Florence C. Whitman was born in Coopertown, Pennsylvania on December 1, 1915 to Charles and Cora (Dupont) Whitman, and was the only child to this union. Florence's parents divorced when she was young. Her mother remarried and the family moved to the Detroit area of Michigan.
In 1933, Florence graduated from Western High School, in Detroit. She and her girl friends liked to go dancing, and one evening in late 1934, she met a young man named, Owen. They had their first date on her birthday, and they went dancing. Their courtship lasted less than four months! Florence and Owen were married on March 16, 1935 at the home of her minister.
Florence and Owen's first child was a boy named Owen, Jr., born in February 1936. He was a happy child and brought them so much happiness. When he was just 2 1/2 years old, Junior came down with a fever, and by the next evening he had passed away. In May 1940, another son, Charles, was born. Then in January 1942, David came along. Florence just doted on her boys loving every minute. On May 2, 1944, Owen went into the Army and served his country intil February 1946. During this time Florence cared for her two little boys while working and volunteering at the near by hospital. She had to make due with very little money and no car, but her boys were fed and always in clean cloths. She said it was her duty to vonunteer, and to help out any way she could with the war going on and her husband fighting.
Once Owen was back home life settled down. In 1958 they were blessed with their fourth son, Michael. What a joy he was. At this time the grandchildren started to arrive as well. My brother David was born shortly after Mike, and I was born shortly after him. We all kind of grew up together, being in the same neighborhood only 4 blocks apart. Florence was truely ahead of her time in my eyes, always working, very independant. She loved to have fun and was always having get togethers with friends and family. She loved to play cards, and I have heard of card games going for hours and even days with people coming and going, sitting in for one another, leaving for work and picking up again after.
When Mike was in high school, and Florence and Owen were retired, they decided to follow some good friends and make the move to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. They moved down in the summer of 1974 and settled right in. Sadly, within a few months Owen became ill, and passed away in May 1975. Florence dug in and insisted on staying put, and she did. She attended her local church and volunteered with their charity clothes closet, delivered meals-on-wheels, helped with luncheons, etc. She had many friends that she dined with, went to movies, and square danced with. Still very independant.
Another tragedy struck when, in 1997, her youngest son Mike passed away at home at the age of 38. I truely do not know how Grandma went on. Still refusing to move anywhere else she continued on as she always had with her gardening, reading, volunteering, visiting, and even took a knitting class to make hats for kids with cancer.
Grandma couldn't seem to shake an illness in 2008. She couldn't seem to feel 100%, this from a woman who still, at the age of 92, didn't take any perscrition meds. After Christmas she went into the hospital and decided it was her time to go. Within days she had passed. I think she was just very tired and ready. It doesn't make it any easier, but at least she is with her boys now.
The one biggest thing that Grandma has taught me is that life isn't always fair. But it is all in Gods plan and it is our job to stand up straight, lift your chin and carry on as best you can.
In 1933, Florence graduated from Western High School, in Detroit. She and her girl friends liked to go dancing, and one evening in late 1934, she met a young man named, Owen. They had their first date on her birthday, and they went dancing. Their courtship lasted less than four months! Florence and Owen were married on March 16, 1935 at the home of her minister.
Florence and Owen's first child was a boy named Owen, Jr., born in February 1936. He was a happy child and brought them so much happiness. When he was just 2 1/2 years old, Junior came down with a fever, and by the next evening he had passed away. In May 1940, another son, Charles, was born. Then in January 1942, David came along. Florence just doted on her boys loving every minute. On May 2, 1944, Owen went into the Army and served his country intil February 1946. During this time Florence cared for her two little boys while working and volunteering at the near by hospital. She had to make due with very little money and no car, but her boys were fed and always in clean cloths. She said it was her duty to vonunteer, and to help out any way she could with the war going on and her husband fighting.
Once Owen was back home life settled down. In 1958 they were blessed with their fourth son, Michael. What a joy he was. At this time the grandchildren started to arrive as well. My brother David was born shortly after Mike, and I was born shortly after him. We all kind of grew up together, being in the same neighborhood only 4 blocks apart. Florence was truely ahead of her time in my eyes, always working, very independant. She loved to have fun and was always having get togethers with friends and family. She loved to play cards, and I have heard of card games going for hours and even days with people coming and going, sitting in for one another, leaving for work and picking up again after.
When Mike was in high school, and Florence and Owen were retired, they decided to follow some good friends and make the move to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. They moved down in the summer of 1974 and settled right in. Sadly, within a few months Owen became ill, and passed away in May 1975. Florence dug in and insisted on staying put, and she did. She attended her local church and volunteered with their charity clothes closet, delivered meals-on-wheels, helped with luncheons, etc. She had many friends that she dined with, went to movies, and square danced with. Still very independant.
Another tragedy struck when, in 1997, her youngest son Mike passed away at home at the age of 38. I truely do not know how Grandma went on. Still refusing to move anywhere else she continued on as she always had with her gardening, reading, volunteering, visiting, and even took a knitting class to make hats for kids with cancer.
Grandma couldn't seem to shake an illness in 2008. She couldn't seem to feel 100%, this from a woman who still, at the age of 92, didn't take any perscrition meds. After Christmas she went into the hospital and decided it was her time to go. Within days she had passed. I think she was just very tired and ready. It doesn't make it any easier, but at least she is with her boys now.
The one biggest thing that Grandma has taught me is that life isn't always fair. But it is all in Gods plan and it is our job to stand up straight, lift your chin and carry on as best you can.
