• General Notes

  Jacqueline has written this narrative of her early life, career, marriage, family and retirement.
  
  On January 17, 1938 Jackie made her appearance to the world at Blackwell General Hospital, Blackwell, OK. Born to Rosalie Katherine Schnebele and George Dick Webster. Weight 8 pounds and 4 ounces, and 23 inches long. Her first home was four miles north, one mile west, and one fourth mile north of Lamont, Oklahoma. She lived one half mile across the field to the east from her grandparents Webster. On April 7, 1938 there was a bad snowstorm with heavy drifts, the snow was so deep that you could walk across the fences. All roads were blocked both east and west and north and south so that travel was impossible. She and her parents went across the field to her grandparent's house on the tractor. She was three and half years old when little brother Roger Valentine was born on August 9, 1941. On December 7, 1941, World War II began for the United States.
  
  Wartime brought many changes. One could not buy many things without ration stamps for them such as gasoline, tires, sugar, shoes, and a number of other commonly used products.
  
  In May of 1942 the family moved to the house where her mother was raised. Her grandparents Schnebele moved into Deer Creek, OK. This place is one and three fourth miles south of Deer Creek. Her mother still resides in this home today - July 2000, 58 years later.
  
  In September of 1942 Jackie started to school at the Antelope Rural School - a one room school. Her first grade teacher was her Aunt Virginia Webster. She and her aunt would sometimes go to school by horseback or horse and cart. Virginia would ride her Pony Copper and Jackie's father - Dick Webster - would drive Spot and a Cart. World War II was under way. Some of the things Jackie remembers playing "May I", Throw the Wicket; learning words and places on the globe by flying around the world with toy airplanes to the next word and place. She also remembers her black cardboard lunch box.
  
  The following summer her grandparents Webster and her aunt Virginia moved to Blackwell, OK. In Sept. 1943, she started attending school in Deer Creek Grade School. This was the same school her mother had attended and graduated from in 1931. Jackie graduated from Grade School in 1951. She spent summers working in the field driving the tractor and operating the Combine after she turned eleven years old. She and her cousins, Lois and Lexy would spend a week with their grandparents in Blackwell. After the War ended in 1945 her cousins Robert and Rocky Shire joined them for the week at the grandparents in Blackwell. She remembers they had lots of fun.
  
  In September of 1951 she entered Deer Creek High School. She was unable to participate in Sports so she participated in Chorus all four years. March 1, 1955, she lost her Grandfather Schnebele. He had looked forward to seeing her graduate from High School and join the Church. On March 6, 1955 she joined the Deer Creek Mennonite Church. She graduated from High School in May of 1955.
  
  Jackie was accepted into the Nursing Program at Enid General Hospital at Enid, OK and began her Nurses training in September 1955. It was a three year diploma course. She did affiliation at Hillcrest Hospital in Tulsa for Obstetrics; Griffin State Memorial Hospital, Norman, OK for Psychiatrics; Children's Hospital, Oklahoma City, OK for Pediatrics. She graduated in September of 1958. She began employment at Enid General Hospital in the Surgery Department.
  
  She met her husband-to-be, Ralph Marvin Palmer on a blind date in September and they were married a month later at Calvary Baptist Church in Enid. Ralph was from Otisville, New York. He was born in Sussex Co. New Jersey on December 2, 1936 to Clifford Wilson Palmer and Alma Cornelius Baker Palmer. He graduated from Otisville High School in 1956. He joined the US Air Force in July 1956. He was stationed at Vance Air Force Base, Enid, OK when they met. They were married October 17, 1958 by a Rev. Mullins. Marlene Heindricks and Bob Goss stood up with them. A couple of girls who attended Nurses Training were also in attendance.
  
  They established their first home at 705 N. 5th, Enid and went on a 30 day honeymoon in November of 1958 to New York to visit Ralph's parents and his siblings. They took a bus to New York City on a Sunday. Everything was quiet with only taxicabs, limousines, and pushcarts on the Streets. They had a Hamburger for lunch that proved to be raw. They went up in the Empire State Building and went to a TV Show - "The Big Pay Off'. Their day in NYC was enjoyable.
  
