When Herbie was around 3 or 4 Russell would get on the floor andf play wioith him Like dad he would pretend to bite off hi ear. Herbie could not realize if he bit it off, then why was it still there. Russell would start laughing and said "you are just like a little love bug" he would grab you and want to wrestle you and I think that is whn he got interested in wrestling with you. LOL
My sons - Herbie and Bobby loved there Uncle Russell. When Herbie was younger and did not have a brother yet, he would keep telling me to call Uncle Russell so he could talk with. Well, I had to tell him for it is long distance and costs money I did not have. He then proceeded to tell me Grandma has a phone that calls out....LOL the things little ones would come up with.
In July 1977 Bobby was born and boy did I have a lot of problems. I do not even remember having him mucch less having another son at home. I woke up and I still was in High School. Lost 4 years of my life, not a pleasant thing. But, Bobby was my sunshime, he always made me laugh, he is the jokester in the family. I think Herbie put him up to alot.....unti one day he came home scared terribly bad, asked what was wrong, he told me his brother tried to kill him and flipped the car hitting the school fence. My goodness! Had to wait for Herbie and that was the first time I had to send my husband to bedroom for he was boiling hot - when Herbie walked in I just had him explain to me what happened and why Bobby was so upset.
To this day He hesitates getting in the car with Herbie LOL
When, finally, Bobby's kids were able to come to El Paso last summer, they fell in love with "Uncle Turkey". Especially Bobby Jr. he loved running over to see his uncle and show him how tpo operate the game system he had. they both loved to see him sitting outside in his front and looking right over towards my apartment. They would always ask if they could go see him..I could never deny them for they always made Russell smile and forget the pain a bit :)
When they were told about Uncle Russell passing away it was a bit hard for Bobby Jr. but when he talked to me he told me "now I have 2 angels watching over me Grandma".
My dad and Russell always but heads when he was growing up. He always told Russell he would not live past 30, when Russell passed 30 every year he would remind dad that he is living past 30. He would always smile when that subject would come up. In January we were at Dennys and he brought it up again and said 'Marilyn, ya know, dad was wrong here I am 63 and still here. I beat him.." he would chuckle and then stated he was just tired of the pain. Never knew how bad for he always contributed it to the hip replacement and his arthritus....I love you russell and miss your smile everyday :)
When my brother took off from El Paso to get off the drugs he ended up driving the coast line of California. He just drove and drove and ended up on the coast of San Fransico. He stayed at the beach reflecting and as he told me trying to get in the right direction. His car (Russell had names for all his cars) died and he finally just left it on the side of the road in Phoenix with the title attached. That was his way of burying a broken down car :)
My brother lived in Phoenix longer than he did here in El Paso after he married Mary and they went their seperate ways, russell just stayed in Phoenix. I remembered he got a motorcycle and went down on it. He left it there again and never drove a motorcycle again. He later met Kim and they got married. Kim had a baby boy and Russell ended up bringing him up and loved him as his own, Jake, then they were a family of 3. They had a good marriage and alot ofg obstacles but never stopped them. Kim got pregnant again and had another baby boy whom they named after my dad, Bobby Joe Wren II. Now it was a happy family of 4 and the boys had so much fun with their dad while they were growing up.
My brother has always been willing to try all positions and not letting his polio interfere. He was assigned to Ft. Stewart Ga to build the Hospital there. He was so proud of that job and on weekends he came to visit us in Jacksonville Fl. there was one time he came and when he left he was going round and round through the same toll booth until he finally called my husband Herb and asked for help to get out of there...so funny...a very fond memory of a strong brother
When Russell and Mary had Tylene, it was the best day in his life. Sad the marriage did not last but his love for Tylene never faded and was always there for his daughter. Through her own ups and downs she became that strong Wren that Russell was. She was born in May of 1971 which wsas the joyous time for all. She was my first niece and favorite. Not only was she the apple of her dad's eyes, she was such an important part of our family. Even through her trials and tribulations she always came back on top like her dad. When Russell lived in San Antonio I had a banner made for him with Tylene's picture in the center titled "You Light Up My Life" for that was her dad's favortie song for her. He has had that up until about 2 years ago when he lost everything in his apartment. He loved her so much-his only daughter and the light of his life.
That beautiful niece became the apple of my sons eye...they were so close growing up and Russell always made sure they each knew where the other was. Now they a few hours apart and they still continue that closeness....
High School was a bit difficult for Russell. He always playewd sports up til then especially football. When he got to Parkland he was not allowed to play for insurance reasons at the school. That hurt Russell, they told him he could be a water boy or something like that but he had no part of that.
I want to believe that is when the rebel came out of him. He would just go with the wrong crowds. But, he never thought so. He was just Russell, accept him as he is. Him and Gary Ephlin they would get in so much trouble together, but the adventures brought so much memories for them both. They truly were the best of friends...
