brothers and sisters from his mother's previous marriage, and about the same number of step brothers and sisters from his father's previous marriage. He was the only child by that couple.
Married life started for Emma and Dink in Palm Springs, Calif. in a little trailer house. Their next move was to Hutchinson, Ks. where Dink worked as a City Fireman, from July 1948 until 1952. At that time firemen worked twentyfour hours on duty and twentyfour hours off. On his days off Dink took some business courses in Hutchinson. He also work as a plumber on his days off from the fire station. Emma and Dink lived several locations in Hutchinson, some I remember were, West Second at Monroe Street, and old stucco house, that's where they were living when Dennis Martin (Marty) Cessna was born. The next home I remember was on West sixth or seventh, on a corner (there were dirt streets). Then there was a period when Dink's work took them to Lawrence, Kansas, where Dink was Fire Instructor at Kansas University for two and one half years.
Then it was back to Hutchinson again, where for a while they lived almost to the city limits West on seventeenth Street and a little north, (it was a new addition at that time). Their last residence in Hutchinson before they left for many locations around the world, was a home they had built on West Eleventh Street, by this time Emma had two more children, Mark Allen Cessna and Teresa Mae Cessna. While at Hutchinson this time Dink worked four years as a Civilian Fireman at the Hutchinson Naval Air Base.
In 1956 the Cessna's moved from Hutchinson to Goose Bay, Labrador, in Newfoundland, Canada, where Dink was United States, Air Force, Civil Service Base Fire Chief. Interesting, the only way you can get to Goose Bay is by Airplane or Boat, there is no roads into Goose Bay from other parts of Canada. While living in Labrador they adopted a baby girl, Linda Mae Cessna, in order to have a sister for their daughter Teresa Mae Cessna. From Labrador the Cessna family lived in many locations around the world, Dink's work took them to live near Chanute Air Force Base, in Illinois, at Lompoc, California while Dink was Base Fire Chief at Vandenberg Air Force Base. They lived on the Island of Guam where Dink was Fire Chief of the Air Force Base at Guam. They moved to England when Dink's work took him to oversee the Strategic Air Command (SAC) European's Fire Fighting operations. After England they lived somewhere in Ohio, Where Dink was assigned duty, not sure what.
The last move for Emma and Dink was to Maryland, just outside of Washington, D.C. Here Dink was promoted to Fire Service Specialist, working in the Pentagon. On the morning of January 26, 1973, while on his way to work, Dink was killed in a tragic accident. He was stopped for heavy traffic when a large transport truck coming down and off a ramp crashed into him causing his car to immediately burst into flames. His remains were brought back to Coffeyville, Kansas for burial.
Emma and her adopted daughter, Linda, moved back to Hutchinson where she bought a home south of Hutchinson with a few acres. Her Linda pursued her hobby of raising and showing horses. Emma's son Mark joined them after serving in the Air Force and before he was married. Emma remained a homemaker and mother for her children. After both children were married she sold the home south of town and moved into Hutchinson, where she resides to this day, 1991. She loves to play golf, and is quite good at it, she had a hole-in-one a few years ago before her eyes started to fail her. She does lots of sewing, needle work and Quilts. She also keeps busy with baby sitting with her grandchildren.
"Memories of Emma Mae (Pitzer) and Dennis (Dink) Austin Cessna by Phillip H. Pitzer"
My first memory of Dink was when I was about ten or eleven years old. Living in an old rundown house without indoor plumbing or running water, with my mother at 1000 East First in Hutchinson, Kansas. I awoke one morning to find, what I thought was a GIANT in bed with me. It was Dink, he was six foot, four inches tall, and in our old six foot bed he could not straighten out his legs, so he was
sleeping on his back with his knees up. He and Emma had arrived in the night and were not married yet, being short of beds at our house they told Dink to sleep with me. Dink and I hit it off from the very first. He was just a brother-in-law to me, but in so many ways closer than any brother. Dink loved cars, he owned more cars in his lifetime then anyone I've ever known. He owned all kinds of cars, Fords, Mercurys, Lincolns, Cords, Studebakers, Chrysler's, Volvos, and Mercedes. I know there were many others which I have forgotten. He never kept an Automobile very long, always found something he liked better. I remember in 1953 going with Dink and Emma to Kansas City, where Dink purchased a new two door hardtop Mercury, and then we drove it to Coffeyville, I got to drive some. He was very generous to me with his cars be it an old one or his brand new Lincoln. Many of times I would ask to borrow a car for a special date or some other very important, (at least it was important to me) event, and never do I remember Dink refusing me. Emma Mae was my closest sister, in age and family association. My fondest memories as a child were Emma taking me to the Saturday afternoon movies. She worked at the Midland Theater in Hutchinson and would take me with her when she went to work. I got to see all the Saturday Cowboy Western Heroes for free. I was a movie junkie, same as the TV junkies of today, 1991. Emma also worked at a Drugstore Soda Fountain, where for small favors I was able to get my fill of soda's, ice cream and milkshakes. I remember one particular fourth of July, when Emma brought home, from the drugstore, the largest cardboard box of all kinds of Fireworks. My brothers and I had a wonderful time that fourth, it took almost all day to shoot off all the Fireworks she had bought.
