Family & Friends
March 2008
A longtime FMCA member and enthusiastic supporter of the association died in Federal Way, Washington, on January 8, 2008, of pneumonia at the age of 88.
Berlin Iry “Pinky” Middlebrooks, L13193, served as FMCA’s Northwest Area vice president from 1983 to 1985. In addition, he served on the Membership/Member Services Committee from 1984 to 1985 and the Nominating Committee from 1987 to 1988.
Pinky was born March 18, 1919, in Mamou, Louisiana. He entered the National Guard after high school, and he met his future life companion, Mary Elizabeth Griffin, while he was stationed at a military base in Shreveport, Louisiana, her hometown.
One day at a Shreveport roller rink, Pinky accidentally tripped Beth. After that they began dating and were married on July 5, 1942. By then World War II was on, and Pinky headed for Europe. He served as a pilot during the war, “dropping paratroopers into Europe and bringing the wounded out,” Beth said.
After the war, Pinky continued with the Air Force, serving as a transport pilot. The family lived in various locations, including Hawaii and Texas, as two sons joined the family. They moved to Moses Lake, Washington, in 1958, when sons Berlin Jr. and Jim were in grade school. Pinky served at Larsen Air Force Base and retired with the rank of Lt. Colonel in 1960. (The base closed in 1966, and Grant County International Airport now stands on the site.)
After his military career, Pinky began a career in real estate. The Middlebrookses eventually owned and ran a real estate office in Moses Lake from 1970 to 1975, when Pinky retired again.
FMCA entered their lives in 1974, Beth said, after the couple bought their first motorhome. “It was a Discover, made by White Truck company,” she said. “Then we bought our first Revcon. . . .”
With that first Revcon came a fondness for the brand that continued for the remainder of the couple’s motorhome travels. Revcon motorhomes had front-wheel drive; they featured an aerodynamic design; and, most of all, they were known for a very comfortable ride.
“We had four separate Revcons; we wore all of them out,” Beth said. “We just loved them. The only thing was there wasn’t a lot of room in them, but with us it didn’t make any difference.”
Pinky and Beth soon settled into a routine that involved spending winters in Yuma, Arizona, and warmer months in Moses Lake. They traveled quite a bit as well. “We made it to every state in the continental United States,” Beth said. “We also got into Alaska and Canada.”
The couple became very involved with FMCA soon after joining the association. They belonged to the Northwestern chapter, which helped to host FMCA’s first Oregon convention (in Salem) in July 1975. “It was just fantastic!” Beth said. That experience really cemented their involvement.
Beth said Pinky did “whatever was needed” to assist with chapter or national activities. He was president of the Northwestern chapter more than once. The couple also joined several other chapters, including 3T’s and the Frustrated Maestros.
Pinky and the late Bob Gobrecht, founder of the original Frustrated Maestros chapter, were friends. Beth recalled that at Bob’s request, she and Pinky founded the Frustrated Maestros Rocky Mountain Rockers chapter, and Pinky served as the Rockers’ first president.
With all this Maestros involvement, one might wonder what instrument Pinky played. “Nothing,” Beth said with a laugh. “Neither one of us did! But we had a lot of fun.”
In all, the couple spent 65 years together, and 30 of those years were with FMCA. “We had a great life with FMCA,” Beth said. She added that she still keeps in touch with FMCA friends.
In addition to Beth, Pinky leaves sons Berlin Jr. and James (and his wife, Shelley); four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Northwestern Chapter Celebrates 40th Anniversary
By Marje Fouts, F143928
The Northwestern chapter celebrated its 40th anniversary during a Labor Day weekend rally, August 31 through September, 2, 2007, at the Yakama Nation RV Resort in Toppenish, Washington, with 22 coaches in attendance.
This was the 10th consecutive year we have returned to Toppenish, situated in the Yakima Valley, for our late-summer rally, because it is centrally located in the chapter’s geographical scope of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Other chapter rallies held during 2007 were in Long Beach, Washington, in May, and Harstene Island, Washington, in October. Also, our chapter volunteered for FMCA’s 78th International Convention in Redmond, Oregon, and had a pre-rally in August in Crooked River Ranch, Oregon.
