Sunday, August 12, 2012 THE DALLAS POST PAGE 5 o EST COLUMN "The Prankster is at it again, ‘will visit B By JEFF "PRANKSTER" THOMPSON Special to The Dallas Post This is the time of year when everybody could stand for a good laugh. I thought the following story may produce one. Shortly after my brother, Barry Thompson, passed away, I re- turned to Aunt Beth’s and Uncle Barry’s in Mathews, Virginia. We agreed that I would stay around and fix up the property for a week. I did some painting and lots of yard work. One evening, I noticed a pic- ture on the fireplace mantle in the parlor and, lo and behold, it was a picture I had forgotten about. I asked Aunt Beth if I could take it back home to Naples, Fla. with me. : Here we are, years later and I recently found the picture in a box. I would like to share the fol- lowing story with you. We were living in Elmcrest in Dallas as a family —- mom, dad, me and my brother who was living in Virginia with Uncle Ashby. It was the summer of 1957. My father suggested the three of us go to At- lantic City, New Jersey for a ~ weekend. He also added that we would visit the Atlantic City race- track each day during our. Moth- er elected not to go so Dad and I went off for the weekend to Atlan- tic City. On the way there, our ve- ry first stop was the racetrack. Now, mind you, this is 1957 and I was only 16 years old. While at the track, we sat in the dining room overlooking the track. It was absolutely beautiful. At one point, Dad got up and left the table to make a bet. I re- member looking around and see- ing this couple sitting at the table next to us. When my father got back to the table, I asked, “Hey, Dad, isn’t that Mr. Pappas, the meat man at the grocery store in Baltimore?” My dad looked over and started laughing uncontrolla- bly. He said, “Go over and intro- duce yourself and tell him you know him and all.” I walked over to the table and said, “Pardon me, don’t I know you from Baltimore? Aren’t you Mr. Pappas from the grocery store?” The man replied, “No, al- though I go to Baltimore quite a bit.” I said, “That’s where I know you from, Baltimore, but I can’t place you.” And, all of a sudden, out of no- where, it came to me as my face turned beet red. I said, “You are Joe DiMaggio!” He looked at me and said, “Yes. I play ball in Balti- more at the stadium and I want you to meet my wife, Marilyn.” I could hardly walk back to the table where my father was out of control with laughter. I sat down and tried to gather myself when Jeff "The Prankster’ Thompson is Atlantic City in 1957. my father suggested that I take the racing program over and ask Mr. DiMaggio to sign it. It was then that Marilyn Monroe said those immortal words to me: “What is your name?” As she spoke, she wrote on the program: “Jeff, good luck at the races” and signed it, “Marilyn Monroe.” She then passed the program to her husband who signed it under her name. After dinner a few nights later, my father and I went out on the boardwalk for the evening and went into a photography shop. ack Mountain area Jeff “The Prankster” Thompson” will visit the area for a few days this month and invites anyone who grew up in and around the Back Mountain in the 1950s and 1960s to join him for a Dutch Treat lunchoen at noon on Wednesday, Aug. 29 at Grotto Pizza, Harveys Lake, to share stories of old times. Anyone seeking more information may call Jeff at 239-591-0551. Dad said mother wanted a pic- ture so I chose to stand in be- tween two cardboard burlesque ladies to have my picture taken. Dad said, “That’s not a good idea. You better go over there and stand on the porch.” As the photo reflects, I wasn’t too happy about that. Needless to say, we had a wonderful trip. When I got back to Dallas, I put the picture in the Atlantic City race program and put it in my dresser drawer where I kept a few dollars. Months later, I went to re- trieve the photo and autographed program from my drawer to show it to Mom and Dad and talk about the trip. The picture was there but the autographed program was gone. After a few intense moments, my brother admitted he had tak- en the program to a pawn shop in Wilkes-Barre to get money to buy parts to hop up his car. (E-Bay says if I had that program today, it would be worth over $50,000). Family Service Association of Wyoming Valley (FSAWYV) will hold its fourth annual Pauly Friedman 5K Family Walk/Run today, Aug. 12 at Misericordia University in Dallas. This year’s event will begin at 8:30 a.m. with registration; race time is 9:30 a.m. All monies raised