Childhood: Antonio Gutierrez and Nancy Meijers welcomed their first child into the world on November 10, 1957. Toni Ellen Dells (maiden name Gutierrez) was born in Kent County, Michigan at Butterworth Hospital. The family of three soon received the blessing of three boys and two girls. A normal sibling Saturday for the Gutierrez kids was when they all got their allowance or babysitting money. Once the received their money they would take the bus straight to downtown. The kids would buy Motown records at a little shop called Woolworth’s. If their money wasn’t spent at Woolworth’s then it was spent on malts and burgers from the famous Herpolsheimers. Herpolsheimers was known for their big train that was bolted to the ceiling. Once you were done eating you could sign up to ride the ceiling around the restaurant. The train can now be found in the Grand Rapids Public Museum.
Growing up Toni attended Riverside school district. Because her parents were not able to help her with her school work Toni taught herself to read. Toni’s…show more content… About 12 years later Toni ran into the mother of that boy at the grocery store. The mother thanked her because if Toni never talked to that boy, never gave him the courage he would not be who he is today. That boy became a national golden gloves boxer. Which is such a crazy turn of events?
Toni’s second son Charles P. Dells grew to be my father. In Charles’ eyes, he saw his mother as a soldier and still is to this day. Charles describes Toni as a real looker and very stylish. He always would wonder how his dad ended up with Toni. Teasing and making jokes Charles’s friends would always get on his nerves about how attractive his mom was. Charles’s favorite memory with Toni was when they dressed up all fancy and went to a musical called “Carousel”. He loved how just the two of them would go see musicals, it was their special thing. Which also gave Charles his love of music.
