Rest your feet and set a spell.
I say a Hardy Amen to Andrew’s comment about Robin. Every time with her was a blessing.
Thinking about it, every time I was around Robin, it was a celebration. So why stop now. Happy Birthday Robin, you were the best. And Happy Birthday Bill, I’m glad I know you.
Labor Day week end. There were several cakes by Jennie, Robin and I cooked and made salads? There was serious barbecuing in the garden. Lots of friends and family.
From Heather on what would have been Robin’s Eightieth Birthday, which we know she is now celebrating.
Early this morning as I am awaking slowing, going into a small hall, I noticed a pastel hanging on the wall of myself that Eugenia had done of me when I was 14 yrs old. She did not sign it and I had always wanted Robin to sign it for her mother. But, ALL the times that Robin was here with me, never once did I remember to ask her! She knew the painting and we marveled how your Mom had captured the exact color of my hair and then surrounded the pastel in a lime green( my best color but of course it took me 30 years to see how good I looked in that color!)Now I am heartsick that I have lost my golden opportunity. I awaken thinking of precious Robin and remembering her laugh. Now, one of you MUST make it to SA and sign my portrait! Please! Heather
This is from an iPhone email to me from our beloved cousin Heather Wren Welder. Thank you, Heather.
Sperry
In Aug 1963, after graduating from UT, my Dad [Clark Wren] MADE me go to Houston and get a job. Before my interview with HISD, Georgia [Jeana’s sister], my Mother [Phyllis Wren] & myself had lunch and ran into Wilmer. When told that I was applying for a job & was not very excited about going to work, wonderful Wilmer pulled me aside, said, ” don’t you worry your pretty little head, if this interview doesn’t work out, I will get you a job and you will be just fine”. I went to interview knowing that it didn’t matter, Wilmer would take care of me! I got the job on my own and Wilmer & Eugenia were so proud of me. Your grandfather Philo [Dr. Alfred Philo Howard], died that next week and I had to explain to my principal why I was so sad & needed a sub for the funeral, that very first week of school( I think that was the first time I realized how strange my relationship with all of you really is :):);)! About 3 weeks later, Wilmer called and he & Eugenia took me to dinner at the Forest Club so that they could hear all about my new job! Little wonder that I loved them both dearly !!! Heather
Saturday nights, from 8:30 – 9:00 between 1957 and 1963, my dad and I were glued to the TV to watch “Have Gun Will Travel.” The show was about a rough but debonaire hired gun named Paladin, who lived in a fancy San Francisco hotel, attended by his anxious Chinese assistant Hay Boy. Each episode began with a visitor or a telegram requesting Paladin’s assistance. Despite some reluctance on his part, he ventured forth onto the unruly backroads of the West, saving the innocent and ushering his adversaries off boots first. A man of few words, Paladin often dispensed nearly as many bullets as words to his usually more garrulous adversaries.
After his retirement from the bench in 1969, Dad set up an office with his friend Hardy Hollers in downtown Austin, and signed up for circuit duty. They came by mail and perhaps … in a telegram. Jeana accompanied him on several of the many cases he tried in various small Texas towns, when the local judge was on vacation or forced to recuse himself, etc. My dad always carried this card with him wherever he ventured forth onto the unruly backroads of the West.
So many of us at BBVA Compass who know Bill and Robin, remember seeing them walking hand-in-hand every morning near our office in the River Oaks area of Houston. It was evident to all of us how very happy and in love they were. They always brought a smile to our faces.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you, your family, Bill and his family at this time.
Susan Green
The one I remember was the summer your [Sperry’s] parents went to Europe and we, my father, Clark, mother, Florence, sister, Heather, me, Campbell and Pittle Luppy, our mongrel dog, moved into your parents home to watch over your sister, Robin and your brother, Grainger while they traveled. That must have been about 1956. Pittle Luppy was called that in honor of Spoonerisms(my father’s favorite word game) and the fact the Little Puppy peed everytime she got excited.
Robin was studying singing at the time and was always practicing singing her scales in her room.
As a joke I would put Pittle Luppy outside Robin’s room and start her howling when Robin started practicing.
It was very irritating for Robin because she did not know I was the one starting the dog howling each time. But she would come out of her room to find the dog sitting there howling away. Being Robin and always so nice; her remark was always, “The little dog just loves my music”.