will benefit Help Line, a 24/7 information referral ser- Friedman Family Walk/Run is today vice and first response point for crisis calls in Luzerne and Wyoming counties. More than 160 runners/walk- ers are expected to participate. The event is held in memory of Pauly Friedman, a well known community leader and former FSAWV volunteer and board member, who dedicated her life to public service. OBITUARIES BALDO - Mary M., of Maple Lane, Tunkhannock, died Sun- day, July 29, 2012, in Kindred Jospital Wyoming Valley. W She was born in West Wyom- ing on June 18, 1930, and was a 1947 graduate of West Wyoming High School. Prior to her retire- ment, she was employed as a cafeteria worker in the Tunkhan- nock Area School District. She was a member of the Church of the Nativity BVM, Tunkhannock. msSurviving are sons, Salvatore “Sal,” Tunkhannock; Ronald, El- ._izabeth, Colo; Anthony, Laflin; daughters, Linda Porter, "Harleys ville; Catherine Voda, Falls; brother Sam Furner, Springfield, __N.J; 11 grandchildren; 11 great- @® i ti CRISPELL - Ellen Gregory, 92, formerly of Dallas, died May 26, 2012, at Maine Medical Center, . Portland, Maine. She was born in Trucksville on ~ March 2, 1920, graduated from + Westmoreland High School and ~ the Wyoming Seminary Dean School of Business. She was a longtime member of the Forty Fort United Methodist Church and an active Girl Scout Leader "for many years. She served as an officer of Mor- ris Run Coal Company. Surviving are her daughters, Judith Cons, Porter, Maine; Nan- cy Steeves, Standish, Maine; Anne Milicia, Bedford, Mass.; one grandson; one great-grand- child. Memorial donations to North- east Hearing and Speech Center, 75 W. Commercial St., Portland, ME 04101. HINES - Mary Ellen, 88, a for- mer resident of Hunlock Creek, died August 4, 2012, in the Mead- ows Nursing Center, Dallas. She was born May 14, 1924, i in Wilkes-Barre. Surviving are daughters, Glo- ria Crane, Clara Buzinus, Carol Hunter, Robyn Martin and Patri- cia Keefe; sons, Joe, Howard, Bob Daubert, William Daubert; grandchildren, great-grandchil- dren and great-great-grandchil- dren. JENKINS - Janice “Mrs. Jan” Jenkins, 75, of Shavertown, died Friday, July 27, 2012, at the Ber- wick Hospital Center. She was a member of the Be- thania Presbyterian Church, Scranton, and was the secretary for the church women’s group for 40 years. Surviving are her husband of _ almost 58 years, David Jenkins; g BACK MOUNTAIN BOWL Sicilian Pizza » Wings Hoagies and More! Eat in and Take Out! Memorial Hwy Dallas » 675-5026 daughter, Cheryl Kanouse, Ber- wick; sons, David, Center More- land; and Ken, Shavertown; sev- en grandchildren, two great- grandchildren; four sisters; a brother; nieces and nephews. KLIAMOVICH - Mildred (Mil- lie), 83, formerly of Harveys Lake, died Wednesday, August 1, 2012, in the Manor Care Health Services of Kingston, where she had been a resident for six years. She was born in Stahl and edu- cated in the Noxen schools. Prior to her retirement, she was em- ployed at General Cigar, formerly of Kingston. : Surviving are her children, Al- gert, Noxen; Mildred (Sissy) Murdoch, Harding; Jacqueline Benscoter, Donald, Edinboro, S.C.; Michael, Harveys Lake; four grandchildren; seven great- grandchildren; two great-great- grandchildren. Memorial donations to the Shriners Hospital for Children, Office of Development, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607. * Eliminate Green Stains * Eliminate Chlorine » Eliminate Bad Odors * Filtering WATER PROBLEMS? WE CAN HELP! Commercial & Industrial Water Treatment REMOVE IRON, RUST, BACTERIA, MANGANESE, SULFUR, LEAD, GIARDIA, TOXIC CONTAMINATION ALL WATER PROBLEMS SOLVED » Eliminate Methane * Correct Hard Water LANNING - Richard A., 51, of Harveys Lake, died on Wednes- day, August 1, 2012. A graduate of Northwest Area High School, he learned to drive truck at an early age and went on to make that his career. Surviving are his parents, Con- nie Lanning, Tunkhannock; and Ronald Lanning, Hunlock Creek; a son, Tyler; a grandson; his com- panion, Tabitha, and her chil- dren; two brothers, Ronald and Rodney; sister, Donna; grand- mother, Beatrice Wallace; aunts, uncles; nieces, nephews and cou- sins: MASSAKER - Laurabelle, 64, of Tunkhannock, died on Mon- day, July 30, 2012. She was born on August 13, 1947. She was a member of Ver- non Baptist Church, Tunkhan- nock. Surviving are her children, Mindy Andes, Shickshinny; Leo- nard Andes, Hanover Township; Ben Andes, Hunlock Creek; Jen- nifer Dubish, Tunkhannock; Da- vid, Wilkes-Barre; Susan, Tunk- » Bacteria