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1940 - 1949: Bethesda and New York City

The war brought Tom and Ruth out of Texas to Washington, D.C., where Tom helped the government coordinate the activities of the utilities during the war. After the war Tom and Ruth moved to Washington Square, New York City and Tom worked as a banker. There are not a lot of letters from this decade. The best of the lot is when Tom tells Ruth that Bill has asked him for Betty's hand in marriage.

TPW-1942-03-04
Tom is on a trip to Washington and NYC, setting up the war effort. Well, he waited until page 6, but Tom finally delivers some real news.
Your daughter (and sister) Betty is radiant and looks fine. When I called Sunday morning at 9:30 she said "Guess who's here?" and of course, I knew. Bill came by in his car and we went to the Cathedral for communion -- it being the first Sunday in the month. Mr. DeWolf preached and after the service he was so glad to see us. We had dinner at the Waldorf, and then went to Radio City where Hepburn and Tracy played something. It and the stage show was good.

Then when Betty went to the lounge (wonder if that was framed) Bill asked me what I thought about him and Betty getting married. Bong! Well I really didn't know what a well dressed man does in a case like that. Maybe after I have six or eight experiences I'll know better. I inquired what the program is, and learned that about July 1943 is the present idea. Then I told Bill that at the moment I couldn't think of any reason why it wasn't a swell idea, and that I knew all my family, and especially Mother, thought a great deal of him. I did ask for time to think it over and promised to write as soon as we had a chance to discuss it.

Betty 1945-02-13
Betty And Bill 1945-11-15
TPW-1946-01-15
Undated photo of Tom with two infant grandchildren

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