Howard Brent Bell letter regarding Gaston and Lucille Lynskey
The following are copies of emails that
led to a letter from Brent Bell regarding my grandparent’s – Gaston and Lucille
Lynskey. I had originally asked Jim
Biller to send me any written recollections he had about Gaston and
Lucille. That led to the following:
From: James
Biller
To: Chuck Lynskey
Subject: Gaston
and Lucille Lynskey
Date: Wednesday,
November 10, 1999 7:51 PM
Dear Chuck,
I'm sending you the web address of Howell Brent Bell. <Removed>. Brent is a friend of mine from grade school and high school. He lives in Falls Church. His mother rented
an apartment out in her large house back in the 30's where Gaston and Lucille
lived after they were married and when they had your father. They moved from
there to the Fulton St. house, which they had built.
I'm sure Brent (Lucille always called him Bunky Bell) would have a
story for you for your book. He remembers your grandfolks from that time
mostly. Why don't you write him email and see what he has to say? You can say I told you to.
I talked to old Hartwell Ragsdale today. In fact, I camcordered him for an hour playing a dulcimer he made
and tried to get some stories out of him for you. He is 96, and his memory is fading some. He was a boyhood friend of Gaston's, lived 3
miles away, and stayed in touch all Gaston's life. He told me today that my mother originally invited him to come
over and see her visiting friend from college, Lucille Robinson, but Gaston
beat him to it. I remember mom telling me something about that. I will try to
make you a copy of the tape. As you
probably know, Rags and Gaston were great at trying to "one up" each
other. He isn't driving much any more,
and I try to stay off the streets when he goes out, but hell, how many men do
you know that have bought a new car after they were 85 years old?
Jim
From: Chuck
Lynskey
To: Brent Bell
Subject: Gaston
and Lucille Lynskey
Date: Wednesday,
November 10, 1999 7:51 PM
Dear (Howell) Brent,
My name is Chuck (Charles Lynskey), son of William Charles Lynskey
who was the son of William Gaston and Lucille Robinson Lynskey of Falls Church,
Virginia,
I am writing this per Jim Biller's recommendation that I contact
you in my effort to obtain short stories for my Genealogical effort on the
Lynskey family. Below is a copy of an
email between Jim Biller and myself:
I have very fond memories of visiting my Grandparents as a child
and throughout my adult years (I am now 41 and living in Connecticut). I have put together the beginning of a web
site for Lynskey's worldwide - some of Gaston's pictures and a writing he did
about his Grandfather are posted there.
The web site is www.lynskey.com.
I would be most appreciative if you could share some of your
memories about Gaston and Lucille for the history books. If you are inclined to do this, it would be
most helpful for a introduction about yourself and how relationship with Gaston
and Lucille came to be. I look forward
to any type of response(s) and thank you for allowing me to share my wonderful
memories of Gaston and Lucille.
P.S. On a side note, my Dad called me late last night - something
about the fact that Lucille wasn't feeling very well and that he was driving
from Upstate N.Y. down to Virginia to see her today. I guess Marie (his sister) was going by first thing this morning
and if Grandma wasn't any better - she was going to take her to the emergency
room. I hope all is well...
Best Regards,
Chuck Lynskey
Web: www.lynskey.com
From: Howard
Brent Bell
To: Charles
Lynskey via SNAIL MAIL
Subject: Gaston
and Lucille Lynskey
Date Postmarked: December 9, 1999