Protection » Ultra Violet Disinfection * Reverse Osmosis systems Toll Free: 888-442-0349 » Local: 570-586-4436 www. WaterMedic.net Water Medic Inc. ® 501 Pittston Blvd. * Dupont, PA 18641 «Mace. Pinnacle Rehabilitation Associates Kevin M. Barno, MPT e K. Bridget Barno, PT a Sharon Marranca, MPT e Hal Glatz, MPT ¢ Maria Hall, PTA 520 Third Avenue * Kingston DIOR COINS L\ OW. NEN INURE) THE SPINE OR HERNIATED DISCS? WE CAN HELP! Our expert hands-on treatment will improve your mobility, increase your strength and decrease your pain. Most Insurances Accepted. Most Insurances Do NOT Require A Referral CALL 714-6460 TODAY! www.ninnaclerehabilitation.net | can help you make sure your coverage is up-to-date. (570) 283-8300 Call me today. SHARLENE BITTNER Luzerne Shopping Center LUZERNE shittner@allstate.com Northbrook, Hllinois © 2012 Allstate Insurance Insurance subject to availability and qualifications. Allstate Fire and Casualty Insurance Company Allstate. You're in good hands, hannock; Mary, Tunkhannock; 18 grandchildren; seven great- grandchildren. MERRICK -David L., of Mead- owood Drive, Tunkhannock, died on Tuesday, July 31, 2012, in INOVA Fairfax Hospital, Falls Church, Va. He was born in Scranton on Ju- ly 4, 1952, was a 1970 graduate of South Catholic High School and attended Keystone Junior Col- lege. He began his career in the elec- tronic security industry in 1979 where he held various sales and marketing management posi- tions, currently holding the posi- tion of director of marketing for Vector Securities National Ac- counts Division. He was a member of the Tunk- hannock United Methodist Church, and was currently serv- ing as president of the Tyler Health Partnership in Tunkhan- nock. Surviving are his wife, Nina Mowry Merrick; stepson, Benja- min Pierson, Litiz; stepdaughter, ETHINK. GET 35 FOR YOUR OLD FRIDGE SAVE UP TO 150 A YEAR ON ENERGY ns conditions. 9 Ashley Pierson, Lancaster; broth- er, Richard, Harrisburg; one granddaughter. Memorial donations to the Tyl- er Health Partnership, 5950 SR 6, Tunkhannock, PA 18657 or the Tunkhannock United Methodist Church, PO Box 447, Tunkhan- nock, PA 18657. MIKOWSKI - Rudolph “Rudy” Jr., 64, of Trucksville, died on Fri- day, August 3, 2012, at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, Plains Township. He was born on November 13, 1947 in Passaic, New Jersey, re- ceived his early education in New Jersey and later went on to study linguistics at Syracuse Universi- A United States Air Force vet- eran, he honorably served his county during the Vietnam era. Following his military years, he was employed by Verizon for more than 30 years. Surviving are his wife, Denise, with whom he celebrated his 41st wedding anniversary on July 31; sons, Russell, of Atlantic High- 21 =o (07 NH O Chances are, the old refrigerator or freezer in your basement or garage is running up your utility bill by an average of $150 a year. Recycle it, reduce your energy use and keep harmful materials out of landfills. We'll pick it up and you'll pick up $35. For a FREE pickup, call 1.877.270.3521 or visit www.theenergyguyatugi.com/recycle. Hefrigerators and stand alone freezers must be in working condition and must be between 10 and 3Q feet using inside measurements UG] contracts with JACO Envir onmental, an appliance recycler, . and repycle the units Customers must own units being recycled. Limit two u ef address. A check will be mailed within 4-6 weeks after appliance collection. Additiona Visit www theenergyguyatugi.comyfrecycie for complete program terms and lands, New Jersey; and Andrew, of Littleton, Colorado; sisters, Helen Latrella, of Mine Hill, New Jersey; Diane Prelich, of Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey; and Theresa Van Wagenen, of Elm- wood Park, New Jersey. Memorial donations to a local volunteer ambulance corps or Paws For Vets (www.pawsforve- terans.com). NALBONE - Joseph Charles Sr., 85, of Noxen, died Friday, Au- gust 3, 2012, at his home. He was born April 9, 1927 in Trenton, N.J. and was a support- ing member of the First United Noxen Methodist Church. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1944 to 1946. He worked at Procter & Gamble in Mehoopany for over 25 years until he retired in 1994. He was an active member of the Wyoming Valley RC Flyers Club, Wilkes-Barre. Surviving are his wife, Grace French Nalbone; daughters, Gayle, Noxen; Susan, Kingston; son, Joseph, Wilkes-Barre. REWARD. Energy to do more f
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers