Ledbetter-Armstrong 
Family Reunion
Stories
June 2010 will be five years since the original reunion book was published. Although there have been a few updates along the way, the book is missing a lot of information that we hope to update with the next edition.
{Download} The master version of the book in PDF format
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{Write} or update a story on our Blog
Excerpts
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If you ever heard Chet Adkins play the guitar you know how well he could make beautiful music. My mother could do the same to my backside, but I can tell you right now it sure wasn’t music. The people of Walkers Chapel would say my mother killed a peach tree at the rear of Walkers Chapel Methodist church breaking off limbs to make adjustments to my attitude on Sunday mornings. At any rate she sure got your attention and you didn’t forget it right away... |
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In those days there were no paved roads in Palmerdale and, for that matter, very few paved roads anywhere in the county. From time to time the county worked the roads with a grader but they didn’t do it but maybe once a year, and the roads would get really bad in the winter. A lot of times they would be so bad that cars couldn’t drive without getting stuck up to the axles and couldn’t move. Sometimes we would have to take the mules to pull the car out of the road. Nobody had a new car because they weren’t making them during the war, and a lot of times the car wouldn’t start in the morning. We would have to get the mule to pull the car off to get it started... |
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When we were kids, the trips were all about exciting, new adventures and seeing what was "out there". We learned about everything from Civil War history to what's in Washington, D.C. to which hotels had the best swimming pools. What we didn't understand at the time was that we were also building family relationships and memories that would last a lifetime, as well as a spirit for searching out the unknown. These are gifts from my grandparents that I treasure dearly.... |
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It seems to me that among the traditions or characteristics that run in the blood of the Ledbetter-Armstrong family are resourcefulness and strength of will, independence in living and thinking, defiance of authority and a stubborn contrariness. Above all though it seems humor and a sense of adventure runs in the blood of this family..... |
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During those summers there were times I would go with papaw to the market in Birmingham to buy produce, it was-an-early rise to do that. He was usually the first there to look over the vegetables he was to peddle that day. We always ate breakfast at the cafe that was located on the market grounds. After filling up the truck with fresh vegetables we started on his peddle route. The routes were from the Tarrant area zig zagging to New Castle and through all the areas in between up to Village Springs. Not all of his customers paid him on delivery. He kept a book with names and amounts owed. He always collected next time...... |
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When I think of my father words like vitality, exuberance, and optimism come to mind. About four years ago he bought a commercial grade riding lawnmower. Dad tells about the time that he told a friend of his about his mower and how much he paid for it. His friend said, “Why Howard you could have bought a car for the price you paid for that mower.” My father replied, “ Yes, but think how much it would have cost me to make the car cut grass......" |
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When I was about 12- 13 years old, we moved to the metropolis of Bangor, Michigan. I think it had one caution light. We lived in a house on a street that had a tree in the middle of that street. I told Mom and Dad that they must like that tree because we lived in that house on two separate occasions. Bangor was fine. My sister got married to Roger Hills in Bangor and we all lived there for a long time. One of my favorite things was going to Audrey’s house and watching Greg, her son. Later, Roxanne was born and I helped with her too. |
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When I was about 8 or 9 years old we were going to town and had to stop at a red light, well the light changed and I guess she hesitated a minute and the guy behind us just laid on the horn. Well Grammy said "Judy we must know him, let's wave" so of course I turned and we both waved to him and then proceeded. To this date if someone blows the horn I still wave, because I must know them... |