Rachel Miller Van Dyke, daughter of Jacob Van Dyke and Rachel Rebecca Shepherd, was born on 26 September 1884 at Missouri.^1,2

     Her married name was Pearse.¹

     Rachel married Roy Walter Pearse in 1909.¹

     Rachel died in October 1974, at age 90,¹ and was buried at Forest Hill Cemetery, Kansas City, Jackson, Missouri.³

     Her married name was Van Dyke.²

     Rebecca married Col. John Van Dyke, son of Jan Van Dyke and Margaretta Barcolo, on 17 November 1761, Rebecca was a first cousin to John.^2,3

     Rebecca died on 21 February 1807.³

     Rebecca Van Dyke, daughter of Paul Shepherd Van Dyke and Louise Carlton Estes, was born circa 1927 at Japan.¹

     Remsen Van Dyke, son of Albert Van Brunt Van Dyke and Eliza M. Rumph, was born circa 1906 at New York.¹

     Rhonda Lee Van Dyke, daughter of John William Van Dyke and Dianne Elizabeth Smith, was born on 19 July 1959 at Piscataquis, Maine.¹

     Rhonda lived with her step father, John and mother, Dianne, on 10 May 1964, at Cedar Street, Dover Foxcroft, Piscataquis, Maine; They lived there for about 4 months. John would drive back and forth to Bangor, (Dow Air Force Base). We lived there until about August 1964.¹

     Rhonda lived with her father, John and mother, Dianne, circa August 1964, at Division Street, Bangor, Penobscot, Maine; As fall was approaching, Rhonda was of age to attend school. We decided it was time to move closer to John's work. Ah, there it was, Utterback's Senior citizen home. No, we didn't live there but in an apartment above a garage in their back yard. You just couldn't imagine how hot it was there. Small windows, no air conditioning and one fan. Not to mention, on occasion, a senior citizen who had passed was taken out by a funeral director.


Rhonda was registered at the Mary Snow School. Her travel, walking to and from school was about seven blocks, each way.


Some of our favorite things to eat was 'Tri-City Pizza'. One must realize, pizza, during this period in Bangor, was big, but, mostly made in small shops.
We lived there through the winter of 1964 - 65. When Spring came we went looking for a mobile home. Here we were, new mobile home, living at Tozier's Trailer Park, off the Finson Road, Lot #13.¹ Rhonda lived with John and her mother, Dianne circa October 1964 at Tozier's Trailer Park, Finson Road, Bangor, Penobscot, Maine.She enjoyed having her own room in the brand new mobile home. In addition, the park had lots of children her own age. There was a big open field behind us. A great area to fly kites or for Mom to ice skate in the winter; We worked hard getting ready for winter. Skirting around the trailer, heat tape installed on the inlet water line.¹

     Rhonda lived with her parents, John and Dianne, circa April 1965, at Tozier's Trailer Park, Finson Road, Bangor, Penobscot, Maine; Spring, new mobile home, we're living in a small trailer park. Everything was going well. Rhonda had numerous new friends. Speaking too soon, Mom gets told Rhonda had dropped her pants (6 years old) while with the boys. John gets home from work and Dianne says we gotta move from here, Rhonda just exposed herself. Things calmed down and we didn't move.¹

     Rhonda and Traci lived with their parents, John and Dianne, circa May 1966, at Green Mansions Trailer Park, 3rd Avenue, Floyd, New York; We packed up the babies, driving a 1960 Ford Station Wagon and headed to New York. After a short stay at Griffis Air Force Base, in temporary base housing, (awaiting for the arrival of our new mobile home), we settled in Green Masions Trailer Park.¹

     Rhonda and Traci lived with their Mom, an unknown person circa June 1967, at Doyan's Trailer Park, River Road, Sidney, Maine. Their Dad, was serving a one year remote tour at Keflavik, Iceland; No one told us anything was going to be easy. Our trailer we had in New York was moved to Maine. For John, he was on his way to Iceland. In addition to working on the flight line, he had a night, part time job, cleaning work offices at Keflevik.¹

     Rhonda and Traci lived with their parents, John and Dianne, on 1 June 1967, at Doyan's Trailer Park, River Road, Sidney, Maine; Our trailer we had in New York was moved to Maine. For John, in addition to working on the flight line, he had a part time job, cleaning work offices at Keflevik.¹

     Rhonda and Traci were living with their parents, John and Dianne, in May 1968, at 316 Texas Avenue, Victorville, San Bernardino, California; John, returning from Iceland, the start of our next adventure was great. Destination, "Southern Calofornia". However, as we got to middle America, then on toward the Southwest, we knew what we were missing without air conditioning in the car. Upon arrival, we stayed at a motel in Apple Valley until an on-base quarters were available.¹

     Rhonda, Traci and Karen lived with their mother, Dianne starting about May 1970, at Rangley Place, Bangor, Penobscot, Maine; John had received military orders to Udorn, Thailand. His tour was remote for one year.¹

     Rhonda, Traci and Karen were living with their parents, John and Dianne, in June 1971, at Nellis Air Force Base, Las Vegas, Nevada; Upon John's return from Thailand, the next assignment was in Las Vegas. To express the excitement is difficult.¹

     Rhonda during 1975 was attending Rancho High School, Las Vegas, Clark, Nevada.²

     Rhonda, Traci and Karen were living with their parents, John and Dianne, in November 1975, at Pease Air Force Base, Portsmouth, Rockingham, New Hampshire; This time, John has an assignment to New England. The weather from Las Vegas was great. However, the first night's stop, Flagstaff, Arizona, became a disaster. Prior to arrival, it snowed 12 inches. The next morning, the temperature was close to ZERO, plus another 12 inches of snow. Our car cooling system was not treated with enough antifreeze. The wakeup and thought of early departure was gone. It was about one o'clock in the afternoon, when the area warmed up and the car thawed were we able to proceed.
We were than on our way without further issue. When we arrived at Pease Air Force Base, we were assigned to temporary billets, refurbished barracks. Our biggest complaint was the heat inside. No control, therefore all the windows had to be left open to maintain a comfortable temperature.¹

     As of 23 December 1977,her married name was Tomah.³

     Rhonda married Harold J. Tomah on 23 December 1977, at Brewer, Penobscot, Maine.

Miss Van Dyke Mr Tomah exchange vows in Brewer

-Rhonda Lee Van Dyke and Harold J. Tomah of Wells were married on Dec. 23, at the First Congregational Church, in Brewer with the Rev. David Smith conducting the double ring ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John W. VanDvke of Wells. Honor attendants were Traci VanDvke, sister of the bride and the groom's brother-in-law Merritt Welch. A reception followed the ceremony in the church dining room. Mrs. Tomah is a graduate of Wells High School and the groom is a teacher at Wells High School. The bride’s grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Cleon Smith of Dover-Foxcroft.³