Flashback Friday...Six degrees to Dinwiddie

I've been to Arizona twice to visit Ruby (Dinwiddie) Lawson.

And most of you got to meet her during her visit to, um...Dinwiddie...

(Ruby at Sunday dinner)

but I have yet to officially explain why you should know her or care about her.

Have you heard of the game "Six degrees of Kevin Bacon?"
It was devised, when Kevin Bacon said he had worked with everyone in Hollywood or someone who's worked with them. Meaning, if you name an actor, you can probably get back to Kevin Bacon within six steps.

Well, it works with our ancestors and relatives too.
Especially on the Vandercar/Tilton side.
I've been meaning to chart this out, but didn't want to see Dave's eyes roll back in his head.
And honestly, with this one, even my eyes get a little crossed (reading about cousins)  and trying to figure out just how many ways Ruby is related to us.

Simply put: 

Ruby is our cousin.

or a little more detail:

Ruby is our first cousin, once removed:

Bob (our Dad), Gladys and Ruby are/were first cousins because....

   Bob's mom, Fern Tilton (our Grandma) and Ruby's mom, Phebe Tilton (our Great Aunt) were sisters.

 If you remember Aunt Phebe:

this might explain why Ruby looked familiar to you!

But that's not the end of the game.

There are a few more interesting degrees to add.

Those sisters? Fern and Phebe?

Fern married George Vandercar (our Grandpa)...and had Bob.

Phebe married Keith Dinwiddie (our Great Uncle)...and had Ruby.

What I did not know, is........and stick with me here, Dave...

Keith Dinwiddie's mother's name was Alice Shurte.

Alice

George Vandercar's mother's name was Hattie Shurte (our Great Grandma).

Hattie

Alice and Hattie were sisters.

(look for #13 and #14)

Alice married a Dinwiddie...and had Keith.

Hattie married a Vandercar and had George.

This made Keith and George first cousins.

So, not only is Ruby related to us on the Tilton side because of Fern and her sister Phebe,
but also on the Vandercar side, because of Great Grandma Hattie and her sister Alice.

On a side note:
Grandpa George had a sister named Lulu.
(she opens up a whole other, double related, mind bending scenario...which I will save for another Friday).

I mention Aunt Lulu to explain to you yet another reason why Ruby may have looked familiar to you.

Because Ruby looks a lot like Aunt Lulu...

...who looked a lot like Great Grandma Hattie.

I have no idea what that makes Ruby to us on the Vandercar side.
I'll have to call in the professionals on that one.

So there is your Six degrees to Dinwiddie answer in case anyone asks.
You're Welcome.

Can someone go wake up Dave and tell him I'm done talking about this now?


Directions to here:

This isn't even taking into consideration that Grandpa and Grandma lived in Dinwiddie (at the farm where the truck stop is now) and that many of you still live close by there. Just another degree to add to the game!