Light of Her Children

About the Book

This is the remarkable story of the Newton family of twenty siblings and the early life of Ronald James Newton and his journey to adulthood in rural Northeastern Colorado. In this stimulating narrative, Ronald James Newton tells the story of the Newton family growing up during the Great Depression, World War II, and the ’50s in a small town lodged within a rich agricultural landscape lying along the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. Intertwined throughout this story covering several generations of the Newton family, one learns about their everyday lives, their dependence upon one another, and their strong work ethic and their religious value code, all of which ensure their survival. These are stories about the lives of family members during harsh times being shaped by their interactions with one another and with individuals and institutions in their community. Ronald James Newton tells his own story as well as that of his brothers as they strive for emotional maturity and sports success. This brief look into rural life during the first half of the last century occurs during an important time in the history of Colorado and the nation and describes an inspiring snapshot of a pioneering matriarch guiding and nurturing her numerous children while constantly reminding them of the peril of self-centeredness and the virtue of cooperation. Coming soon is the sequel to Light of Her Children, Here’s the Score.

About the Author

Ronald James Newton, a triplet and the sixteenth child born to James Elmer and Laura Dreier Newton, has served as a science educator in public schools and universities for forty years. He is a graduate of the University of Northern Colorado (BA, biology, 1961), the University of Utah (MS, science education, 1966), and Texas A&M University (PhD, botany, 1972). Ronald is retired from academic life and now lives with his wife, Mary, in Greenville, North Carolina. They have a son and a daughter and four grandchildren.