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Note: CONTINUATION OF JIM'S NOTES...
--Source of information: Jim GODSHALK (himself) (N4CMM@@juno.com);
After Studebaker's, I immediately got a job with GATX, a steel fabricator. They were in the last stages of building 2 huge oil storage tanks at the Sinclair Oil Bulk plant, on Ireland Road. I was a utility man, but started at $1.50/hr. which was the most money I had ever made. It was also the hottest, dirtiest job I ever had, but I hung on and made a couple nice paychecks. Then, as I was sweeping up dirt inside a tank, I got dirt in my eye. I hurt all day, and all that night. The next day they sent me to an eye doctor. He said it was a flake of rust, and removed it, but I had to wear a patch over the eye for a couple of days.
During this time Jerry Moore came back to town. He was in the Army, and had completed basic training. He tried to move in on Norma again, and she seemed uncertain what to do. She tried to give my ring back, but I said, "Just hold it". After a few days and dates with him, she told me it was over with him. He tried to put the make on her, and indicated he had been doing this with other girls. She didn't play those games, and told him to get lost. We talked about our relationship, and she told me she just hadn't been sure who she would marry, but now she was sure, that was ... if I was still available. I asked her who had the engagement ring, and we were back in business, we never broke up again in over 44 years, although there were a few rough spots. And she tried to blame ME!! :-) :-)
The job lasted about 6 more weeks. They were going to Milwaukee, to start more tanks. These tanks are about 75 feet in diameter and 50 feet high, and I think this job was to last 2 years or more. They offered me $2.00 an hour to go with them, but I quit so I wouldn't have to leave South Bend, Indiana.
Then I found a job selling dishes and horse clocks for $1 down, $1 a week. I had to collect each week. There were other products too, and I was out 6 days a week pushing my wares, including Airway sweepers. I went around a regular route that someone before me had sold and I was collecting. Whenever I could, I would try to sell to a new customer, and I worked an area mostly west of South Bend, toward New Carlisle, La Porte, and Michigan City. I did pretty well from late August into November, making sometimes over $200 a week.
Norma and I were talking serious plans of marriage, probably for February 14, 1952. None of our parents liked the idea because we were only 20, had no resources, and I didn't even have a good job. When it snowed I had trouble running my routes, and my customers had many excuses not to pay (baby was sick, had to buy fuel, clothes, etc.) or some just moved without notice. My income dropped below $100 a week, and I had to make payments to Dad on my 1951 Ford.
By January 1952, I realized I had to get a better job. Within a week my Mother got a call from Studebakers, that they had something. I went in the next day and they had an opening for an apprentice Metal Modelmaker in the body engineering department. I could start that week. The pay was $1.08 � an hour to start, and worked up to nearly $4.00 an hour when you graduated in 3 years (this eventually became 4 years as the program was upgraded to UAW - CIO standards). I quit my sales/collection job at Consumers Home Equipment and started. I don't believe I had a day out of work since I had graduated from High School, except when I injured my eye.
Even though the pay wasn't great on this new job, we got plenty of overtime. I began working 6 days a week, and got 12 hours pay for Saturday. With Norma working at Bell Telephone, we felt we had enough to go ahead with our wedding plans.
During the next month, there was constant wedding preparations. Norma had 2 or 3 bridal showers (she must have been clean!!!!!) and we were hunting for an apartment. We found a "rat hole" at 525 � N. Scott Street. It had a long, narrow living room, a tiny kitchen, and a bedroom with a paper-thin wall dividing us from the landlord's apartment. We could hear him cough and breath when we laid in bed. We had a shower stall in the bedroom, a tiny toilet in the kitchen, and used the kitchen sink for everything else. Our rent was $50 /month, but the place needed painting, so he gave us our first month's rent for painting the place (he bought the paint).
February 14th was a Thursday. I arranged to get off Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and be back on Monday morning. Norma had about the same setup, and the plan was to have the wedding at Norma's folk's home in the morning, then leave for our Honeymoon trip by noon. Rev. Oberholtzer from our church did the service, and Norma's Mother had a reception for us with cake & punch. Then we went to our apartment, changed clothes, and left very quickly for Niagara Falls. We made it to some place in Ohio that night, where we stayed in a motel. I'm not sure which of us was most embarrassed!!
The next day we got up a little late and after a good breakfast we headed east. We made a few stops, and arrived at the Falls about 9 PM. The colored light were just finishing up, so about all we got to see were the white lights, and the ice due to the cold winter temperatures, the sight was so beautiful. We hung around outside a few minutes, then got a motel right along the Falls. We got a good rest, then up and had breakfast and looked at the Falls for an hour or so. In 1952 there was an elevator that took us to the bottom of the Falls, this has since eroded away.
