College Years and Courtship 1939-1943

Parenthood Part I: WW2/ Fertile Acres/Odells 1944-1950

Patricia Marie Arns was born on the 4th of July, 1921. Most of Pat’s childhood can be read on the story of PJ and Mabelle, including living her ages 2-5 up near Eagle River, Wisconsin.

Pat started to individuate in her teens as she excelled in school, and sports of all kinds: A master of the “monkey bars” but eventually focused on badminton.

Gordon was born to Edward “Big Ed” Walter of the famous Chicago Stockyards. His mother was Big Ed’s secretary for a time. Big Ed traveled a lot for business to Sioux City, Iowa and Saint Paul, Minnesota. Consequently, Gordon likely spent most of his time with his mother, Alice Cassidy. We are able to surmise what his early life was like through old family photos, but also because the Walter Family were well known all over the region, and especially Chicago. The Walter Brother’s, originally from Indiana, went into business together and formed at least a few companies. Gordon spent some time with his dad at his ranch in Minnesota, and at Big Ed’s brothers, William Walter. William married into the Chrimes Family, who owned the oldest house in all of Chicago; The so called “Widow Clark House”, which is today a museum with many Walter Family artifacts found in the house and the history books.

Pat applied for scholarship to Saint Catherine Junior College (High School?) in Kentucky and was selected. During that transformative year, she felt compelled to ask her father’s permission, that is if it was OK for a “lady” to do so. PJ was 100% supportive and reassured her that he and her mom wanted her to “enjoy everything in life”. (I will attach the letter in the Gallery below, dated in 1936 while she was going to school in Kentucky - Horse Country). Pat fell in love with the sport of equestrian from then on.

Meanwhile, Gordon attended High School at the newly minted Saint Rita of Cascia, Class of 1939 at 7740 S Western Ave, Chicago. An all-boys Catholic School.

When Pat returned from Kentucky, she continued her education, equestrian, and sporting career. While working for the School Newspaper, she had met her match Gordon “Bucky” Walter while working for both the school Newspaper and the Yearbook for IIT: Illinois Institute of Technology 1939-43. They each had a large circle of friends on the near Southside of Chicago. During College Pat would take a train on Friday to Hinsdale to work at a fine dining restaurant called “Spinning Wheel”. There she learned about the finer things in life and rubbed elbows with some high class people. They had living quarters there, so she stayed there all weekend until her classes resumed on Mondays at IIT.

After graduating, WWII came calling, so Gordon, or “Bucky” as he was better known, enlisted and went boot camp in Palm Beach (?), Florida. Patricia, or “Pat, followed him there after graduating. They were married soon after. Bucky finished his Boot Camp and then was off to Northern Africa for a time. It’s unclear if he saw any Combat Duty. Regardless, he answered the call when it was given.

While he was away, they welcomed a baby girl, Patricia Frances, named after her mother, Patricia Francis Walter, Nov 6, 1944. It is evident from photos that Pat stayed at her parent’s house on Patterson. , and had company! Her sister-in-law, Shirley, was pregnant with John Arns’s child, and they gave birth within 2 weeks of each other!

When the War ended, the couple settled back in good old Chicago. Grandma Arns had the foresight to buy a larger house which could accompany the growing family. Before 1945, Mabelle had 4 grandchildren: Betty, Terry, John Jr (John and Shirley’s 1st), and baby Patricia, or Tish. By 1950 Granny Arns had 14 grandchildren - many living at the new house at 5130 W Pensacola Avenue, or nearby above the Odell Bakery 4355 N Milwaukee. Pat and Bucky lived above the Odell’s Bakery and welcomed Tom (‘47) and Rita (‘49), and by the time she became pregnant with Kenneth, AKA “Tiny” in 1951 - it was time to leave “Fertile Acres”, as their living quarters became known as, and found new digs a few miles north 7212 Farwell Avenue in Edison Park.

The nice thing about the Farwell House; It was close proximity to the Joe Arns family house, and the cousins remained close for the years to come. Godon secured a job after the war at Zenith, where he did quite well for himself and his family. The couple welcomed 7 more children after “Tiny” in 1951: Ricky (‘53), Eddie (‘55), Larry (‘56), Maggie (‘58), Vonnie (‘59), Eileen (‘60), and last but not least, Kevin (‘63)

The children all grew up and got Straight A’s in school - or so they’ve told me :) They all found their way in life and succeeded in various ways, having families of their own.

When Gordon passed away, his headstone was engraved “A Man of Integrity”. By all accounts, this was the case. So modest he never mentioned his professional accomplishments. One of his nieces, Bonnie at age 14, who had stayed with the Walter family after her sister Alice died suddenly, that Bucky gave her the confidence in school - math in particular, to go onto and succeed in life, earning a degree from Dominica University because of the time and patience he spent teaching her. Never giving the answer but walking her through the logical steps so she could do it without help. These sorts of stories are common about Bucky and Pat.