Happy belated Birthday to Pat Greenwood, who turned 90 years old.

Pat Greenwood celebrated earth year 90 in May, 2018. The party included every kid, grandkid and great-grandchild, for a Heinz-like total of 57. I wasn't invited, but out of respect for her and late husband-Steve Greenwood, I took her some hand picked flowers last week. However, there was a secondary motive. I hoped to interview her for this history blog, and sample her home made fudge. The fudge was perfect as was the interview with Pat and daughters-Susan and Janet. Although son Mark wasn't there, he remains an important part of Pat's world. This savvy woman of class was born in rural Joseph, Sevier County, Utah, as Patsy Jean Parker. She quickly corrected me by saying "I am not a Patsy". Pat knew farm work from the get go, as in 1928, good work ethics were mandatory. She could outwork anybody when milking cows; hoeing beets and picked up potatoes faster than any man or boy in the field. She graduated from high school in 1946, then hired as the Deputy County Clerk in Richfield. As she walked for lunch, another Sevier County local kept an eye on this pretty gal. Steve Greenwood was helping his father at the family business of Greenwood Tire. Tragedy hit Steve as a teenager when his father died from a massive heart attack. Like Pat, Steve had to work hard to keep food on the family table. The Fish Lake resort was about to open, so on a blind date, Steve and Pat helped them celebrate. Indications are they learned to dance in the cow pasture, having to maneuver around the "cow pies". They hit all the dance halls including the "Shady Dell" in Elsinore. Their two step stroll to "Matrimony Hall" was put on hold as Steve had to go to war. In the many years I lived by Steve and his business, I never heard him talk of battle duties. In the Army Air Corps, he trained in Colorado, Florida, Australia, then fought the Japanese Empire, being a Crewman and Gunner Sgt. on a B-25, which became famous as the "Doolittle Raiders" plane over Tokyo. He was a Tail Gunner that operated the .50 caliber machine gun. He was with the 345th Bombardment Group in the Southeast Theater and like the great Apache Warrior Geronimo, the fun loving Steve became a fierce warrior, with the emblem of "Air Apache" loco on his WW Two plane. My guess is he knew how to swivel that gun chair, like he did as a kid, putting a saddle on a cow and going for a ride with the other "Wild Bunch" of Sevier County While fighting for freedom, Steve was still able to graduate from Richfield High, and when he came home, he and Pat got hitched in 47, then sealed the deal at an LDS Temple in 1950. They moved to Nephi, America in 1953 to open Greenwood Tire, as he knew how to recap tires. His first station was at the corner of 200 North and Main, where Vern Davis had a gas station. He then bought Nebo Chevrolet in 1959 and soon brought in another Sevier local-Whiz White, to sell cars while he built the tire recapping in the back. Steve taught one of the Jones boys how to work hard, yet believed in paying good wages. Pat's two daughters have worked as Educators for a combined total of nearly 60 years, so Pat was asked what advice she would give to all who read this. She quickly responded by saying to put down the electronic devices and talk to people eye to eye. Her kids want to write a book of Pat's "Mom-isms" one of which is "If you get in a sack with skunks, you come out stinking". If you visit Pat, don't look for a rocking chair, as she is too busy for one. She weed whacks her manicured yard; plays cards once a week; does Temple work once a week; County Fair; Senior Citizens; makes candy; family and home. Pat was born in Sevier County as a Parker, which is the area where Robert Leroy Parker(Butch Cassidy) roamed. When I asked if she was related, there was some uneasiness, but muttered something about "he is a long distance cousin we don't talk about". On her 100th birthday, she may finish that story! Pat and Steve Greenwood-they are two unheralded American heroes.