Finally, around noon we headed west for Indiana. We made it to Ohio where we spent the night. Sunday we drove on home (our little apartment), and back to work on Monday. It had been a wonderful honeymoon, but all too short. Sometime in April, Norma got pregnant, but we didn't know it for a month or so. She went to the doctor to confirm it, and everything seemed to be doing fine with her and the baby. She kept on working and I worked at night, helping an old man from Studebakers, so our income was about $130 /week. When September came we realized we would soon need more room, and started looking at homes to buy. We found that we could buy a new National Home for $700 down and $49 /month. There were several models available in Mishawaka, we found one that was new and it came with a 1 � car garage, but had been purchased. The payment was about $120 a month including the garage. The house was a small 2 bedroom, with a living room, kitchen/dinette, laundry room, and 1 bath. It was a huge improvement over the apartment we had. The folks loaned us $700 to pay down and we began repaying it, but I doubt if we got it all paid back.
Norma worked hard decorating the new home and I helped all I could. We got some used furniture and it seemed like a nice home for our little family. Then, on November 8th, we went out and saw a movie at an outdoor theater. When we got home I pulled up the driveway to the garage where Norma started to get out. The drive had a small incline and the 1951 Plymouth convertible we had was a 3 speed manual transmission. I turned the engine off and thought I'd left the car in gear, but when I let up on the brake pedal the car rolled back, enough to bump Norma with the open door. It didn't hit her hard, but knocked her down and gave her a good jolt, with her being in "great with child" condition. I ran to help her up, but the damage was done.
I got her into the house and found she wasn't badly injured. We went on to bed, but in a couple of hours I was awakened ... floating in a water puddle. Her water had broken and the bed was flooded, she was afraid and embarrassed. Instead of calling me, she got up and called the doctor, letting me swim alone. By then she had talked to the doctor and had learned there was nothing to do unless labor had begun, and it hadn't started (YET).
We got up Sunday and had a fairly normal day. Sunday evening it was off to bed, but about 2 AM she was wakened by the 1st labor pain. She was quiet for an hour, but the countdown was increasing. She finally got up calling the doctor and me. He said to get into the hospital, so we soon took off and got there by 5 AM. By 7 AM, Linda Jeane Godshalk was here, all 3 pounds 5 ounces of her!!! In about a day she shrank down to 2 pounds 15 ounces. Since she was premature they put her in an incubator, where she spent her first 35 days. Norma was fine and came home within 5 days. Thus began our lives as parents ... and it has always been exciting!!!
NORMA'S NOTES:
--She was a School Teacher for 24 years, Kindergarten and Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD) 1-12.
--She taught at Frostproof Elementary (??th Grade) in Frostproof Florida. At numerous schools in Tampa, Florida and throughout the Hillsborough County area.
--She graduated from Indiana University in South Bend (IUSB) Indiana in 1968. She graduated from the University of South Florida (USF) in 1972, with a Masters Degree in Early Childhood.
Source of information: Written by Mom's dear friend, Nancy Cook and read at Mom's funeral by Jack Cook;
A TRIBUTE TO NORMA GODSHALK BY A FRIEND WHO WILL MISS HER DEARLY WHO WAS NORMA GODSHALK?
She was the beloved daughter of Basil and Ruth Stegall, whom she honored until their passing.
WHO WAS NORMA GODSHALK?
She was the beloved sister of Norman Eugene. They shared the same birthday and love for life. She also had an older sister, Lois.
WHO WAS NORMA GODSHALK?
She was a doting Grandmother to Christopher, Kristina, Crystalyn, David, Darel, Denny, Denise Jeane, Tiffany, and Amber Jeane. She treasured each of her precious Grandchildren and prayed for each of them. She was the story-teller, the "special time for tea Grandma", the "healer of hurts", and the open arms for that special time in the rocking chair.
WHO WAS NORMA GODSHALK?
She was the loving Mother to Linda Jeane, Diana June, and Michael James. For a while her three children were in three different countries, yet she kept them close to her heart. She hurt when they hurt, she laughed when they laughed, she rejoiced over victories and prayed over trials. She was indeed, a very special Mother.
WHO WAS NORMA GODSHALK?
She was the faithful wife to Jim for forty-four years. She adored him, loved him, honored him and upheld him in prayer. They had many wonderful years together, traveled many miles, played many games, sacrificed, prayed and served the Lord.
WHO WAS NORMA GODSHALK?
She was a friend to scores. She was the listening ear, the counselor, the encourager. Many received her sweet notes, cards, poems and uplifting letters.
WHO WAS NORMA GODSHALK?
For thirty years she was the teacher of hundreds. She was the educator, the class nurse, the disciplinarian, the mentor. She cared about kids.
WHO WAS NORMA GODSHALK?
For many years she was the Sunday School teacher. She shared the good news of the Lord Jesus and His salvation. She read the stories of Jesus and His love for the little children. She read the old stories of faith and hope and love.
WHO WAS NORMA GODSHALK?
She was my spiritual sister. She was the quiet confident, daytime, nighttime, or two o'clock in the morning, she was there. She was my friend and I love her and will miss her dearly.
WHO WAS NORMA GODSHALK?
Most of all she was a child of God. Her salvation settled years ago when she trusted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior. She was ready to meet Him. Today, she has no more pain, but a new and whole body. Today, she breathes celestial oxygen with no tubes or tanks. Today, she woke up in Glory and found it home. Today, she has meet her Savior face to face, and He has said "Welcome Home".
Psalms 116:15 "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints".
December 4, 1995
Nancy L. Cook
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