Mary Emma Rich

as told by herself and edited by her daughter, Rose Mary Register

I was born to Ruby Alice Hatch Adams and Charles Herbert Adams on July 8, 1908 in Goshen, Indiana. My paternal grandparents were Mary Jane (Morrison) Adams and Charles Granville Adams. My maternal grandparents were Martha Emma (Enyart) and Walter Hatch.

I graduated from Goshen High School in 1926. The Great Depression was on when I wanted to go to college. The first year I attended the University of Illinois in Urbana. I lived with my Uncle Ray Hatch's family. The next year I attended Indiana University and lived in the alpha Chi Omega sorority house. I graduated in 1930 with a degree in Latin. I wanted to be a Latin teacher but there was no openings so I attended Goshen College for 2 subjects.

I was a camp counselor summer for South Bend and Elkhart Camp Fire Girls. I taught Latin and physical education for 2 years in Concord High School near Elkhart, Indiana. Then I worked as a case worker for the Department of Public Welfare in Elkhart for 5 years. When I was transferred to Kokomo, Indiana and had vacation time I was married to Charles Allen Rich, my fiancee of 6 years (she proposed!). The ceremony was in my parent's home surrounded by peonies and roses.

Charles was an attorney in Peru, Indiana where we lived. Rose Mary was born November 11, 1938 and Charlotte Ann was born October 23, 1942. I kept busy with babies. I was president of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) and played bridge in Tri Kappa sorority.

The Pearl Harbor disaster caused Charles to sign up for the US Navy. He was sent to Quonset Point, Rhode Island for six weeks' training and became an Ensign. He was assigned to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for six months and then we moved to Pensacola, Florida. Janet Lorene was born there November 9, 1945. We got reacquainted with cousin Mable Brazil and her family. Charles became transportation officer and was promoted to Lieutenant Commander.

The war ended and Charles left the Navy and returned to his law practice in Peru, IN for a year. He sold his legal library and rejoined the US Navy as a legal officer and we were sent to Seattle to Pier 91 for a year. Then he was sent to China for 14 months in 1948-49. I took the girls back to Goshen to stay with the Adams. On his return we met in Chicago and enjoyed a musical comedy and went to Makinaw Island.

Charles was sent to the Naval Training Station in San Diego, CA where he was the only lawyer for 50,000 men so he never had a vacation in the 3 years we were there. We enjoyed Balboa Park, the zoo, etc. and Rose Mary was involved in piano, baton, folk dancing, and handcraft and Girl Scouts. Then we were sent to Great Lakes Naval Station in Illinois. We lived in Forestall Village for while but did not like it, so we moved to Waukegan, Illinois. Rose Mary and I learned sailing on Lake Michigan and I did some substitute teaching. We spent one fun summer at Lake Wawasee where we had many guests. Mother Rich spent 1/3 of the year with us.

Next move was to Washington, DC where Charles was a legal officer at Anacostia Naval Air Station. Rose Mary went to Nurse's training at the University of Virginia. Rose Mary married Ray G Register Jr. in the University Chapel on June 10, 1957 and transferred to Newport RI Nursing School while Ray was in the Navy. I taught as a substitute teacher in Oxen Hall and Suitland, VA.

We were sent to Seattle, WA where we bought and refurbished a brick house. The year the world's fair was there we had many guest. I also flew to Whitakers, NC with a blind women who asked me to accompany her to NC to see Rose Mary's family while Ray was pastor there.

Charles retired from the Navy in Seattle in 1960 where they put on quite a ceremony for him at the Seattle Naval Station. We were kept busy at University Christian Church where I was chairman of the deaconesses. Charlotte married Donald W.(Red) Beaton in at the University Christian Church in Seattle January 13, 1965. Ray and Rose Mary left for Israel in July 1965 as missionaries. We sold our property in Seattle and bought 2 properties in Wenatchee, WA since it was the nearest large town to Lake Chelan where Charles kept his boat. Janet attended Wenatchee Valley College. She met and married Roger Mangold at St. Josephs Catholic Church in Wenatchee on June 15, 1968.

Charles and I traveled via space available on military flights to Europe, Japan, Mediterranean Isles, Israel, Alaska, and San Juan. Then we went salmon fishing in Canada and Oregon and tuna fishing in Mexico at various towns and motor home villages.

Meanwhile we joined Lake Chelan Yacht Club and put up a mobile home on the mountainside and built a large porch deck on it. We had our 50th anniversary at the club house to which most of our relatives came. Two years after that Charles suffered a burst aneurysm and died four days later in Wenatchee Central Hospital. He was cremated at Betz Funeral Home. Charlotte and I took the ashes to Willamette National Military Cemetery in Portland where he was interred.

Leaving my Yuma, AZ winter home I lived with Charlotte and Red in Portland, OR and then moved to a retirement home in Yuma. I gave up my piano and car and sold the Yuma mobile home. At the retirement home, Emerald Springs, I enjoyed the fellowship of friends for 2 1/2 years. I took a ship cruise to the Caribbean Isles and Panama Canal.

In 2002 I moved to Redwood (Westmont) Town Court retirement center in Escondido CA to be near Rose Mary's family who had returned from Israel. After my stroke in 2003 I moved to assisted living at Redwood.

(ed. note: Mary Emma lived at Redwood (Westmont) Town Court for 10 years and passed away there on March 8, 2013 at 5:55 AM. Her memorial service will be held at Bethel Baptist Church on Saturday, April 6, 2013 at 2 PM and she will be interred beside her husband Charles at the Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, OR)

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of FDA McLeod Mortuary, Escondido, California.