Gladys Lamon Obituary

Rita Lamon of Woodway, Texas passes away Thursday, June 26, 2025 surrounded by her loved ones. 

Gladys Greta Hague was born November 19, 1923, at home with a midwife assisting her mother. In those days one didn’t go to the hospital unless absolutely necessary. Close by was one of the oldest hospitals in Norwich England. The hospital was situated on a 7-acre site in a bend of the River Wensum to the north-east of Norwich Cathedral. Bishop Walter de Suffield founded Saint Giles's Hospital, as the hospital was originally known, in 1249.

The family could be traced back to John Norman who was born in Norwich in 1657 and lived in Old Catton. He prospered as a local farmer, landowner and brewer. He eventually became an Alderman and Mayor of the City of Norwich. He died in 1724 and although having married twice, had no children; however, he was extremely interested in the education of children and left the bulk of his estate ‘In Trust’ to educate the male descendants of his close relatives. According to his wishes, The Norman Endowed School was eventually built for the benefit of his descendants but, as there were insufficient funds to maintain it, it was closed in 1934. Supposedly, to this day, the trust is in tact and benefits are available. Gladys' mother, Florence Hague was a skinny four foot eight high strung women. She worked very hard taking care of her husband, her father in-law, two children, and eventually the family business. Gladys' father, Ernest Hague was a five foot six inch strict, no nonsense, industrious man that dressed to perfection everyday. As was the customary practice of the day, he had one suit for the day and another for church and special occasions. He paid particular attention to a well kept pair of black patent leather shoes that he polished everyday along with the shoes of the rest of the family. Ernest was very charismatic he would just suddenly engage people on the street and talk to them about a recent bombing or how they were getting along. If they were surviving? He was likable, made friends easily, and never knew a stranger. He enjoyed having pints at the local pubs and going with friends to football games. He had been thinking that he would like to be free of the constraints of the factory work but this was a time of war and ration. He should be glad the Germans hadn’t bombed it, that he had a good income, and his job was secure. Gladys' brother, Tony was two years her senior and to her, he was mostly a pain in the rump. Eventually he went to a trade school for plumbing but after graduation he put down his tools to never pick them for the remainder of his life.

Gladys was brought home to a clean well kept row house on Shelby Street. The street was large enough for cars to pass with no center strip, made of smooth gray brick, and had large four foot cement sidewalks. The large black gas lanterns were kept off due to the German bombers, no use showing them the way. The houses were made of sturdy red brick, solid white doors, and windows with flower boxes. People kept their small yards well kept and the flower boxes full of what was in season or whatever they could get their hands on. The people that lived in them were mostly blue collar working class such as local business owners, factory workers, and the men that managed to somehow evade enlistment. Gladys' grandfather, Jack Hague was a stern quiet man that stayed to himself and didn’t really have a close relationship with her. He cultivated red roses in the backyard using the occasionally deposited horse manure from the front street. They were his pride and joy and he was often complemented on them by family and friends. At the age of three, Gladys and a friend decided to give the roses a bit of a trim, let’s just say after they were finished there wasn’t a lot to look at! Her grandfather was so outraged that he went right to her parents to see if they would give her a bit of corporal punishment. Her mother as punishment or to keep her out of trouble enrolled her in a girls finishing school for the remainder of her educational years. Gladys was shy person, but ahead of her years in many ways, she had no trouble walking the many blocks to school and once there she exhibited a deep passion for learning. She studied sewing, cooking, gardening, modeling, bookkeeping , and all the things one would need to get on in life. She was competitive and managed to score within the top 3 of her written exams.

Gladys had lived through WWII like many children, scared to death one minute and outside playing the next. The time was one of perseverance, people were independent and knew they would have to be physically and emotionally resilient in order to cope with the days ahead. They listened to Winston Churchill on the short wave radio. Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill was a British politician, army officer, and writer. He was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945, when he led Britain to victory in the Second World War, and again from 1951 to 1955.