  Ralph made Airman First Class and they decided to buy a small mobile home which they moved on Base to the Base Trailer Court. By this time they knew they were going to have their first child. In May Jackie had to stop working and on July 19, 1959 they welcomed their first child - William Eugene Palmer who weighed in at 7 lbs and 7 1/2 oz. at Vance AF Base Hospital. Jackie went back to work when William was 6 weeks old.
  
  In 1960 Ralph re-enlisted in the Air Force. They knew they were going to be transferred so they bought a new Mobile Home. They also knew they were going to have a second child. They left Enid on November 3rd and arrived at Williams AF Base, near Chandler, Arizona on November 7th, and parked their Mobile Home in the Wishing Well Trailer Park. On
  
  November 25, 1960 they welcomed their daughter Kathleen Denise Palmer at the Williams AF Base Hospital. She weighed 6 lbs and 13 oz. They later found that Kathleen was born on her great grandparents wedding anniversary.
  
  They found things pretty hard as there was no place to work in Chandler. However, a small new Community Hospital was built. Upon its completion, Jackie helped to open it as a member of the Nursing Staff. In November of 1961 a vacation was planned to go to Oklahoma for Christmas. However Jackie's Grandfather Leroy Webster passed away in early December. They were unable to make it back for the funeral but did make it back for Christmas.
  
  Jackie continued working at Chandler Community Hospital in Surgery, Obstetrics, and Emergency Room, which she says was a learning experience. On January 28, 1963 they welcomed their third child, a son, David Wayne Palmer, born at Williams Air Force Base Hospital. He weighed in at 7 lbs 14 oz.
  
  In May they were transferred to Lowery AF Base in Denver. When moving they took a delay in route to visit family in Oklahoma and New York. While stationed at Lowery, the two older children were taken to the Barnum and Baily, Ringling Bros. Circus. It was during their tenure at Lowery that President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Also while there the three children came down with Chicken Pox. Ralph completed his Electronics School and he was promoted to Staff Sergeant. They were then transferred to Kirtland AF Base at Albuquerque, New Mexico.
  
  Jackie was able to work at Batan Memorial Hospital in Surgery. Bill and Kathy started to school during their tenure at Kirtland AF Base. January 8, 1967, they welcomed their fourth child, a son - Leroy Edward Palmer, who was named for his great grandfather. He weighed 7 lbs 10 oz.
  
  When Leroy was 9 months old they were transferred to Hanscom Field in Massachusetts. Housing was very hard to find there. Finally in November they were able to move on Base. Jackie remembers it snowed heavily on November 17th and the snow stayed on until May. While there, Ralph was promoted to Tech Sergeant and three of their children were in school.
  
  The following August Jackie started work monitoring a school bus and worked as a teacher's aid. Then in November they were again transferred back to New Mexico - Holloman Air Force Base. In March of 1974 they transferred again to Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii. There were problems with the schools so Jackie and the children returned to the continental US and ultimately to Oklahoma where they settled at Lamont where the children attended school.
  
  Ralph was still in Hawaii. January 1976 Jackie lost her grandmother Webster. Ralph was promoted to Master Sergeant while in Hawaii. Jackie worked for a time at Blackwell General Hospital. In March 1976, Ralph was transferred back to Holloman AF Base in New Mexico. He retired from the AF on July 1, 1977.
  
  They continued to live in Lamont where the children attended school and the older ones graduated from High School. Ralph worked for a Contractor and then the City of Lamont. Jackie worked for a Doctor in Pond Creek for a time and then for Wheatland Contractors and operated a Thrift Shop.
  
  During the ensuing years of the 1980s and 1990s the family ultimately all settled in Enid where they have been employed. Jackie and Ralph's children have all married and have families and reside in the Enid area. These are shown on the Generation charts herein. Jackie lost her father - Dick Webster - in November 1985. Her mother Rosalie continues to live on her Farm south of Deer Creek where she has lived most of her life.
  
  Ralph and Jackie have both retired and now reside near Garber. Jackie completed her Nursing Career December 1999 retiring from Bass Baptist Hospital in Enid. Ralph retired from his last employment with the City of Enid. They are now free to travel and enjoy their family.
  

Details of Jacqueline's family with Ralph Marvin Palmer