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Washington DC War Years 1942
The newly married couple Loretta and Charles took a trip to visit the capitol of the United States, Washington DC. The war was raging and Charles was scheduled to be shipped out to a Pacific destination. The horrors of Pearl Harbor were still fresh in everyone’s mind and the war was already taking its toll on American citizens worrying about their boys coming home from fighting halfway around the world. A visit to Washington DC was a good reminder of what people were fighting about.
Loretta really enjoyed the cherry blossoms that lined the streets of Washington DC and would work to support the cause along with her sister Louise and Cousin Cil (Rosie the Riveter for some of them), all three having their husbands in service to their country (In addition to Charles, Louise husband Harry and Cil’s husband Francis, truly they were the greatest generation).
Charles would spend the rest of the war in the Pacific theater and return home safetly to Loretta (and a Detroit Tiger World Series Victory, just as his son would do nearly 40 years later in 1984 – Tigers must be waiting for the next generation of Kleiber to leave the military because these were the last two World Series that they have won and have not won one since).
Loretta and Charles Kleiber Wedding 1941
Loretta and Charles Kleiber were married in what many consider “the war Years” even though the attack on Pearl Harbor would not happen for 10 months.
Charles was the oldest son of Millie and Benjamin Kleiber and Loretta was the eldest daughter of Rose and Joe Graf. The marriage would last over 50 years until Charles death in 1995. They would have three children, Margaret Ann, Christine Louise, and Charles Joseph.
After the marriage Charles would enlist in the military and serve until the end of the war in 1945, Loretta would support the home front war effort working at the Dupont chemical plant.
Photos of the Marriage include the wedding certificate, a group shot of the parents (Ben and Millie, Joe and Rose), along with Bridesmaid Louise and Best Man Harry who themselves would get married a short three years from now.
Loretta Kleiber Graduates High School 1938
Loretta Rose Graf graduated high school in 1938. Shown here is her graduation picture.
Loretta (Kleiber) Graf Born 1920
According to our sources at Ancestry.com (currently worked by her grandson James) when Loretta Rose Graf was born on January 29, 1920, in Harrison City, Pennsylvania, her father, Joseph, was 32, and her mother, Rose, was 29. She married Charles Thomas Kleiber on February 15, 1941, in Wyandotte, Michigan. They had three children in 14 years. She died on August 3, 2000, in Grand Traverse, Michigan, at the age of 80.
Loretta enjoyed traveling with her family probably more than anything else. There was hardly a month in the spring, summer, or fall that at least one trip was not planned. While she did not like travel in the winter, she simply kept her adventures more local during that season.
Included in the photo gallery are pictures from Loretta’s childhood and growing up in Pennsylvania with her younger sister Louise and her younger brother Joseph along with her parents Rose and Joe Graf.
