08 Apr April 8, 1944

Letter
from: Alice Shonkwiler
to: Pvt George W. Shonkwiler
April 8, 1944
Sat. Nite - 12:00, Midnite

Dearest,

It’s Sat. nite and although I’m in Rockford I received two letters and a nice
Easter card from you this afternoon.  You see I left spec. Delivery stamps with
Elinor and told her to forward any mail from you.  I certainly hope you got all
my pkgs for Easter as I had planned that they would.  I tried to get a card too,
but it seemed I couldn’t get anything very nice, so let it go and sent the
cakes and things instead.  Were they terribly stale -  hope not!  Well, any way
you could eat the candy.  I spent a $1.32 postage on the cake alone, isn’t that
terrific.

Ronnie got a beautiful Easter basket from Chuck and Betty.  It’s a real finely
woven brown varnished sewing basket filled with candy, bunnies, eggs, etc. and
tied with big white and red cellophane.  I didn’t buy a thing for either Ronnie
or Patsy as I

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figured they wouldn’t eat candy anyway.  I did buy Patsy a sun suit and bonnet
tho.  Elinor wanted to get Ronnie an Easter bunny, so I couldn’t buy that.
He won’t get it till he gets home tho.

Ronnie has had an exciting day.  Vy,  Ronnie and I went out for lunch today,
then at 2:30, we went up to see Kathryn Lord[;] and her husband enlisted for a
Navy commission and they are waiting for it to come thru.  He had only three
years of college tho, so they aren’t sure he’ll get it.  They’re selling their
furniture, so if he doesn’t[,] they’re out of luck.  They’ve sold only half so
far and already got $220.00 more than they paid for it.  And it’s about a year
old, or more.

Tonight Elsie, Nell and another girl and I were going to a show, but Chuck and
Betty went out so, didn’t have anyone to care for Ronnie, so we called it off.
Nell and this other girl went, but Elsie, Ronnie and I went to a confectionery
and had ice cream and went over to her folks for a while, then home

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again.  Such an exciting Saturday nite.  I hadn’t seen Nell for about 3 years,
so would liked to have seen her.  Remember when I told you about her husband
who went into the bedroom after supper and shot himself?  She has a little
child of two.  She swears to this day she doesn’t know why he did it, as it was
a complete surprise to her.  I knew him well and can’t figure it out either.
I’ve heard it was because he had gotten some girl in trouble, but it seems he
could have figured out a better way out of it than that.

Weren’t you surprised about Oralee’s husband Fred stepping out?  No wonder he
didn’t want her to come in this week-end either.  If I ever heard you did that,
I’ll get out of your way so fast, that it would make your head swim and I’ll
never have faith in another man ever again.  As it is, I know you wouldn’t, and
knowing that I’d never do it either.  I know that it only causes unhappiness and
there are enough things to worry

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about, without that too.

Was sure surprised to see Kathryn, as she has gained 30 pounds since she got
married and isn’t half the pretty girl she was when she weighed 110.  She hasn’t
any children either so that isn’t it.  Sure hope I don’t gain weight.  I’m going
to stay eating right now

Is this a morbid letter!

I’d give almost anything to have you here right now, honey.  Seems even tho
you’re away, I love you more every day, and both Ronnie and I miss you terribly.

Don’t worry, Wes, I’ll get back to Chicago safe and sound.  Even Vy (and she’s
driven for about 15 years) said I was a good driver.  You can’t believe it I
s’pose!-- either can I!

Bye, and thanks again for the sweet Easter greeting. Guess you do think of me
at times, huh?

All our love,
Mom and Ronnie

P.S
Elinor, Johnny, Vy, Chuck and Betty all want me to say hello to you.  Vy is
leaving for California (San Francisco) a week from Tuesday.  She’s going to
stay there this time she says.