Things around town slow down a bit as we get closer to Christmas, but things seem much busier in our personal lives as Christmas nears. I always wonder if I’m going to get everything done in time for our family celebrations. Some things that never change, no matter the holiday or time of year, is the fact that people are born and people die. Stroud lost two wonderful men this past week. I shouldn’t use the word “lost” because both were Christian men with a strong faith. They were also two of my dearest friends that I have grown to know more personally while serving as the American Legion Auxiliary President.
Carl Robertson served during the Korean War in the U.S. Army. He resided in Depew for 28 years before moving to Stroud in 1993. He was a member of the Stroud American Legion and served as their chaplain for many years. Carl always attended Legion meetings until his health made it a little precarious for him. One of the last meetings I saw Carl at I told him I had missed seeing him and hoped he was feeling ok. I had been worried about him because I hadn’t seen him lately. He told me he was doing okay but had fallen and so was taking it a little easy. He had hit his face, and the injury was still evident as we visited. I tried to contact him by phone and by going to his house when the Andrew Sisters were coming to town, but I was not able to reach him by either means. Yesterday I saw on Parks Bros. Funeral Home web site that Carl died on November 18th. I was heart-broken that I wasn’t aware of his death, but I know Carl went to his heavenly home and was reunited with his wife Evelyn, whom he sorely missed. Carl had a soft, pleasant demeanor and always seemed happy to see me. I will miss my friendship with him, and I know the Legion will miss his service. He always willingly served as a rifleman at our Memorial Day Service. Town Talk send condolences to Carl’s family, and we thank them for his service to our country. Steve Bivin departed this life on December 20, 2023, after a short battle with cancer. He was an active member of the Stroud and Davenport communities. His church and the organizations he supported will feel the void he leaves behind. Steve was a retired U.S. Naval Commander and was currently serving as the Stroud American Legion’s Vice-Commander. He was proud to have served his country and was always willing to help the Legion. My parents operated the restaurant at the Best Western when Steve and his wife Julie owned the motel and restaurant. This began a life-long friendship between our two families. Julie is a member of the Auxiliary and a Town Talk volunteer, and they supported both organizations. They went with my mom and me to Guthrie to visit Nelson’s Monument Company about our Bugle Boy project. Steve and Julie were a part of the project from the very beginning, and we would not have a Bugle Boy today without the help of the Bivins. They also went to Arkansas with my mom, my husband and me to check out a miniature golf course just like the one we were wanting to open in Stroud. This was another project that they were a part of from its inception. I could go on and on about all the things Steve did to help me with the projects Town Talk and Auxiliary undertook. He was a dear friend, and I will miss him very much. Town Talk sends condolences to the Bivins family. Men like Carl and Steve are not easy to replace, and our community will notice their absence. Town Talk wishes everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Thank you for shopping for all your Christmas and New Year needs in Stroud………………….first!