Chapter hosts Bud and Marje Fouts made sure that attendees were greeted with the smell of fresh-brewed coffee, fresh rolls, and doughnuts each morning. In addition, the tables were set with baskets of fresh local fruit from the Yakima Valley. Enough food was brought to Friday evening’s “bring hors d’oeuvres to share” that it ended up being a full meal. Saturday evening we enjoyed a potluck dinner with ham and a decorated anniversary cake provided by the hosts. Sunday’s meals included a full breakfast by the hosts and a catered dinner of barbecued ribs and chicken.
Activities for the weekend included a trivia game, a scavenger hunt, card games, and competitive games of bolo toss and bocce ball. When we weren’t busy with chapter activities, we were out visiting the local fruit and vegetable farms to find the best prices and the perfect boxes of produce. Many of us viewed the 62 murals painted on the buildings in Toppenish. The Yakima Valley is also famous for its grape orchards and has many wineries to visit.
The chapter meeting was held on Saturday evening after dinner. Our attendees included six past presidents: Skeet Klaudt, Rocky Ybarra, King deBord, Bud Fouts, Bill Gessitz, and Ray Baker. Special chapter members attending were past Northwest Area vice presidents King deBord and Jim Phillips, and current Northwest Area vice president Donzella Leahy. Other guests included the president of the Columbia Basin Cruisers chapter and a full-timing couple who had such a great time that they became our newest chapter members. Our celebration also was a family affair, with three generations of the Ybarra family and two generations of the Stephenson family attending.
At the end of the meeting president Bud Fouts singled out Skeet and Janet Klaudt. From the original 26 charter members of the Northwestern chapter, the Klaudts are the lone charter members remaining. Skeet recalled many humorous moments about what it was like motor coaching 40 years ago. Longtime chapter members King deBord and Rocky Ybarra also reminisced about early rallies.
The final morning of our 40th anniversary celebration was Monday, September 3. After breakfast, we all said our good-byes. We left knowing that the oldest chapter in the Northwest Area is still looking forward to chapter growth and rally socializing for many years to come.
The Elite Traverlers Gather For Platinum Anniversary
By Charlie Atkinson, L10327
The Elite Travelers chapter held its 20th anniversary rally October 15 through 21, 2007, during the Bill Plemmons RV Camp-In 2007, staged in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Thirteen coaches from The Elite Travelers contingent attended the rally, during which time chapter members held their meeting and had other get-togethers when no other Camp-In events were scheduled.
The chapter’s 20th anniversary celebration took place on Saturday evening with a dinner at a local restaurant. Afterward we enjoyed a special cake, which featured the photograph of an actual Elite motorhome as part of the icing.
Dennis Buchanan made many of the arrangements for the rally, and he also was in charge of the parking for the entire Camp-In 2007 rally. He was able to get most of the chapter members parked together, so it made social hours and other events very convenient. The hosts for our rally were Harold “Boots” Daily and his wife, Kathy.
One of the highlights of the Camp-In 2007 rally was a trip to the Richard Petty Museum in Randleman, North Carolina, and to the Victory Junction Gang Camp, which was started by NASCAR racer Kyle Petty and his wife, Pattie. The camp is for children ages 7 to 15 who have serious illnesses and disabilities. Children from all over the United States can attend at no cost. The camp’s theme is centered around NASCAR racing, with cars decorating the tops of buildings. One building is actually the shape of car number 45, which was Adam Petty’s car. The camp is dedicated to Adam, the son of Kyle and Pattie, and Richard Petty’s grandson, who was killed in a crash while practicing for a NASCAR Busch Series race at New Hampshire International Speedway in May 2000. Richard, Kyle, and many other NASCAR drivers and teams contribute to the camp and support it. The names of the buildings are appropriate: the cafeteria is the “Fuel Stop,” the snack bar is the “Pit Stop,” the bowling alley is “Victory Lanes,” the horse barn is “The Horse Power Garage,” and the hospital is “The Body Shop.”
We also visited Mount Airy, North Carolina, which was the basis for Mayberry, the fictional town made famous on “The Andy Griffith Show.” We had our midday meal at The Snappy Lunch and enjoyed its famous pork chop sandwiches.
It was a great rally, not only for it being The Elite Travelers’ 20th anniversary, but also for being part of the Bill Plemmons Camp-In 2007.
When The Elite Travelers chapter began in 1987, members had to own an Elite motorhome. Now, since Elites have not been made since the early 1990s, anyone can join the chapter. The chapter’s scope is east of the Rocky Mountains. For more information about The Elite Travelers or to inquire about joining, contact chapter president Joe Hirsch, phone (440) 234-8420, e-mail hirrobyo@msn.com.