Paul E. Stark
When I married Tom's sister Marjorie Erlene Adkins in 1947 in California, the instant that the minister pronounced us Man & Wife, Tom and I became Brothers In Law. As you know in no way do Brothers In Law share a common bloodline. So therefore the rise and fall of in law relationships depends entirely upon subsequent events over the years. I wish to tell all who read this that very quickly our in law relationship became friendly. I believe this was due to Tom knowing I was taking good care of his dear sister and that I was aware of how much he dearly loved Marjorie Erlene. Yes we both lived 2,000 miles apart which does not promote togetherness. Despite that distance whenever Marjorie and I and our family passed through Kansas on our to and fro trips from California and Missouri, Tom and Virginia always welcomed us five weary travelers into their comfortable home. During those stays Marjorie and I were often challenged to a game of Croquet that Tom and Virginia had set up on their back lawn. I knew that with the many, many hours that Tom and Virginia had practiced on that Croquet court, Marjorie and I would most certainly each face defeat. But being most gracious hosts Tom and Virginia always saw to it that Marjorie and I would always place first and second. ( Continued in Section 2}