Grace Goodell

Grace Goodell is a friend of mom's from the days in Sumatra in the 1930's and Malaya in 1947. Grace and her husband Val came to Boenot, Sumatra in 1935. My mom and dad had been there since 1933. Grace, Vall and their three children had a harrowing escape from Sumatra in 1942 as the Japanese were occupying the island. They managed to get a boat around the cape of South America and about a day out from New Orleans their ship evaded a German torpedo. Grace is 98 years old, still drives and is very lively. We had dinner together in her retirement community in Hendersonville, NC. Then we went back to her apartment and I showed her the DVD movies from Sumatra. She identified the man at the beginning ad Bill Giddings. We also looked at the picture album of Sumatgra photos. We both had a wonderful time and parting was a sweet sorrow.