Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, October 3, 1993 TAG: 9310030110
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: E-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: TROUTDALE LENGTH: Medium
The Grubb siblings, ages 25 to 44, were overcome with emotion, taking turns embracing each other at a Grayson County fire hall.
"I was left on my own, all alone with nobody, when I was not quite 16," said Denny Lee Park, the oldest sibling. "All these years, I've been wondering where they all were, and I could pass them on the street and not know if they were my brothers or sisters."
Being separated "is a scar all of us will carry in our hearts as long as we live," said Park, who lives in Troutdale. "It's been unreal. You can't express it."
About 75 people attended the gathering of the family, including the families and foster families of the siblings.
Joyce Counts said it was the first time most of the siblings met their sister Linda Tantillo of Falls Church since the children were taken away from their parents.
Born by Mount Rogers in Grayson County, the 13 children were taken from their parents, Carl and Ada Grubb, in the late 1960s and adopted or put in foster homes.
Joyce Counts managed to contact an aunt, who told her her biological father had died, but her mother was still alive.
Counts met her biological mother in 1985. Through her, Counts met Parks and Anna Osborne, who also lived in Troutdale. After her mother died, Counts found another sister, Sonja Dunford, who went to school with four siblings who were raised in Galax: Belva Baumgardner, Franklin Mason, Carl Mason and Lois Arnold.
In May, brother Mitchell Acord of Churchville found them. Counts met sister Shirley Gilbert a short time later. Gregory Sawyers was found a week after 10 of the siblings gathered.
John Cameron Grubb is the only sibling missing. He was adopted in 1970 or 1971 in Tennessee and would be about 25 today.
by CNB