Wichita, Kansas, 1966-1970
In 1966, the family moved to Wichita, Kansas, where John taught for four years as Associate Professor and Director of Freshman-Sophomore English at Wichita State University. Here they became homeowners for the first time, to 2527 North Roosevelt Court on a cul-de-sac.
Flo installed the second of her home laboratories here, in what had been a storage room in the garage installing shelving and countertops, electric and plumbing lines, and a ventilation system with exhaust fan.
Flo and John were avid swimmers, and had an in-ground swimming pool installed by a Mr. Mattingly.
A vacant lot on the cul-de-sac provided space for badminton games, but a near-constant 15mph wind played havoc with the game. The vacant lot proved much more suitable for volleyball, and John organized colleagues, students and neighbors into a regular game, scheduled nearly every day that weather permitted. One of John's colleagues, Jim Campbell, and his wife Betty, were regulars in the game, and became lifelong friends. Another of John's colleagues, Jim Erickson, achieved notoriety for his comical remarks and antics, particularly an idiosyncratic service he dubbed the "Erickson Doom-Ball," which he lofted high in the air so that it would descend with frightening velocity. After the Butlers moved away, Jim organized an ongoing volleyball game that flourished for many years. Decades later, David joined Jim's then-indoor game and was introduced to the players as the son of the man who started it all.
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swimming pool construction, 1968
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swimming pool construction, 1968
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Flo and Robin
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pool in winter
The heated pool was covered in winter with plastic sheeting suspended over wooden beams, which were raised by about three feet on one side of the pool when pool was in use.
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Flo beside pool in winter
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Flo in pool in winter
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Flo in pool in winter
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front yard and garage
Yucca plants lined the side of the garage.
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back yard, photographed from neighboring yard
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patio between John's study and the garage
The storage room in the garage became Flo's laboratory.
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Flo seated on couch in John's study
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swimming pool
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Betty Campbell dancing with John, Flo dancing with Jim Campbell
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Flo in the living room. An accomplished carpenter and seamstress, she made clothing and furniture for our family, including the floor lamp, couches, and footstool in the photo. A friend who had traveled to Cambodia gave her a fish trap from which she fashioned this table, adding cast-iron legs and a glass tabletop. The oil painting above the table was the work of Bruce Muirhead, our next-door neighbor in Middlebury, Vermont, who taught at Middlebury College concurrently with our dad. We also owned an oil painted by Bruce's wife, Elaine, and another oil by Bruce, but I am pretty sure this one was by Bruce. Photo from article printed in the Wichita Eagle and Beacon in 1968
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