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was told to pick up a "Blind" date. Only she wasn't blind, but he was ! From the first
social meeting in 1935 until the day of publication of this article, this date has continued.
In May 1936 This couple graduated from Geneva High School. Beginning in the
summer of 1936, Lamar began working in the same company as his father, the C.D.
Chapman and Company. He was employed there until the end of December 1936, Abbie
had begun to attend Livingston College at Livingston, Alabama.
In January of 1937, Lamar had begun to work for the post office department in
Geneva. Mrs. Leila P. Adair was the postmaster. She had been appointed by Franklin D.
Roosevelt. The postal career of Lamar lasted until the reorganization of the postal service
in November of 1971. A period of 34 years.
On the 15 th of May 1937, Lamar married his blind date of October 1935. The
date was Abbie Harris, the daughter of Margaret E. Harris and the late William Henry
Harris. Their first home was on Merritt Street in Geneva. It was here that their first child,
Laura Anne was bom June 30, 1938. At this home also their second child, George Lamar,
Jr., was born September 11, 1941.
Lamar and Abbie moved from their Merritt Street home in 1942 to the home of
Abbie's mother, Mrs. Margaret Harris on South Commerce Street. Next door to the First
Baptist Church. Their third child Warren Harris was bom here on May 2, 1944.
During the period 1937-1944, many civic and church activities were performed by
both Lamar and Abbie. Scouting, little league, soft ball and other summer sports were
enjoyed by the family. Lamar was a member of the Junior Chamber of Commerce and
later became the president. The December 7th attack by the Japanese in 1941, saw many
of the young men of Geneva leave for the war zones. The National Guard had long left to
serve. The draft was getting many others. Lamar was drafted soon after reaching his 26th
birthday in February of 1945. Abbie was left with three small children and her aged
mother. After being inducted at Ft. McClellan, Alabama, Lamar was sent to Camp
Blanding , Florida for infantry training. Leaving Blanding by way of Fort Ord, Camp
Stoneman and San Francisco, he arrived in Manila Bay of the Philippines, September 11,
1945. He was assigned to a postal unit in the city of Manila. This was a small unit mainly
engaged in writing money orders for G.I.'s to send money home. An average of 200 per
day with a value of $20,000.00 was the usual days business.
In late December of 1945, Lamar received orders to return to the United States.
He arrived back in California on January 11, 1946. He returned to the post office in
Geneva February 1946. The last half of the 1940's the country was busy getting over
shortages and back to normal, after World War II.
In January of 1948, a Lion's Club was chartered in Geneva, Lamar was a charter
member. He later served as both secretary and president of the club. In the early 40's
Lamar had been elected to serve as a Deacon in his church. He, along with Abbie served
the church in many places of leadership.
In September of 1950, Lamar purchased a home on Trinity Lane for his wife Abbie
and their three children. The family moved to their new home on the corner of Trinity and
High Street the same month. Abbie and Lamar were working for the Geneva Community
Center Board. First they used the old Geneva Pecan Shelter's Building owned by Mr. and
Mrs. George Miller. Next they used the old Skating Rink building located on the old