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Sources
1. Title:   Ronk Family.FTW

Notes
a. Note:   *Lee Raymond "RONK" was born in 1944, the son of Flora Ann (Brisbin) RONK and an unknown father - James Donald RONK had, by the time of conception, had a vascectomy. This pregnancy/birth precipitated divorce. Divorce precipitated a period of several years of foster homes for the four oldest children of the couple since James Donald took custody of the children (whether by court order is unknown). One such foster care situation, and possibly the first, was with a woman called (by we children) Nana. She lived in a semi-rural place probably somewhere in Santa Cruz Co CA. I believe I started school at a country school while living at this home. I recall going to the school and objecting strongly to a pair of trousers which were designed for a child younger, or possibly for girls. I did have to wear there, however. (I seem also to recall having gone to school in Eureka during this period, so may have actually begun schooling in Eureka, then was transferred to Santa Cruz.) I believe my brother Wesley and I were then placed in "Allen's Camp" in the Santa Cruz mountains - a foster home with several children - all male? - present. Our sisters were not at this home. There was a one-room school at the site which I attended, probably the second grade. Very rustic life. Recall visiting prune orchards nearby and trying my hand at picking (up) prunes. Also recall a creek swimming hole. David Wilson, our cousin and son of Gladys (Ronk) ? was at the home before us and while we were there. From Allen's Camp I believe we were moved to San Jose and the Home of Benevolence (years later called Eastfield). The four of us were at "The Home," as it was phrased. I believe I started school at the beginning of the third grade while at The Home, continuing then through the fifth grade, at which point we were taken by our father to Eureka and placed in custody of our mother and her husband, James Robert JONES. The Home, as I recall had about 50 children and was very much an institution, though as I recall, an excellent effort to provide "progressive" care. Insofar as possible it was a caring place with the children given rather individualized attention. It was divided into four sections: Little Boys, Little Girls, Big Boys and Big Girls. I was initially with the Little Boys (cared for in part by the Big Girls) then soon transferred to Big Boys. Wesley remained with the Little Boys during our three year residence. Both Janet and Hazel, I believe remained with the Little Girls, though Hazel may have been transferred upward. We attended the local primary school, the name of which I have forgotten. We were accorded seemingly full opportunity to take part in community life, including roaming away from The Home. Saturday movies, school activities, community activities, etc. Occasionally someone would take us as groups or individually for special occasions. My fourth grade teacher, Mrs Hubbard, for instance, took me to one or two San Jose State College football games at night - her brother in law was head coach at SJS. I recall attending midnight mass in San Francisco with a group from The Home. Our father would visit on weekends and usually take us on an outing - Rosecrucian Museum in San Jose, Alum Rock Park, to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. I had some regret leaving The Home when the time came, and moving to Eureka. We attended Sunday School at the Church of the Nazarene in San Jose - Catholics to the Catholic Church. I went to YMCA camp at least one summer, though below the age limit, but given an academic scholarship for attendance at the camp. Underage, I attended boys scout meetings and went to a Camporee or Jamboree at lest once. (This in the time 12 years was the lower limit in age for BS. I was 11.) Names recalled: Anna Sears, who was my "girlfriend", Robert Huffman, Clark Connif, fellow Big Boys, Mrs Zimmerman, in charge of the Big Boys for the last year or so (she had lived through the 1906 earthquake in SF), May Daly the Directress at the time we departed. Wesley Holt was a fellow Big Boy and Hazel's "boy friend." There were no blacks at the Home, but several Chicanos over the three years.[Ronk Family.FTW]
  1956-Graduated Eureka High School, Eureka, CA 1957-1959 Military service, US Army SP4 E-4 Military Police 1960-1961 Humboldt State College, Arcata, Humboldt Co, CA 1961-1962 Sonoma State Hospital Psychiatric Tech Trainee, Sonoma Co, CA 1962 - Travel in US and Europe 1963-1965 - Humboldt State College, Bachelor of Arts in Political Science - Honors 1965 International Voluntary Services in Phan Thiet, Viet Nam 1967 - 1969 Freelance writer and photographer in Saigon 1969 - 1973 Freelance writer/photograph/radio reporter in Vientiane, Laos (Washington Post, ABC stringer) 1973 - Expelled from Laos by Prime Minister for writings in Washington Post 1973/74 Bangkok (Bangkok Post, ABC radio) 1974 - Vientiane Laos as freelance writer/photographer 1974 - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia as freelance writer 1975 - Hong Kong, Associate Ed of Asian Business and Industry Magazine 1976 - Editor, the Asia Magazine 1979 - Manila, Philippines as freeland writer/photographer 1981 - Philippine Refugee Processing Center as culture teacher 1982 - PRPC as Curriculum Developer for Cultural Orientation 1983 - PRPC Social Worker for middleschool age refugees 1991 - Travel coast of China, Korea, Japan Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia 1991 - Bangkok/Pattaya, Thailand 1992 - 1999 Vientiane, Laos - retired



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