My mom could be called “The Rock of Gibraltar” of our family. Our
family has been thru thick and thin. She had 6 children of her own,
3 step-children, 26 grandkids and 3 great-grandkids.
A NAVY BRAT FOR LIFE
Mark Klinger
Sandra Lee Roberts was born to a sailor in Norfolk, Va. This
made her “A NAVY BRAT.” As with many sailors, they transfer
and move like the waves of the ocean or the winds around the world.
When mom’s father got orders, out of no where several men would
show with a moving truck and tons of boxes. Mom made and lost
friends like the flip of a coin.
While as a child, mom was moved from Virginia to Texas to New
Jersey to California and many other states. When Grandfather got
orders to San Diego, Ca, he said no more. He worked on several
ships and the ship yards that are there. Grandfather would bring
over buddies and co-workers for dinner or cards. This is where she
met the 4 older kids’ father, Delbert Klinger.
After mom and dad were married, she became a new kind of
“NAVY BRAT.” She became “A NAVY WIFE.” As the wife of
a sailor, she was again dragged from place to place. Her adventures
took her Jacksonville, Fl to Newport News, RI back to Norfolk, Va.,
and back to Jacksonville, Fl. Then finally to Idaho Falls, Id. As
some might ask what in the world would take a sailor’s family to
Idaho. It is land locked and not near any ocean. Idaho has been
used by the Navy for years to test and build it’s reactors for the
many ships. It was also used to train the astronauts who walked on
the moon since parts of the area look like the moon.
As life goes on, sailors move on. Mom and dad parted company.
This is where mom met Pete Eckard, who is Rachel’s father. After
they were married, we moved to Texas. Mom still had the heart of
“A NAVY BRAT.” After arriving in Texas she was taken too
many places around the Lone Star State. Again, life has its
changes, mom and Pete parted company.
Mom moved us two more times as the ocean moved. With the second
move, it brought us to Abilene. Mom has lived in the Friendly
Frontier City for 25 years. After 4 years of being in Abilene, mom
met John Bruce Mansur at church. She could see he was a good man
with a good heart.
Everyone who has met Bruce can see this in him. They were
married Aug 18, 1988. They would have been married for 20 years
this August. Navy life has never left her. Although she was no
longer “A NAVY BRAT” she was a "Navy mother." Both
Warren and Mark left Abilene to join the Navy. Although she was not
with her family at all times, she will always be “A NAVY BRAT,
WIFE AND MOTHER.” She is already missed and will be missed till
the day we see each other in the Heavenly lands of our Father. Fair
Winds and Following Seas.
Happy Hunting.
Congrats to PinkDaisy on being FTF & it's her first
FTF.