Musings from the Webb Grandchildren

Pete waving from the left on a Poudre River rafting trip in Colorado with various members of the Webb, Houlihan, and Nichols families.

Mariana and Ben Webb, the children of Betsy's oldest daughter Amy and her husband, Robin, share their memories of Pete, completing the picture of how devoted Pete and Betsy have always been to their 11 grandchildren. 

Pete with Mariana Webb, left, and her cousins Meg and Erin Houlihan

My most treasured memory of Pete is from a Colorado Christmas a few years back. One day, it worked out that just Grandma Betsy, Pete, and I were alone at 1032 Hawthorn for the afternoon. Over hot cups of tea and a tall glass of apple juice for Pete, we began talking. Although I had always loved and admired Pete, it wasn’t until this snowy afternoon that I realized what a kind, courageous man he was. He recounted how he had signed up to go to Vietnam. Seeing the inequality in those who were drafted (the majority were young and poor boys from the South), Pete felt it was his duty to join up too, fighting beside these brave boys. Although Pete always talked about people around him as “stand up guys,” I think he was the real stand up guy. I will carry a piece of Pete’s strong values and kindness in me for as long as I live.  - Mariana Webb, 19

Ben and Pete hit the surf together in Coronado.

Visiting Pete and Grandma Betsy in Coronado often included expeditions to the beach to go boogie boarding or bike riding around town -- usually with Pete leading the way and making sure everyone was safe crossing the streets.   To keep up everyone's energy we would stop for ice cream, or maybe when we got back home pick lemons from the tree in the front yard to make fresh squeezed lemonade.  Grandma and Pete had a special room in their guest house filled with toys for visiting grandchildren.  Some of my favorite memories were sitting down with Grandma and Pete doing puzzles and playing Monster in My Pocket. It was always a special event to ride the ferry from Coronado to San Diego to go to a Padres game and then wander along the waterfront with Pete.  - Ben Webb, 16

Ben and Pete.