Alma Arthur was born in the beautiful small village of Abita (phoenetic-Ah-bee-tah) Springs, Louisiana in 1929, just months before the stock market crash. The town was located clos...view moreAlma Arthur was born in the beautiful small village of Abita (phoenetic-Ah-bee-tah) Springs, Louisiana in 1929, just months before the stock market crash. The town was located close to Lake Ponchartrain, and 2 rivers, the Abita and the Bogue Falaya, which ran cool and clear due to artesian springs. She had three sisters and they were very close, sharing most activities. Alma was chosen by the American Legion to represent her high school at Louisiana Girl’s State to learn about government first hand. Despite the fact that she was the valedictorian of her high school class of 1946, she didn’t get the scholarship she yearned for, thus nursing became her second choice as a career and she came to love it. Alma graduated from Charity Hospital in 1949 and her sister, Lee, in 1950; they both found employment as R.N.’s at Fort Miley V.A. Hospital in San Francisco. That was the same hospital where her husband to be would be doing his 4 year surgical residency. They were married at “The Star of the Sea” one sunny autumn day. Alma now resides in Stockton, which is halfway between the Pacific Ocean and the beautiful Sierra Nevada mountains. Her husband of 50 years died in 2002.
Her hobbies include oil painting, reading, photography, gardening, and bicycling. She gave up hiking in the mountains at the age of 79. She was active in the San Joaquin Medical Auxiliary for many years, active in the Stockton Civic theatre and active in establishing a library in the brand new grammar school that her children attended. She wrote book reviews in a monthly newsletter to catch the attention of the children, but never disclosed the ending. It was fun going to the book depository with the committee to select the first big purchase of new books.
Although her children and grandchildren are scattered about in California, she has frequent visits from all of them and they all come together for Thanksgiving and Christmas.view less