Edna Selma Pauline SONSMITH August 17, 1898 - January 31, 1988 You are here: Photo Albums • SONSMITH • Edna Selma Pauline Edna was the second of four daughters born to Louis and Mary (HOETZEL) SONSMITH. She was born on a farm in Lincoln Township, Arenac County in Michigan. Her middle names were apparently a combination of her grandmother's name (Selma Hoetzel) and her aunt's name (Paulina Sonsmith). In her late teens, she became interested in an "older man" who lived right across the street. His name was George Edward Wilburn EASTMAN. She was apparently always a thrifty sort of person who kept track of her belongings. One time when George arrived to pick her up for a date, he presented her with a bag of chocolate covered peanuts. Rather than taking them out with her she put them in a dresser drawer. While she was away, her little sister Meta couldn't resist the temptation to eat a couple of the peanuts. The next day, Edna confronted her sister about the theft. Meta asked how she knew, whereupon Edna told her that she had counted the peanuts before putting them in the drawer! Edna and George dated in his fancy buggy with bright red wheels until they married on April 19, 1919. She was 20, and he was almost 31. They had three boys, Lloyd George (born in 1920), Kenneth Charles (born in 1923), and Clare Louis (born in 1925). Her working career included several years at the Farm Bureau where she "candled" eggs. This was done by sitting is a darkened room and holding the eggs between the flame and the eye. The reason for this inspection was to make sure that the eggs were "OK" to be sold. When she found an egg with two yolks in it she set it aside, waited until she had an entire dozen like it and then bought that dozen for herself. Occasionally she would locate an egg with three yolks! Thriftiness was the word in Edna's kitchen. Butter was more expensive that margarine, which was then called "oleo." Edna bought this product in large plastic bags. The product looked white, but had a small coloring capsule inside the bag. A few squeezes and the capsule would burst. Many, many more squeezes were needed to evenly spread the coloration throughout the container. Grandchildren were often good targets for this exercise. The large cherry tree in the back yard yielded much fruit for a multitude of cherry pies. But the output of that one tree could not match the baking abilities of Edna. She and George would buy frozen cherries in 5 gallon metal containers. Edna really loved to bake. It seemed that she was always in the kitchen with her apron on. There was no problem locating fresh bread or cookies around her house. She made wonderful rolls, Her grandson, Wayne, loved those rolls, and she knew it. Even when she was well into her eighties and Wayne was coming for a visit, she would make her special rolls. Edna apparently did a good job of raising her three sons as they all turned out to be fine members of the community as well as good husbands and fathers. Edna spent a lifetime as a passenger in automobiles. Then things changed late in life. In his mid 70's, George's driving skills had deteriorated to a point that he could no longer properly operate his 1963 Olds 88. At that point in her life Edna learned how to drive. She obtained her first driver's license at age 66! Edna was not a jokester like her husband, but she was an excellent listener. When George would tell a funny story, she would usually just say "Oh George!" She and George celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary together in 1969. In about 1974 George was admitted to the Hoyt Nursing Home on Weiss Street in Saginaw. Edna was there daily, washing, shaving and comforting her weakened mate. She had also cared for her aging mother in the late 1950's and early 1960's. Her extreme thriftiness followed her all her life. One day as seniors, her sister Meta took Edna to church with her. Everything was OK until they passed the offering plate. This made Edna very nervous, and the next week she did not want to go again. Nursing homes are expensive and when her husband passed away in 1975, Edna had very little savings, a pension check from Eaton of $52 per month, and only a small social security check of several hundred dollars per month. She didn't spend much and had "Meals On Wheels" deliver a lunch to her at mid-day. She only ate half of that meal and saved the balance for dinner. When she passed away she had accumulated $52,000 in cash plus a paid-off house. Her mind stayed sharp until the very end but her body kept deteriorating. Parkinson's Disease made her head move front to back. One Sunday morning, the last day in January of 1989, Edna passed away quietly at the home of her son Lloyd. January seems to be very bad month for this family. Three of her sisters and her mother had passed away in previous years in the month of January. Her younger sister Meta survived her and lived a very long life. Meta passed away in January of 1998. ~Written by Edna's grandson, Wayne EASTMAN, based on remembrances and facts gathered from Edna's sons, Lloyd, Ken, and Clare EASTMAN, and her sister, Meta (SONSMITH) ROYAL. Photo Gallery 1906 - age 7 or 8 1909 - about age 11 Edna in George's buggy - unknown date April 19, 1919 - George and Edna on their wedding day More Photos of Edna >>

Jump to any section!-------------------------------------- Home Surname IndexPhoto AlbumsWhat's New?Sign/View GuestbookDownload GEDCOMAboutContactWeb Design     Birth: 17 Aug 1898, Lincoln Township, Arenac County, Michigan Death: 31 Jan 1988, Saginaw, Michigan Burial: 2 Feb 1988, Saginaw, Michigan - Roselawn Memorial Gardens Social Security Number: 367-20-5172 (issued in Michigan) Father: Ludwick Fred SONSMITH Mother: Marie Jenny HOETZEL Siblings: Elsie Anna Louise SONSMITH Meta SONSMITH Marion E. SONSMITH Marriage: George Edward Wilburn EASTMAN - 19 Apr 1919, Michigan Children: Lloyd George EASTMAN Kenneth Charles EASTMAN Clare Louis EASTMAN     Saginaw News- February 1, 1988 Eastman, Mrs. Edna S. Saginaw, Michigan Widow of George E. Eastman passed away Sunday, January 31, 1988, at the home of her son, Lloyd. Age 89 years. Edna Selma Sonsmith was born August 17, 1898 in Lincoln Township, Arenac County. She married Mr. Eastman April 19, 1919. He predeceased her Oct. 14, 1975. Surviving are three sons and their spouses, Lloyd G. and Lois Eastman, Kenneth and Madeline Eastman, Clare and Patricia Eastman, all of Saginaw; eight grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; one sister, Meta Royal, Hemlock; several nieces and nephews. Two sisters, Elsie Foy and Marian Brasseur both predeceased her. Funeral service will take place 1:00 p.m. Tuesday at the W.L. Case & Company Funeral Directors, 409 Adams St. Rev. Asa T. Compton will officiate with burial in Roselawn Memorial Gardens. Friends may call at the chapel, 409 Adams St. from 3:00 to 9:00 p.m. Monday and then on Tuesday until the time of service. Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider the Shriners Hospitals for Crippled Children and Burns Institutes.

Edna Selma Pauline SONSMITH is Robyn's great-grandmother. Robyn EASTMAN > Wayne EASTMAN > Lloyd EASTMAN > Edna Selma Pauline

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