Uncle Roland was the Brother of my Mother Helen (Palmer) Fossenkemper. I remember that Roland was always the favorite sibling of my Mother. She never talked about him without laughing and joking about their fun times together. Roland was very seldom in our lives. I do remember times when I was very young, that he lived in Richmond but I don't remember more than just a few moments. One memory sticks in my mind when the family was having a party in the last 1940's and we were at the farm of my Grandmother. Roland was asked to take one of the cars and go in town for some additional food. Someone had wired a surprise firecracker to the car ignition the started with a loud whistle before its big bang. When Roland turned the key and heard the carbomb whistle, his mind took him back to some of the Navy battles of WWII and he immediately jumped over the seat and into the back and covered his head. I think everyone laughed except Roland. But being the happy soul he was I'm sure he held know grudge for the practical joke.
Another time I remember that Roland had learned to fly small airplanes by using some of the opportunities provided by the GI Bill "according to my Mom." he flew from Tenn., I guess, to Richmond and called my Mother to meet him at the airport. She and I drove out to meet him and all I remember is that when it was time to leave, my Mother was talking to Roland as the plane was running and she had her head between the two struts. Roland began to move and Mom couldn't get her
head out from between the struts so she had to run along until he stopped. I remember her and Roland laughing at the incident .
Several times in later life my Mom and Dad went to or stopped in Tenn. to visit Roland and he also came to Richmond and even Tucson. Everybody loved Uncle Roland.
God Bless Him.