Aunt Patty

(February 24, 1924 - June 16, 2009)

Patricia Jane Hammonds Meads was born in Los Angeles, California. Her parents went to California to be in the movie industry. Cousin Nancy said that she has seen her grandfather in a silent film with Charlie Chaplin. One of the relatives died in his tutu when he was filming a wing walking scene on a biplane and lost his balance. After her parents died, Aunt Patty was raised by her WV family on this historic farm at Pence Springs, just outside of Alderson.

The house was built on an American Indian encampment. The folks have artifacts lining the wall in the sunroom. There are many arrowheads and other tools that were collected everytime they plowed the garden beside the house. The house is so interesting. We gathered here after Aunt Patty's service for a fine meal..




Below is a photo of the Meads crew. From left to right is sister Judy Greenleaf, Cousin Nancy Meads Spears (Husband Dorsey is taking the pictures along with wife Judy), Nancy Jeronic (curent owner of the house), Rob Spears, Grandma Great Meads, and the infamous moi!




Rob and Judy share a love for the theater and the fine arts.





I was not good at picture taking this day. I should have snapped photos of the other folks that shared a meal with us. John Gwinn (93 years old and doing well) and Ruth Tolley Gwinn (also doing super at 90 years) are a part of the history of this area. Ruth taught people to fly at her airport in Pence Springs. She holds the distinction of being the youngest woman in West Virginia to obtain a pilot's license in 1937. Click below to see part of her interview in the PBS Documentary, The Long Runway Home.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=k7nyLniFhTc&feature=channel_page



Ruth's husband had a distinguished military career and upon his retirement in 1964 was commissioned to construct the Greenbrier Valley Airport across form the Greenbrier. This has the longest runway in West Virginia - guess why? Does the Greenbrier Resort and it's BUNKER ring any bells?