Robert Burkett
Where to start?
My name is Robert (Bobby) (Bob) Burkett
There is nothing extraordinary about me except I have lived longer than any other family member, so I will begin with
CHILDHOOD
I was born at home (yes, no hospital) On Garfield Avenue in Winter Park Florida August 1936. I don't remember anything until I was about 3 so I guess that is where I should start. I do have a couple of photos of me when less than 3, so I guess I was around but that's it
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I think we owned the house on Garfield until I started school. I know we were there at the start of WWII. I remember Mom telling me the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor even though I had no idea where that was located. She always felt we needed a "country experience" so we live off and on in Oviedo Florida which was nowhere. I have recollections of both places but times are skewed so if I seem mixed up I am.
My older brother Jim(my) started school when we were in Oviedo so I must have been 3 as he is almost exactly 3 years older. He didn't like me very much and was always trying to hurt me, maybe because I had a habit of running around naked. Heck that's very freeing! Anyway he was chasing me one day and we had a collection of Banty Roosters. I proceeded to pick one up and tossed it at him (totally self defense). That rooster dug his claws in so deep that I'm sure he bled for 3 days. End of chase! It is a fact that from that day on Jimmy had nothing to do with chickens and wouldn't even eat one!
MY FAMILY
Before I get into my next event, let me introduce my family in order of age.
My Dad was Warren Levi Burkett. Her was born someplace north of Tampa Florida, October 30, 1901. Because I wasn't around at that time (believe it or not) everything I know is hearsay! His mother Ruth was the only grandmother I knew. He loved children (unlike my mother) and always hoped for a daughter, which he got as the 8th child, although she still had a twin brother. His father, Levi Warren was killed when he was 8 years old so he was at least partially raised by his grandfather, Warren Levi (the family must have loved that name as there were several versions over the generations, including my Brother, Warren Levi Jr and his son, Warren Levi IIII. They should all really be color coded I think. When I knew him he worked as a Master Electrician and managed a company called Lantz Electric in Orlando, Fla. My mother told me he worked as a mechanic before that, which is astounding as there couldn't have been too many autos on the road when he was young. Oh well, maybe that's why he switched. Later in life he worked for Wholesun Foods, an orange concentrate company, as maintenance supervisor, mostly for health insurance, which he needed desperately! Besides children, he loved badminton, driving and canaries. Weird combination huh? He loved Ford products. When we had the funds, he drove Lincolns, when not we drove Fords, except during WWII. More on that later. He was pretty short, about 5'3". He died in June of 1959 from his 3rd heart attack, leaving my mother a widow at 49. I loved him and am sad I never got to know him as an adult. He was very smart even though an 8th grade education was all that was offered at the time.
MOTHER
My mother was born November 8, 1909 somewhere north of Tampa, Florida. (Probably how she met my dad.)Her maiden name was Jemima Boatwright (No pancakes were named after her though.). Her nickname was Nuna (I don't know why either so don't ask). She was one of 10, and the youngest girl. School for her was only offered until the 6th grade. She had a younger brother, Bill. She married my dad in 1924 and had her first child Warren, on November 2 1926, which I think makes her 16. She wound up having 7 boys and 1 girl. Not sure she ever liked children, but she liked her boys once they were adults. She believed in strict punishment and the old adage, "keep your mouth shut unless spoken to". I would say that was old school. Warren was 20 years older than the twins and 10 years older than me so mom spread em out! Again it is important to remember the time of life. She had 4 children during the great depression, maybe not the best decision, but I'm sure birth control was minimum and, remember, dad liked children. But, of course, he didn't have to deliver them! She had to work at least part of the time. I don't remember exactly when but she packed oranges at one time, bur when I was in school she made salads at Harper's Restaurant, kind of an upscale place in Winter Park, Florida. More on that in another post as I had some experience there as well(not good though). She was married to my dad for 35 years and said she would never marry an older man again. She didn't, she marries Bernard James Heron about 2 years later. He was 12 years younger (4 years older than Warren). He outlived her so I hope that brought her happiness. He was great to her and they seemed to like each other. Again, more on that later as I did know my mother as an adult. She spent the last few years of her life terrorizing the care keepers in a nursing home. She passed on at 86 years and a few months. I loved her but some of my childhood memories are a little painful.
My Mom and Dad in the late 40s.
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