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I met Opal at a bible club called the "Miracle Book Club" for teenagers. We were both going to the old Albuquerque
High school on Central ave., and broadway. The day we decided to get married, Opal's mom and dad gave Opal her school
money to buy books and we decided to use that to buy the marriage license. So that day, we borrowed my grandfathers
1929 buick and drove 15 miles to Bernalillo, NM courthouse to buy our licenses. We took my little brother Joe, who was
only 14 years old to be our witness. Well, Opal, would not lie about her age so we were told to go get her parents permission.
We drove back to Albuquerque and just as we got to right in front of Opals house we ran out of gas. Opal's dad, about 6' and
200 poundsseen us and came out and had a few bad words to say, Boy was he mad about boys having his daughter out. So Joe and
I just bowed our heads, I'm sure we prayed as we slowley pushed the car away from the house.
A couple of days later Opal and I met at the Hight school and laid our our second plan. We would go 14 miles south to
Los Lunas, NM and buy our license in another county, so no one would know us. By now I convinced Opal to exaggerate
her age. this time it worked. We got the licenses and drove back to Albuquerque. Now we don't have any money for gas
or to go back that night to get married, or pay the pastor and go on a honey moon.
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My grandfather had bought a new battery to put in the Buick and this gave me an idea. Hock the battery, brilliant
idea! Until I had to tell where the battery went to. Thant night Oct 8, 1940 was the night. by the time
we bought the gas, we had two dollars left.. One dollar for the minister and one dollar for the honey moon. The rest is history.
Now what to do? No job, no education, no place to live, no money, no inheritance and no battery. Then comes our
first child, Billy and also world War II. Now we were beginning to understand what the word "responsibility"
really means.
Now all this happened before welfare, aid to dependent children, social security, tv, microwaves, Natural gas, cd's tape
decks, computers, insdie toilets, and almost before electricity. finally one of Mama May's children left the nest. Someone
said they heard her say "Lord I sure pray they learn how to fly".
June 1 1980 William was ordained Deacon at Lime Ave. Baptist
Church, Long Beach, CA
July 27, 1987 Licensed to preach by Carson Baptish Church, Carson,
CA
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