On January 02, 1948, Emma married Dennis Austin Cessna in Yuma, Arizona. It is interesting how she got to know Dennis (Dink). Emma's mother was making a bus trip from Hutchinson, Kansas to Coffeyville, Kansas, to visit her daughter and family Lorene Anna (Pitzer) Lewis. The year was probably 1946 or 1947. On the bus trip Emma's mother met Dink's mother who had been to Hutchinson and was returning to her home in Coffeyville. In their conversation they both talked of their children. Dink at the time was in the U.S. Army, stationed in Korea (This was before the Korean War). So the mothers exchanged address of Emma and Dink. Emma and Dink wrote and exchanged pictures of each other. When Dink returned to the States and was discharged from the service they were married. Dennis (Dink) was born April 29, 1928, in Coffeyville, Kansas. I'm not sure of the numbers, but Dink had eight or nine step brothers and sisters from his mother's previous marriage, and about the same number of step brothers and sisters from his father's previous marriage. He was the only child by that couple.
Married life started for Emma and Dink in Palm Springs, Calif. in a little trailer house. Their next move was to Hutchinson, Ks. where Dink worked as a City Fireman, from July 1948 until 1952. At that time firemen worked twentyfour hours on duty and twentyfour hours off. On his days off Dink took some business courses in Hutchinson. He also work as a plumber on his days off from the fire station. Emma and Dink lived several locations in Hutchinson, some I remember were, West Second at Monroe Street, and old stucco house, that's where they were living when Dennis Martin (Marty) Cessna was born. The next home I remember was on West sixth or seventh, on a corner (there were dirt streets). Then there was a period when Dink's work took them to Lawrence, Kansas, where Dink was Fire Instructor at Kansas University for two and one half years.
Then it was back to Hutchinson again, where for a while they lived almost to the city limits West on seventeenth Street and a little north, (it was a new addition at that time). Their last residence in Hutchinson before they left for many locations around the world, was a home they had built on West Eleventh Street, by this time Emma had two more children, Mark Allen Cessna and Teresa Mae Cessna. While at Hutchinson this time Dink worked four years as a Civilian Fireman at the Hutchinson Naval Air Base.
In 1956 the Cessna's moved from Hutchinson to Goose Bay, Labrador, in Newfoundland, Canada, where Dink was United States, Air Force, Civil Service Base Fire Chief. Interesting, the only way you can get to Goose Bay is by Airplane or Boat, there is no roads into Goose Bay from other parts of Canada. While living in Labrador they adopted a baby girl, Linda Mae Cessna, in order to have a sister for their daughter Teresa Mae Cessna. From Labrador the Cessna family lived in many locations around the world, Dink's work took them to live near Chanute Air Force Base, in Illinois, at Lompoc, California while Dink was Base Fire Chief at Vandenberg Air Force Base. They lived on the Island of Guam where Dink was Fire Chief of the Air Force Base at Guam. They moved to England when Dink's work took him to oversee the Strategic Air Command (SAC) European's Fire Fighting operations. After England they lived somewhere in Ohio, Where Dink was assigned duty, not sure what.
The last move for Emma and Dink was to Maryland, just outside of Washington, D.C. Here Dink was promoted to Fire Service Specialist, working in the Pentagon. On the morning of January 26, 1973, while on his way to work, Dink was killed in a tragic accident. He was stopped for heavy traffic when a large transport truck coming down and off a ramp crashed into him causing his car to immediately burst into flames. His remains were brought back to Coffeyville, Kansas for burial.
Emma and her adopted daughter, Linda, moved back to Hutchinson where she bought a home south of Hutchinson with a few acres. Her Linda pursued her hobby of raising and showing horses. Emma's son Mark joined them after serving in the Air Force and before he was married. Emma remained a homemaker and mother for her children. After both children were married she sold the home south of town and moved into Hutchinson, where she resides to this day, 1991. She loves to play golf, and is quite good at it, she had a hole-in-one a few years ago before her eyes started to fail her. She does lots of sewing, needle work and Quilts. She also keeps busy with baby sitting with her grandchildren.
"Memories of Emma Mae (Pitzer) and Dennis (Dink) Austin Cessna by Phillip H. Pitzer"
My first memory of Dink was when I was about ten or eleven years old. Living in an old rundown house without indoor plumbing or running water, with my mother at 1000 East First in Hutchinson, Kansas. I awoke one morning to find, what I thought was a GIANT in bed with me. It was Dink, he was six foot, four inches tall, and in our old six foot bed he could not straighten out his legs, so he was
sleeping on his back with his knees up. He and Emma had arrived in the night and were not married yet, being short of beds at our house they told Dink to sleep with me. Dink and I hit it off from the very first. He was just a brother-in-law to me, but in so many ways closer than any brother. Dink loved cars, he owned more cars in his lifetime then anyone I've ever known. He owned all kinds of cars, Fords, Mercurys, Lincolns, Cords, Studebakers, Chrysler's, Volvos, and Mercedes. I know there were many others which I have forgotten. He never kept an Automobile very long, always found something he liked better. I remember in 1953 going with Dink and Emma to Kansas City, where Dink purchased a new two door hardtop Mercury, and then we drove it to Coffeyville, I got to drive some. He was very generous to me with his cars be it an old one or his brand new Lincoln. Many of times I would ask to borrow a car for a special date or some other very important, (at least it was important to me) event, and never do I remember Dink refusing me. Emma Mae was my closest sister, in age and family association. My fondest memories as a child were Emma taking me to the Saturday afternoon movies. She worked at the Midland Theater in Hutchinson and would take me with her when she went to work. I got to see all the Saturday Cowboy Western Heroes for free. I was a movie junkie, same as the TV junkies of today, 1991. Emma also worked at a Drugstore Soda Fountain, where for small favors I was able to get my fill of soda's, ice cream and milkshakes. I remember one particular fourth of July, when Emma brought home, from the drugstore, the largest cardboard box of all kinds of Fireworks. My brothers and I had a wonderful time that fourth, it took almost all day to shoot off all the Fireworks she had bought.
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