Letter
from Ruel Gafford with updates by Phyllis Gafford King
March 14, 1990
I, Ruel
Gafford was born July 1, 1911, in Coleman, Texas, and grew up at Cross
Cut. I came to San Diego, California, in 1942; served in the U.S.
Navy during World War II; and remained here. I married Goldie
Erwin
in 1935, and we will observe our fifty-fifth anniversary in
April.
We have one daughter, Phyllis Gafford King, who lives in Round Rock,
Texas.
She has one son, Leonard Charles "Charlie" King IV.My grandfather
William
Wilson Gafford moved from east Texas during the late 1800s along with
two
of his brothers, Frank and Jim. Granddad dealt in real estate,
while
the brothers farmed. To W. W. Gafford was born a son, Joe, and
two
girls, Martha "Mattie" Sue Gafford Smith and Este Gafford
Edwards.
By his second wife were born Byers Augustus "Gus", Carrol, and Nora
Gafford
Newton. I
have not heard of any reunions of the Gaffords for a few years now, but
they used to meet in San Marcos, Texas.Ruel GaffordLemon Grove,
California
An update,
August 2, 2004: My father, J. W. Ruel Gafford, passed away
August 3, 1993, at the age of 82; and my mother, Goldie Erwin Gafford,
passed away June 2, 1990, at the age of 82. My
great-grandfather William Wilson had several children not mentioned
above,
and I inherited letters to Gus Gafford that are signed by Esta rather
than
Este. I
now live in Austin, Texas. My son, Charlie, who is a laser
field-service
engineer, is about to be transferred by his company to San Diego, where
we both were born. Finally,
some of the Gaffords are still having yearly reunions in San Marcos.
Phyllis Gafford
King, Austin, Texas