Ruby West Elkins

Ben,

I was just a little fella, but remember you well. One day when you rode downtown with Mom and me, you said we could let you out at the "five and dime." When, as a writer, I want to capture that 1950s texture, I always remember your expression that day.

Patty used to babysit me, I remember your mother (of course) from the church office and neighborhood, and I recall your dad checking JFG stock at Marion Wholesale (where I worked college summers) and using Ruby's old...