These High School Sweethearts Are Soon To Celebrate Six
Decades Of Marital Bliss.
In 1939 Rolf and
Ruth were High School sweethearts when Rolf's mother brought them to Balboa to visit
Rolf's sister. Rolf recalls, "Until we came here I never knew it existed. I liked to
fish and I could bring my little boat down. There was something for everybody, mom could
shop, dad could fish and kids had the Fun Zone. We liked it then and we like it now."
Rolf And Ruth Were Married On
January 16, 1942. |
Because Rolf was only
20 years old, his father wouldn't give him permission to get married. The couple had to
wait six months until they were both 21 years old before they could get married at a
wedding chapel in Los Angeles.
Married for only six
months, Rolf recalls,"Uncle Sam said I need you. They sent me on a vacation in New
Guinea."
In the 1980s Ruth (R)
worked for seven years with Bee Thacher (L) at the Bamboo Rattan Shop located at the
corner of Balboa and Palm. Now a bike shop.
Rolf enjoys
reminiscing of the war days and his friends of the 405th Bomb Squad - 38th Bomber Group.
Today the Laibs have been married for
59 years and Rolf says, "And we're still talking to one another." They have two
daughters, three grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. Rolf sums up the secret to
longevity as, "Happiness, good living, wonderful family, good doctors and lots of
pills."
Rotating Outages Alert
|
 Flash Back
Main Street
Balboa
Then And Now
Circa 1906
|
Circa 1925
|
Circa 1938
|
Circa 1950
|
Circa 1978
|
George And Yong Toth
Previous Owners Of The Balboa Market Are Now In The
Restaurant Business
Yong is standing in
front of their new restaurant, Christo's Hamburgers in Riverside. They have great
food. The hamburgers and chocolate shakes are killer!
Viewer
Email
Dear Jim, I was just steered to
your charming website by a guy from
Japan, of all things. I read with great interest the article about the old Prison Of
Socrates coffee house, where I played many times as one of "The Steeltown
Two".
Two Questions: A.) Is the book available?, and B.)do you happen to have an email
address for Tim Morgon, who wrote the article? I haven't seen him in many years and
would like to get in
touch with him. Finally, your name sounds very familiar, and I have a
vague notion that I've met you.
Best Wishes,
C. Carson Parks
cparks@gate.net
Words
Of Wisdom
A dream is an answer to a question we
haven't yet figured out to ask. |
