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Post by Helen Dagner on Jul 24, 2013 23:05:07 GMT -5
Lester A Stebbins Service Info.: PFC US MARINE CORPS Birth Date: 11 Aug 1928 Death Date: 19 Mar 1997 Service Start Date: 8 Apr 1947 Interment Date: 25 Mar 1997 Cemetery: Houston National Cemetery Cemetery Address: 10410 Veterans Memorial Drive Houston, TX 77038 Buried At: Section C-11 Row A Site 72 **-Mikes Dad Lester A Stebbins was born on August 11, 1928 and died on March 19, 1997 at the age of 68. He last resided in New Caney, Texas in Montgomery County ---- 3 weeks before Mark was abducted his father remarried -Mike then had a Step brother, so sad there was more tragedy in the family. The Step Brother committed suicide in Calf., Before Mike had the opportunity to meet him... The last time Mike saw his father was when he came for Marks Funeral in 1976, and he never heard from his father again~
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Post by Helen Dagner on Jul 26, 2013 11:08:40 GMT -5
Ruth Stebbins was a victim of domestic violence for years and finally she file for a divorce, she knew she had to get her and the two boys out of that situation. When the divorce was final and she was aware that she would get no support from the father of her children and would not be able to afford the $600.00 dollars a month rent,( That was a lot of money back in 1968) she and the boys took a bus to Ferndale, Mike was 8 and Mark was 4. Mike can remember that day as if it were yesterday, they walked up and down Saratoga, knocking on doors asking if they had an apartment for rent, and finally when they were all so exhausted, and near tears, Ruth had decided to knock on one more door, and yes, they had a one bed room upstairs apt. for rent for 120 Dollars a month. Ruth was so happy that she forgot that she was near collapsing and the boys had forgotten that they had not eaten . Their Mom solved that problem by going to a grocery store and getting some stuff that they could eat cold- Ruth got some help to move in some bunk beds and her other belongings and told the boys this is going to be our home. They were very excited, so excited that Mike, then 8 yrs old, did not even notice there was no bed for his Mom, but then there was no bedroom for her either. He asked his Mom about it and she said-"I'm going to sleep on the sofa,I have been waiting years to be able to do that,as it is so much more comfortable for my back" -Ruth slept on that sofa for years. Mike said "My mother never complained about my Dad not paying child support" but as he got older, he knew that his father wasn't paying child support, because other boys his age whose parents were divorced, would get new cloths from the store, could go to movies and be in sports, "But we just didn't have any money and my Mother was working two sometimes three jobs". Then one day at school, a kid told him your Dad moved to Texas so he wouldn't have to pay child support..His mom didn't want to discuss it. So Mike was too young then to get a job, but as soon as he turned 16, he went looking, the only job he could find was one at the Hobby Center. However, there was a problem, they couldn't pay him cash, he would get paid $2.50 an hour to be taken out in merchandise. He was so glad to have the opportunity to work, so he took it, after all it would still give Mark and him the chance to get some things for their self and not bug their Mom for money-It worked out fine---Until his brother was abducted and 4 days later found murdered-He fell apart. His Mom fell apart and life was never the same-His Mom tried to go back to work, but she just couldn't. Her Baby was Dead and she couldn't understand why someone would do this to one of her boys and Mike couldn't understand it either. He still is haunted by his not walking home with Mark. Why did this happen? 37 years later, Mom has passed away, and Mike is still trying to sort this all out. And why hasn't the killer been caught...And does this mean he never will be? He still thinks about Mark and his Mom everyday. His thoughts never get easier, but time has given him more skills to cope... Later in his life Mike found himself having to pay child support for 18 years, and he never missed a payment. He is very close to his two sons and his grandson,and says he is glad he made the choice to pay the child support and he wishes that his Dad had made the same Choice.....
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Post by Helen Dagner on Jul 27, 2013 8:40:45 GMT -5
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Post by Helen Dagner on Jul 29, 2013 3:15:13 GMT -5
Mike Stebbins says the drawing of the screaming boy pinned to Chris Busch bedroom wall ,does not look like his brother Mike. He said I suppose it someone looks at it long enough and they want it to be Mark,they may see a slight resemblance,with the nose,however it appears to him that the drawing is a combination of several boys,all put together,but he doesn't think it is his brothers face...Note: And we agree.
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Post by Helen Dagner on Jul 30, 2013 6:52:18 GMT -5
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Post by Helen Dagner on Aug 4, 2013 3:13:54 GMT -5
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