Florence C. Whitman was born in Coopertown, Pennsylvania on December 1, 1915 to Charles and Cora (Dupont) Whitman, and was the only child to this union. Florence's parents divorced when she was young. Her mother remarried and the family moved to the Detroit area of Michigan.
In 1933, Florence graduated from Western High School, in Detroit. She and her girl friends liked to go dancing, and one evening in late 1934, she met a young man named, Owen. They had their first date on her birthday, and they went dancing. Their courtship lasted less than four months! Florence and Owen were married on March 16, 1935 at the home of her minister.
Florence and Owen's first child was a boy named Owen, Jr., born in February 1936. He was a happy child and brought them so much happiness. When he was just 2 1/2 years old, Junior came down with a fever, and by the next evening he had passed away. In May 1940, another son, Charles, was born. Then in January 1942, David came along. Florence just doted on her boys loving every minute. On May 2, 1944, Owen went into the Army and served his country intil February 1946. During this time Florence cared for her two little boys while working and volunteering at the near by hospital. She had to make due with very little money and no car, but her boys were fed and always in clean cloths. She said it was her duty to vonunteer, and to help out any way she could with the war going on and her husband fighting.
Once Owen was back home life settled down. In 1958 they were blessed with their fourth son, Michael. What a joy he was. At this time the grandchildren started to arrive as well. My brother David was born shortly after Mike, and I was born shortly after him. We all kind of grew up together, being in the same neighborhood only 4 blocks apart. Florence was truely ahead of her time in my eyes, always working, very independant. She loved to have fun and was always having get togethers with friends and family. She loved to play cards, and I have heard of card games going for hours and even days with people coming and going, sitting in for one another, leaving for work and picking up again after.
When Mike was in high school, and Florence and Owen were retired, they decided to follow some good friends and make the move to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. They moved down in the summer of 1974 and settled right in. Sadly, within a few months Owen became ill, and passed away in May 1975. Florence dug in and insisted on staying put, and she did. She attended her local church and volunteered with their charity clothes closet, delivered meals-on-wheels, helped with luncheons, etc. She had many friends that she dined with, went to movies, and square danced with. Still very independant.
Another tragedy struck when, in 1997, her youngest son Mike passed away at home at the age of 38. I truely do not know how Grandma went on. Still refusing to move anywhere else she continued on as she always had with her gardening, reading, volunteering, visiting, and even took a knitting class to make hats for kids with cancer.
Grandma couldn't seem to shake an illness in 2008. She couldn't seem to feel 100%, this from a woman who still, at the age of 92, didn't take any perscrition meds. After Christmas she went into the hospital and decided it was her time to go. Within days she had passed. I think she was just very tired and ready. It doesn't make it any easier, but at least she is with her boys now.
The one biggest thing that Grandma has taught me is that life isn't always fair. But it is all in Gods plan and it is our job to stand up straight, lift your chin and carry on as best you can.
In 1933, Florence graduated from Western High School, in Detroit. She and her girl friends liked to go dancing, and one evening in late 1934, she met a young man named, Owen. They had their first date on her birthday, and they went dancing. Their courtship lasted less than four months! Florence and Owen were married on March 16, 1935 at the home of her minister.
Florence and Owen's first child was a boy named Owen, Jr., born in February 1936. He was a happy child and brought them so much happiness. When he was just 2 1/2 years old, Junior came down with a fever, and by the next evening he had passed away. In May 1940, another son, Charles, was born. Then in January 1942, David came along. Florence just doted on her boys loving every minute. On May 2, 1944, Owen went into the Army and served his country intil February 1946. During this time Florence cared for her two little boys while working and volunteering at the near by hospital. She had to make due with very little money and no car, but her boys were fed and always in clean cloths. She said it was her duty to vonunteer, and to help out any way she could with the war going on and her husband fighting.
Once Owen was back home life settled down. In 1958 they were blessed with their fourth son, Michael. What a joy he was. At this time the grandchildren started to arrive as well. My brother David was born shortly after Mike, and I was born shortly after him. We all kind of grew up together, being in the same neighborhood only 4 blocks apart. Florence was truely ahead of her time in my eyes, always working, very independant. She loved to have fun and was always having get togethers with friends and family. She loved to play cards, and I have heard of card games going for hours and even days with people coming and going, sitting in for one another, leaving for work and picking up again after.
When Mike was in high school, and Florence and Owen were retired, they decided to follow some good friends and make the move to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. They moved down in the summer of 1974 and settled right in. Sadly, within a few months Owen became ill, and passed away in May 1975. Florence dug in and insisted on staying put, and she did. She attended her local church and volunteered with their charity clothes closet, delivered meals-on-wheels, helped with luncheons, etc. She had many friends that she dined with, went to movies, and square danced with. Still very independant.
Another tragedy struck when, in 1997, her youngest son Mike passed away at home at the age of 38. I truely do not know how Grandma went on. Still refusing to move anywhere else she continued on as she always had with her gardening, reading, volunteering, visiting, and even took a knitting class to make hats for kids with cancer.
Grandma couldn't seem to shake an illness in 2008. She couldn't seem to feel 100%, this from a woman who still, at the age of 92, didn't take any perscrition meds. After Christmas she went into the hospital and decided it was her time to go. Within days she had passed. I think she was just very tired and ready. It doesn't make it any easier, but at least she is with her boys now.
The one biggest thing that Grandma has taught me is that life isn't always fair. But it is all in Gods plan and it is our job to stand up straight, lift your chin and carry on as best you can.
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