Email Museum

White Deer Land Museum

116 S. Cuyler

Pampa, TX 79065

"How We Met"

(Betty Tiemann Lutz of Euclid, Ohio, wrote this text for the table scroll at a dinner celebrating the 50th anniversary of her marriage to Edmund H. Lutz on November 1, 1943.

Betty is the daughter of A.A. and Hallie Case Tiemann and the granddaughter of Sam and Emily Case whose family was the second to live at the railroad station that became Pampa. Betty's older sister, Madge Zuerker, was wellknown to many Pampans.)

                          EDMUND H. LUTZ and                                          BETTY JEAN TIEMANN

THEY met August 28, 1943, at the Army Air Corps Advanced Flying School, Pampa, Texas.

HE was an Aviation Cadet, Class 431, arriving July 12 for Advanced Pilot training.

SHE was one of 16 gals in the "Wilco Club," a pilot's term when flying meaning WILL COMPLY. Each new class of cadets were welcomed to the base with a dance and refreshments.

THEY met at the Class 431 dance and danced to the 49's tunes of the then-famous Jack Teagarten and his orchestra. The dating game followed for 34 days.

HE invited her to the graduation dance September 30.

SHE accepted. Another cadet's wife strongly complained that her husband, Harry, married with a child, was ordered to a combat training unit while Ed, a single man, was to become an instructor pilot.

HE graduated next day, October 1, with orders to Randolph Field, Texas, for instructor pilot training and return to PAAF for duty. While in Cleveland on a 10-day leave, he received a telegram to report back to PAAF immediately.

HE got new orders to report to the 19th Bomb Group, Rattlesnake Bomber Base, Pyote, Texas for combat training. Remember Harry? He pulled strings and was transferred to the Ferry Command. Ed was named his replacement, flying 30 missions over Europe as a B-17 Heavy Bomber pilot. He and his crew came back intact. Harry wasn't so lucky. He was killed 28 days after transfer in a, B-24 Bomber near Toledo on a routine ferry flight.

HE called HER on Saturday, October 22, to come down to Pyote and marry him and bring the marriage license!!!???

SHE accepted, arriving in Pyote October 31 after riding a Milk Train for 2 days and a night. The military wedding was off, crews flying out and the base chaplain would not marry THEM since THEY had known each other for only 2 months and 3 days.

THEY walked down Main Street, horse trough in the center of the road, bought the only gardenia in the half-florist shop aside the jeweler who had one set of plain gold wedding bands. The Rev. A.F. Zucker, minister of the First Methodist Church, conducted a brief stand-up ceremony in the land of Wild Bill Hickok.

THEY left for Alexandria, LA., in 3 days, slept in buses en route for 2 days, then rented the back enclosed porch of a beloved Cajun lady who became THEIR Aunt Dolly. 79 days flew by.

THEY went to Kearney, Neb., where the crews flew off for overseas combat duty January 24, 1944.

SHE boarded a train to Cleveland, Ohio, sitting on her suitcase in the aisles all the way to meet the Lutz family for the first time, alone. (That took some guts, Ed.)

SO life goes on --- and WE thank each of you for enriching our lives with your love and friendship through these 50 years.

Betty and Ed

(to be continued)

How We Met" - continued.

After six months of combat, Ed returned to the States, having flown 30 missions -- six to Berlin. "He became a Maintenance Yest at MacDill Field, Tampa, Florida. After separation he continued in the 9533rd Air Force Reserve in Cleveland, Ohio, 25 years, retiring as a Lt. Col. USAF. He spent 30 years on the staff of the Cleveland Museum of Art and received some forty awards in National Graphic Arts Competition. He continues his own business in specialized design and printing, and has completed a book for the Cleveland Clinic Foundation on the beginning and development of heart by-pass.

In 1972, Betty went to work for Dillard's, the major department store chain in Cleveland. She retired in 1985.  Betty and Ed reside in the eastern suburb of Euclid with their cat, Beauregarde. They are active in the Lake Shore Christian Church where Ed is Chairman of the Board and a trustee, Betty serves as a deaconess and a member of the Music and Worship and Membership committees.

Ed and Betty own the Tiemann family home at 311 North Wynne in Pampa. It is a favorite retreat for visits with family and friends and trips to reunions.

Ed and Betty have four daughters: Karen Passow, a teacher in Denver,Colorado; Catherine Jacobson, a real estate agent in Paradise Valley, Arizona; Deborah Jean Lutz of New York City and Amy Jo Teresi, a doctor in Long Beach, California.