Waterworks Road had not been excluded from the bombings of the Germans in WWII. It was a street of numerous businesses, families, and the location of one of the water purification stations of Norwich. Gladys had come to live on Waterworks Road by a series of, let's say, beneficial circumstances.

Gladys was now 15 and had been attending the dances at the Samson and Hercules Club. It was famous for the two white statues which proudly stand outside. It is thought the building was built by the Mayor of Norwich, Christopher Jay, in 1657, with the famous statues originally made from timber, but white replicas installed when Samson lost an arm. The building once housed a large swimming pool. Later on, a dance floor was installed over the top of it and it was transformed into a ballroom in 1939. At that time it became a popular venue with the troops stationed in Norwich.

The street lamps where kept off due to German bombers looking for targets so the walk home was always a bit disconcerting especially for an independent young blond girl. She knew the Germans appreciated blond blue eyed girls and was sure she could be kidnapped one unfortunate night.

Her father Ernest, worked at the Clark Shoe Factory, he had worked his way up at the factory specializing in cutting and shaping the tops of the best shoes. He was considered by some to have a pretty comfortable living. At the end of his shift, he would walk home passing the destruction left by the German bombers, bomb craters in the street, houses destroyed, businesses lost, people killed. Everyday he would stride past the Waterworks Tavern making a mental note to himself how dismal it was and how he could fix the place up if it was his. He figured it probably had its share of leaking pipes, roof leaks, and broken equipment. It could really use some major repairs and overall updating. Occasionally, he stopped in for quick quiet drink with the older couple that owned the place. They had told him that sales were off, they had thought of selling, they worried about the Germans, and that they were just tired of running the place. With the war going on, everything seemed to be impossible to get, in short supply, or was rationed. Beer, was one of the few things that seemed to be in good supply and to one with an entrepreneurial spirit could be traded for let’s say desirable commodities. Ernest thought this might be a great opportunity for him to have his dream and so made the plunge and bought the business.

External and Internal gas lighting was being phased out and electricity becoming common place throughout Norwich. Might as well install electricity if the Germans were going to blow up the gas and water lines. Waterworks Road was due to be updated, so Ernest decided that he could really liven up the pub with some inside brighter lights, fresh paint, new cook stove, dart boards, and a variety of English beers. I can imagine, at least, with the city being bombed by the Germans that getting rid of the gas was a really good idea. Ernest turned out to be a very good businessman. He organized trips to the beaches, fairs, games, etc. you name it he’d get everyone excited to go and make friends in the process. He organized trips to the football games, making sure everyone had plenty of time to have drinks at the pub before they left and after they returned. He would trade with the local merchants for rationed items making sure there were plenty of snacks and treats for his customers. The kids came to the pub with the parents, and then were sent off to a special room so that they could play with the other children. Sometimes it seemed the kids where spending more and having a better time than the parents. Ernest encouraged the parents to bring the children as Gladys could supervise them and the kids could spend their parents' money on chips, drinks, and candy till they were sick. The parents were happy to oblige in order to have a few drinks, some adult company, and forget the war for awhile.

Rita was an English World War II bride, marrying Frank Reed of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) in 1944. She then went by way of Army Transport Service to New York City and on by train to McGregor, Texas where she lived with Frank's parents until the end of the war. After the war, Frank and Rita opened up a cafe in Gatesville, Texas and then a large auto repair business in Richland Hills, Texas. 

Besides being a great homemaker, wife and mother, Rita was the President of the British Wives Club in Fort Worth, Texas from 1962 - 1963. Throughout her life she was devoted to this club and served in various capacities. She loved to travel and often commented that she had been to thirteen different countries. On numerous occasions, she would go on trips with her husband and travel from Texas to Oregon, down to Mexico, and back to Texas. 

Rita had three children, Bonnie, Johnny, and Wayne. She would often remind them of the pedigree and lineage to John Norman. 

She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Alfred Lamon; and her brother, Tony Hague. Those left behind to cherish her memory are her daughter, Bonnie Dalton; sons, Johnny Reed and Wayne Reed; as well as a substantial number of grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren.