A Letter from the Editor Sylvia H. Sonneborn

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Sylvia Hott Sonneborn – Treasurer and Newsletter Editor

Dear Barefoot Family,

Since we last “met,” it has been a sad year. My sister Eleanor Kinnan, a faithful president of the Barefoot Reunion Association, passed away on 3 December 2005. Unfortunately her death was hastened by an alleged overdose of medication, given to her at the care facility where she was residing. Her immediate family is in litigation over her death.
We will remember Eleanor for her love of family history and love of family. There wasn’t a person with whom she could not engage in conversation. She also remembered names of people and their family connections. It was difficult to do this newsletter without her input as she has been my sidekick for many years. She normally would have been sitting at my side, making corrections on the newsletter and telling me who all of you are and your family connections without looking at the Barefoot Book. She had such a wonderful mind. Her family will remember her most for the love she showed to them and all mankind. We sorely miss her.

In my own family, my husband Jack and I decided to downsize, so in April we moved from a two-story Colonial with 3 acres to a rancher with less that an acre. It is a smart move to relieve the pressure on these creaking bones, but, oh, where will be put everything? The new address is 3110 Starlight Drive, York, PA 17402. Phone – 717-757-2331; E-mail sylvias@sucom.net.

At the same time, my son Patshal Landis and wife Lisa and grandson William moved close to Albany, NY, for my son to accept a transfer in TYC O – MACOM [communications]. We certainly miss them, especially my only grandson who is now 2 and very active and interesting as well as loving.

Jack and I attended the computerized genealogy conference at Brigham Young University in April 2006 at Provo, Utah, and that was very helpful in our hobby of doing genealogy. We also belong to the Susquehanna Trails Genealogical Club, which co-sponsored a family history conference with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We were both planners and presenters at the conference, which had about 100 participants. We continue to serve on the staff of the Family History Center in the local LDS Church in York, and we remain active in our church. Who said retirement is easy?

I would like to give a special thank-you to those who collected obituaries for the newsletter: Betsy Hawthorne, Sylvia Coleman, and Sharon Sheldon. Thanks to all of you who sent information to me. Thank you to those of you who sent information about landmarks in your lives. Please keep that info coming. But most of all I want to thank those of you who subscribe to this newsletter and for those of you who are so generous with your contributions. Thank you, “cousins,” for all that you contribute to the Barefoot Reunion Association.
Best wishes,
Sylvia Sonneborn
Treasurer/Newsletter Editor