Editor’s comment: At the memorial service for Robert L. Piper, his last article for the Presbyterian Church Newsletter was distributed by Pastor Sara Palmer with this note.
November 4, 1987
Dear Friends,
We are sharing the last of Bob’s writing with you today. We shall dearly miss Bob’s stories - both those he wrote and those he told. Jan, Sue and Mary plus all the family would enjoy sharing such stories with you and appreciate all the lovely and fun memories you have to share.
Our church has been richly blessed with Bob’s help and support. We have been pleased to share his writings with so many people. Several months ago Bob told me a man had come into the store to ask where a certain family had lived. Bob gave him the address and directions. A lady standing near the counter told Bob she thought he was mistaken. She was sure she had contrary information at home. Bob told me he said, “Well, when you get home and find out you are wrong, give me a call.” She did.
Sara Palmer
Pastor
Here are two little stories for rock hunters -
A lady was in the store and we were talking arrowheads, etc. I loaded her groceries in her car and there along the curb were two real nice arrowheads. Evidently someone had lost them there.
A lady from Melcher was showing some guests her rock collection. Two little five-year-old girls decided to go out in the orchard and find some real things to show the grown-ups what they could do. A little later they came in with two arrowheads they had found along a little brook. They were nice arrowheads but the children didn’t have any idea what they had found. They were just pretty to them.
Speaking of Melcher I think back to the years of strife between Melcher and Dallas. In the last two years or so they are ironing out these differences. We noticed on a public building in Melcher the words “Dallcher Fire Department.”
This may be a first on my part as my Christmas tree is up. The tree was a gift from my daughter Mary last year. Jan and her husband were here this week and to be sure it got out of its large cello bag safely, they set it up. It’s almost three feet tall and is decorated and lighted permanently. It’s a beautiful tree with silk needles.
Jesse Askren asked me about a block foundation that almost went clear around his garden plot. He asked several people but no one knew what it was. I asked Velma Tuttle who used to live next door to where Jesse lives now and she had the answer right now. Years ago Don Lewis had a dray service and a house moving operation going. He started to build a large shop but never finished it. Hence the foundation.
Georgia Agan told me she found a box at a sale, that Tone Bros. of Des Moines had shipped whole bean coffee in to Curtis Bros. store here in Chariton. The box is in good shape and the printing is clear. Curtis Bros. store was where Dr. Danner’s office was on the southeast corner of the square. There were two brothers, Ira and Frank. Later Ira moved into a building where Swanson’s Plumbing and Heating is now and Frank stayed on the corner. Andy Holmes was the salesman for Tone Bros. He, Glen Curtis, Cracker John and Ray Smith traveled southern Iowa and northern Missouri together. This coffee box must be at least sixty-eight years old. Georgia’s daughter works for Tone Bros. now.
Robert Piper
1907 - 1987
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