Although the Wilson children eventually moved to California, the rest of these cousins grew up around Dexter, Iowa. This photo was taken in July 1950 on the farm NW of Dexfield Park where Dad rented after the war, a birthday party for my sister, Gloria Neal.
Leora Darlene Wilson (born during the war) is on the left in back. Her sister Donna is in the front row looking at the camera. They were the children of Delbert and Evelyn Wilson.
I’m next in the back row, then Susan Shepherd, oldest daughter of John and Nadine (Neal) Shepherd, also born during the war. (Nadine played the organ for my folks’ wedding.) Susan’s brother Kenny is looking at my sister Gloria, who is holding her birthday puppy.
Richard Scar, son of Sam and Darlene (Wilson) Scar and the oldest of the “Wilson cousins” is in the center back, holding his brother Dennis. Robert Scar is next. He and Richard were both born during the war.
Judy Neal with the braids, daughter of Willis (Bill) and Helen Neal, was born while her dad was flying over “the Hump” during WWII. Her sister Jane is in the front, watching the crying baby.
Vincent Wells, born during the war, son of Mervin and Betty (Neal) Wells is on the end. His sister Patty is in the middle of the front row.
Emily Neal, on the right in front, is the only daughter of Grandpa Kenneth Neal’s brother MM Neal, so a cousin of my dad’s.
I guess about half of these cousins are true Baby Boomers, and the rest of us are too old for such a moniker.