Rhondalee Donovan
Deepest condolences from Admiral John R. (Russ) Rohleder and daughter, Rhondalee Donovan. My Dad is incapacitated now so I'll share my favorite memory of Betty Lou and my Mum. When Cap'n Dave and my Dad were deployed to Korea, both dashing young Lieutenants I believe, the wives wanted to come to Califorinia to have time 'til the last. This would mean they would travel cross-country by car, something not often done by women at that time, but becoming more common as family members went to be nearer to deploying bases during WWII and Korea. We have a wonderful photo of Betty Lou and Mum (Thea Rohleder) bundled up like eskimos in the snow in Pittsburgh, about to take off on their journey. There is copious snow on the ground and the ladies stand proudly beside their car to whisk them to a new world. I can only imagine their arrival in the desert and then California at which time I suspect the coats are long discarded. Betty Lou was always very lively – I've known her my whole life – and my Mum could be a kick in the pants, too; possibly the gentlemen would rather not hear every detail of their road trip. We remember Betty Lou as she was, laughing and warm, and now, at peace.