Where are the Dobbins now?

Not too long ago, I had to have throat surgery and have my thyroid gland removed. I was feeling really anxious and learned that EJ had similar surgery. I reached out and sent EJ an email with questions and concerns. I was not disappointed. EJ responded and was a real support to me.

I learned that EJ and Bonnie are living in Alaska and he works the airlines. He travels a lot.

I understand that Billie Jean and Tom are in the Mesa area.

Warren and Kathy were in the Denver area. We saw one another at Larry's house in Littleton. We talked about getting together. We never did and I have lost contact with them.

I don't know where Joe, Karl, Jacob and Pam are now. There was a time that our families were close. We have all moved and I would love to know where everyone is. I love my cousins and draw strength from being part of an extended family.

Doris Faye is getting married this month. We wish her the very best and wish we could be there to pull some ornery pranks, but it's too far to go to be mischevious. Best of luck Doris Faye!!

Los Alamos

Dad worked in Los Alamos after it had been a boys school. They were preparing for the atomic bomb there, He worked in the winter, when there wasn't so much to do on the farm, so there was some cash. Sometimes Mom would take him to work so she had the car. some of the other kids rode with them, but I never did. Keith and I usually stayed home to do the chores and keep the house. They told us that the roads were awful in the winter time. They can be bad now. I think they must have been terrible. Dad said the they built a building that had six foot thick walls. He couldn't imagine what they were doing there. He worked there as a carpenter.

After Keith came home from the navy, he went to Los Alamos and lived with Bud Richardson's family. That is where he met and married Erma Rae. There was a time when we went to visit, we had to wait at the gate for them to take us in. People were not allowed to just drive in. They had to have a pass.

While Dad was working in Los Alamos, our cellar burned down. It was a big potato cellar and it was big enough to park our car in it. Luckily the car didn't burn. Our lights were out and the fire engine came. It was a scary time.

Dad had a lot of talent. He could do most any job. One winter he worked at Pando, a place where they trained soldiers to ski. That was for skiers who went into Germany through world War II. It is in Colorado mountains. He did carpenter work there too.

Keith's Obituary

On the web site at www.riversideofbelen.com is Keith's obituary. The information about the viewing in Belen is there. Gatha

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Keith Bingham
(March 4, 1927 - March 9, 2008)

Keith Edward Bingham stepped into eternity from complications due to Parkinson's disease March 9th, 2008 in Belen, New Mexico. The son of James Edward Bingham and Cora Emily Dunn, Keith was born March 4th, 1927 in Manassa, Colorado.

He graduated from Romeo High School in 1945. He served in the United States Navy from 1945-1946. Keith married Erma Rae Reynolds on August 6th, 1949 and they were sealed in the Arizona LDS Temple. They are the parents of Erma Laraine Bingham Wheeler, Richard Keith Bingham (Cindy), Sue Ann Bingham Cook (Keith), Kelly Lawrence Bingham (Ruth), Barry Lynn Bingham (Cheryl), and David Alan Bingham (Bonnie). He is survived by his wife Erma Rae, brother Leon Bingham, sisters Gatha Wilson, La Rue Lawson, Barbara White, Doris Faye Nottingham, six children, twenty eight grandchildren, and twenty three great grandchildren. He will be dearly missed by all family and friends.

He worked in Los Alamos as a Welding Supervising Engineer for the Zia Company, Pan Am, and Johnson Controls. He loved working with his co-workers. Keith was a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He served in many positions in the church, and especially loved serving as the Branch President in Llano, New Mexico. He enjoyed working with the Boy Scouts of America where he served more than 10 years.

Family and friends are invited to visit with the family Friday March 14th, 2008 from 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on, 2199 Hwy 304, Belen.

Family will also receive visitors, Saturday March 15th 2008 from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Funeral services will follow at 12 p.m. at the Los Alamos Ward Chapel, 1967 18th Street, Los Alamos. Interment will follow at Guaje Pines Cemetery, Los Alamos.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Perpetual Education Fund or the Humanitarian Aid Fund of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, or The Boy Scouts of America.

Arrangements are being handled by Riverside Funeral Home of Belen, 418 W. Reinken Ave. An online guest register is available at www.riversideofbelen.com

More Pictures of Keith and his family

This is a hurried collection, but here are some more pictures of Keith and his family:

Maybe with time, we can ask Keith's family to add more photos of their family.

Keith's Funeral FridaySaturday

Gatha called and informed me that Keith died this morning at 5 AM. She said that it is a relief to have his suffering removed. His family is there today and the funeral will be Friday Saturday to accommodate having the family there for the funeral.

My condolences go to all those that knew and loved Keith.

Our Ranch Home

When I stop to think of the past, I feel it is too far back. I remember the things about our home and yard. We had a big grainery. It had a floor plan that had a room to work in. That is where Dad fixed bridles and other leather goods for the horses. He repaired our shoes and fixed a lot of things. There were three bins to store grain and an upstairs, that was one big room. We used to play house in the loft. There was a stairs that could be raised up to the ceiling or let down to go up stairs.

There was a shed on the north side where machinery was stored and an ice house where the guys went to the river and cut ice and covered it with sawdust to use through the summer.

We had a cellar where potatoes and other foods were stored. It was big. One winter it caught fire and burned all of the wooden parts. The adobe walls were left standing but it was never restored.

Mom