Last week, my wife's aunt Helen died. An amazing, active to the end woman who transcended the limitations of poverty to have an affecting, full life. Adopted just before the depression, her extended family, as my wife's mother said, was "dirt poor". Like a lot of women in the Cadet Nursing Corps, she had to drop out when she married.

She and her late husband Jim, defined what fundamentalist Christians were for me. Strong (maybe rigid) in their beliefs, they were open, generous, thoughtful, hospitable people; freely giving to others in need. Not educated (college) due to their poverty, they were still well read and literate.