Grandpa Earl Volpert, Sr. WW II
Memorial Day is a special day to be reserved for those service men who did not return home.
Butch’s dad, Earl Volpert Sr., did come home after serving as a medic in Italy in WWII. Earl Jr. (Butch or Dado as he is better known) was two before his father held him. He spent many years coaching the boys of St. Patrick’s Elementary the art of playing basketball. He worked his way up through the ranks of the Terre Haute Fire Department. After retirement from the THFD, he was the Asst. Director of Civil Defense in Terre Haute. The Cuban Missile Crisis was ever bit as scary as the unrests of today
His joy was a premie named Beth. When she got old enough to enjoy real food her favorite was strawberries. We made the trip from northern Indiana to Terre Haute about every three months. In the worst of Winter somehow he always found fresh strawberries for her arrival. This was the early ‘60’s, a far different grocery shopping world than today. His house was full of several generations and not a lot of dollars. It is the memories that count in families.
In my multigenerational garden in Grayson, GA the strawberry plants have not produced well. This Spring we took Jackson, Steve and Kim’s 4 yr. old, to the strawberry fields in Loganville to pick his own gallon. Like his Auntie “B” they are his favorite food. However, yesterday I noticed that Jackson’s strawberry plant on his back deck has sprouted new tendrils and flowers. My circuitous thinking says to me that on this Memorial Day it is Grandpa Volpert Sr.’s way of saying hello to a little strawberry loving fellow with the last name of Volpert. Sr. died years before there was a Jackson, but it is the memories that count in families.
Marianne “Ditdo” Lough Volpert writes along with her daughter, Beth in the Multigenerational Garden. They live in Grayson, GA.
FreelanceBeth 
I repair watches as a hobby and bought a broken watch recently. The watch was engraved on the back with the name “Earl Volpert 1956 Teams St Patricks”. I tried a search to find out who might have owned the watch. I have since repaired and restored the watch and am currently wearing it. Could this have belonged to Earl Volpert Sr?
Thanks,
John Hannon
Framingham, MA
Thank you for your kind offer. Yes, we would be delighted to have the watch. We understand that you don’t wish to have compensation but perhaps we could donate to a charity of your choice. Just give us details. If we can get your email address we can send photos of Earl, Sr.
Thank you again from sons Butch andJohn, grandchildren Steve and Beth, and great grandchildren Andrew, Alex, and Jackson.
Butch Volpert
2038 Lakewood Circle
Grayson, Georgia 30017
WordPress
It is entirely possible. How it got to Massachusetts is a mystery to me! Beth
Thanks for your reply!
I bought it on eBay from a seller in Terre Haute. It was in really bad condition but now it runs, and I am wearing it. I especially like engraved watches.
It is likely my dad’s watch. 1956 was his first year of coaching at St. Patrick’s in Terre Haute and the year I was the only 8th grader cut from the basketball team. I don’t recall what gift he got that year but it may very well have been a watch. If the Terre Haute seller was Connie Lough then I would be almost positive that it was his.
Earl “Butch” Volpert, Jr.
volpert@aol.com
(770) 355-3737
Grayson, Georgia
Hello Mr Volpert,
I am very happy to be able to trace a watch to its owner! Watch repair is a hobby for me I have been doing for the past 4 years. I enjoyed working on the watch and getting it into working, presentable condition.
I am not sure of the eBay seller’s actual name since they use usernames, but it was called “luvcash” on eBay.
I am going to contact you by email and show you the photo of the watch before and after repair.
If it is indeed your dad’s watch, would you like me to send it to you as a gift? It has already served its purpose by giving me some satisfaction and experience servicing this model watch.
Take Care,
John Hannon