The Family

Barney’s mother (Berenice) autobiography Smithsonian oral history

“My mom, on the other hand, had been born in St. Louis and was the baby of the family. After her father left the railroad, he became president of the St. Louis Railway Company, which was really a streetcar and bus company.”— A World of Possibility, line 244

“She was working at the St. Louis Railway Company when my dad was hired there, which is how they met. He was debonair and charming; she was cute and cuddly.”— line 262

The Smithsonian oral history (2017) names her as Berenice. The autobiography calls her “my mom” throughout without a first name. She was the baby of the Frauenthal family. Her father ran the St. Louis Railway Company. She met Alec when he was hired there. She was a stay-at-home mother. When Paul listed “Bernice” as a family member, he was naming Barney’s mother — not an unidentified relative.

Alec W. Ebsworth (Barney’s father) autobiography

“My father, Alec W. Ebsworth, started out with the most auspicious beginning an Englishman can have. He was born in Windsor Castle.”— line 163

“I don’t believe he ever had more than $100 in the bank.”— line 469

Born Windsor Castle. Emigrated to St. Louis via his grandmother (Gran), who had stayed after the 1904 World’s Fair. King’s Scout in England, Eagle Scout in the US. Stutterer. Worked clerical jobs. Never earned a significant salary. Paul met him at the Gannon Avenue holiday gatherings.

Muriel Ebsworth (Barney’s twin sister) autobiography Paul confirms twins

“My sister, Muriel, failed to pick up my mother’s submissive gene. It was quickly apparent that my sister wasn’t the girly-girl type. She wasn’t big, but she was scrappy.”— line 289

“Muriel was a very good student and an exceptional athlete.”— line 352

“Her achievements were a little bit humbling. She did eight sports per year, two at a time.”— line 607

Shared a bunk-bed bedroom with Barney on Kingshighway. Lettered 16 times in her first two years. Was teaching school in 1958 when Barney married Martine in Paris (couldn’t attend). Paul says Muriel and Barney were twins. The autobiography doesn’t use the word “twins” but records them at the same age throughout and a 1936 photo is captioned “Barney and Muriel, 1936.”

Aunt Jean autobiography Paul adds Cinader marriage

“My mother’s bachelorette sister, Aunt Jean, also lived with us about half the time, and she worked at the post office and helped pay the bills.”— line 283

“Aunt Jean took us to church on Sundays, and I acquiesced just to be dutiful.”— line 373

Berenice’s sister. Unmarried during Barney’s childhood. Worked at the post office. Lived with the Ebsworths half the time, slept on the convertible sofa bed at Kingshighway. Paul says she later married Robert A. “Bob” Cinader, a television producer at Mark VII Limited (Jack Webb’s production company). Bob Cinader’s confirmed credits include Adam-12 and Emergency!. Other credits (Hawaii Five-0, Knight Rider) are family memory awaiting verification.

Uncle Ed autobiography

“When I was 12 years old in 1946, I had two uncles whom I greatly admired. My mother’s brother-in-law Cliff started in newspaper sales but became an advertising executive, and my mother’s only brother, Ed, was the general manager of Westinghouse Air Brake Company.”— line 454

“On holidays, we’d generally go to Uncle Ed’s house, because his was the biggest house and the biggest family.”— line 472

Berenice’s only brother. General manager of Westinghouse Air Brake. Had the biggest house, where holidays were held. Paul says this house was on Gannon Avenue, University City, MO.

Virginia Frauenthal Walhus Paul says

Berenice’s sister. Married Don Walhus. Mother of Paul Terry Walhus (b. Dec 2, 1944) and Alice-Ann Walhus. The autobiography does not mention Virginia by name (it is Barney’s book, not Paul’s), but she is Paul’s mother and one of the Frauenthal sisters. She spent summers with her children at Chautauqua, Illinois.

Don Walhus Paul says

Paul’s father. Traveling salesman for Grey Rock Brakes, a division of Raybestos Manhattan. His territory kept him on the road; he was rarely at Chautauqua in the summers.

Ann Frauenthal King & family Paul says

Another Frauenthal sister. Married Harold King. Children: Corky King and Carol King. The Kings had a cottage at Chautauqua, Illinois, near the Frauenthal cottage. Paul, Alice-Ann, Corky, and Carol were the children who spent summers together there.

Cliff autobiography

Described as “my mother’s brother-in-law” — meaning he married one of Berenice’s sisters. Started in newspaper sales, became an advertising executive. Which sister he married is unconfirmed.

Berenice / Bernice = Barney’s mother Smithsonian Paul says

Resolved. When Paul named “Bernice” as a family member, he was naming Barney’s mother. The Smithsonian oral history (2017) confirms her name as Berenice. She is the same person listed above under “Barney’s mother.” Earlier drafts of this page mistakenly listed her as an unidentified relative — that was wrong.