Russell was a stubborn Wren especially when he had Mr. Perez with Lee Roy. Perez had given them an assignment and he asked Russell if he did and of course Russell said no. When it came to asking his brother Lee Roy (who sat behind Russell) Lee Roy told him he did do it. russell turned around and asked "when did you do it" it was so funny especially when Russell would tell the story.
My parents had to go out of town because my dad had gotten sick and my mom went up to the school and begged them to keep Russell in school while they were gone. He had many altercations with the system there. Anyways, Mr. Harris said he would...well, immedxiately after my parents left, Russell and Gary took off for Kansas or something like that to see some friends that were transferred from Ft Bliss. That road trip gave Russell all the freedom he needed to just start enjoying life. When they got back, They got kicked out of school. My mom was so upset but even madder at the principal for he promised to wait until they got back for any reprecutions. So ther went Russell in his Senior year getting kicked out of school and then ended up going to Transmatic in Phoenix.
As I had mentioned before, Russell had been going out with Mary Culley and she was still in school. They seemed to enjoy being with each other and they got married. Not sure when but I do know that my niece Tylene, was born in 1971. I remember that time because my favorite brother always gave me a teddy bear every year for Christmas. In 1970 Russell gave Mary the teddy bear, that always hurt me. I never really associated losing a brother as deeply as I feel now. I feel so silly for being petty over a Teddy Bear. :(
My dad was transferred with Southern Pacific to El Paso, Texas. My mom and dad were so excited to go back to Texas. When we first arrived we stayed at a motel across from a cemetary and my dad and brothers were always teasing with me. They would say "Marilyn, how many people are dead over there?" I just told them "I don't know" they would laugh at me and never understood why. Russell would just get me laughing whenever I was embarassed. He always would make different ways to make me laugh even when I was crying.
We moved to different areas in El Paso until my mom found the house on Tautoga. My parents bought it and we stayed there never moving again until we all left home. Russell always had frienda all over and all I wanted to do was follow him. He would gert so mad one time he trough a ball at me while I was on a skateboard following him. Of course, I fell and broke my arm but I never followed him again. Well, not un til later in high school :)
Everyone always came to our house for it just seemed as the place to go. Russell woul;d always be outside with Freddy Jarvis and others just beiong sneaky and plotting what kinfd of trouble they could get in. Russell wanted to be like his freinds and have a motorcycle, and of course I wanted a piano but we had to go to Big Springs to get it. Rather than spending all the money to get the piano my parents got Russell a Cushman motorcyle and could not go off the street. Gary Staudt would challenge him to go to the park and of course, Russell being himself he would take that challenge and go off the street. I don't remember what happened after that but I do know except that he had a blast with everyone at the park. The Dolphin Terrace Park was the place to hang out at night back then. That was when Mike Medlock and his brother and others would hang out. He met Mary Culley during all this and they had started goling out. Always hanging out with everyone.
The weeks that Russell lived away from home were the toughest most heartbreaking time of my parents life. In late July early August my mom got a phone call from his nurse at the treatment center. She called my mom and told her "Mrs. Wren, Russell is ready to come home". Everyone was so excited and my uncle picked my parents up and took them to get Russell. That was such an exciting time for my parents and Russell as well.
Since my brother was at the treatment center he was unaware that he had a little brother, Lee Roy. When he left for Gonzales he had one brother and when he came home he had 2 brothers, quite confusing to him at the time. Russell was doing great with his crutches and braces ands then my dad got a job in Lubbock Texas. All of them went there and started their new life in Lubbock Texas. After my brother Lee Roy was born the doctor told my mom she should not have any more kids, for it will be to dangerous. My dad, being the strong man and, loving husband agreed to a vesectomy.
With all the strength and power to keep 3 boys happy and one needing a lot of attention it was hard on them. Russell just kept going on. He would go after my brothers as if he had nothing wrong with him. In my family, we never thought of Russell being handicapped. During all this my mom started feeling sick so she went to the doctor. OOOPS- she was pregnant again. The surprise package of joy and confusion for my dad had the vesectomy. When my mom told my mom told him the doctor said no sex for 6 weeks not 6 days...LOL. I arrived on June 10, 1953 and I the only girl ended up being protected by my brother Russell. .
Russell came into this world a fighter and never left a minute boring to all who knew him. He was born September 9, 1950 in Big Spring, Texas. My mom had a little difficulty but all ended very well for she was waiting outside for my dad to pick them both up from the hospital.
Early oner morning in June my older brother ran to my mom yelling "mama Russell can't stand ujp". She rushed to the bedroom watching her 20 month old baby boy struggle to climb out of his baby bed. My mom picked him up and set hjim om the floor just to see him fall right back down. Russell promptly scurried away towards his high chair, dragging his useless left leg. Robert pulling on my mom's apron saying "Mama why can't Russell walk he chased me last night?"
My parents had polio insurance and quickly got Russell to the polio treatment center in Gonzales, Tx. 400 miles away from home. He was being fitted there with braces and crutches and being taught to walk with both of them.
