Case Name: Dolores Holstein v. Kenneth Ray Holstein
Court: Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia
Jurisdiction: West Virginia
Decision Date: 1968-03-12
Citations: 152 W. Va. 119
Docket Number: No. 12685
Parties: Dolores Holstein v. Kenneth Ray Holstein
Judges: Calhoun, Judge, dissenting.
Reporter: West Virginia Supreme Court
Volume: 152
Pages: 119–140

Head Matter:
Dolores Holstein v. Kenneth Ray Holstein
(No. 12685)
Submitted January 23, 1968.
Decided March 12, 1968.
Calhoun, Judge, dissenting.
Cook & Hendricks, P. W. Hendricks, Jerry W. Cook, for appellant.
Donald E. Jarrell, for appellee.

Opinion:
Caplan, Judge:
This is an appeal from a judgment of the Circuit Court of Boone County in a proceeding wherein the plaintiff, Dolores Holstein, sought to obtain the custody of her two minor children. At the conclusion of the evidence the court granted the plaintiff's prayer and awarded her the custody of said children. It is from this judgment that the defendant prosecutes this appeal.
Dolores Holstein, upon her complaint, was awarded a divorce from the defendant, Kenneth Ray Holstein, by an order of the Circuit Court of Boone County dated March 20, 1964. The ground upon which she sought and obtained a divorce was cruelty. The divorce order settled certain property rights of the parties and awarded custody of the two minor children bom of that marriage to the plaintiff. The defendant was ordered to pay the sum of one hundred dollars per month for the support of said children.
On July 21, 1964, Kenneth Ray Holstein, the defendant below, filed a petition in the aforesaid court seeking a change of custody of his children. In his petition he alleged, among other things, that his children, Robert Holstein, age nine years and Kathryn Renee Holstein, age three years, were residing in a trailer with their mother, Dolores, and a man not her husband; that said man had a living wife; and, that Dolores and this man were living together falsely pretending to be husband and wife. Mr. Holstein further alleged that he was willing and able to properly maintain, care for and educate his said minor children and prayed that custody of them be awarded to him. According to the certificate of counsel for the defendant, attached to the Notice of Motion for Hearing upon Petition, the aforesaid petition and a notice of hearing were served on Dolores Holstein by mailing copies thereof to her. at her two last known addresses and by mailing one to her counsel in Madison, West Virginia. Dolores Holstein made no appearance at the hearing.
On August 5, 1964, a decree of modification was entered by the Judge of the Circuit Court of 'Boone County which contained, among others, the following findings:
"1. That all the allegations contained in defendant's said petition are true.
2. That plaintiff has been living in a manner which is inconsistent with the best interests of the children from a moral standpoint; that she has been cohabiting with a man, not her husband at the residence of said children.
3. That the best interests of said children require that they be taken from the plaintiff and given to the defendant."
The court then decreed that the defendant, Kenneth Ray Holstein, be awarded the sole care, custody and education of the two minor children born of the marriage which was dissolved by the aforesaid divorce. By this decree Dolores Holstein, the mother, was given visitation rights and according to the record she did visit her children as permitted by the decree.
This arrangement continued, Mr. Holstein having the custody of the children. By an order of said court entered on May 23, 1967, Dolores Holstein was permitted to file her petition praying for the entry of a decree changing the custody of her two infant children from her former husband to herself. In her petition she alleged, among other things, the change of custody of the children to her husband after the divorce and that "since the change of custody of said children from your petitioner to the defendant, the circumstances of the parties hereto have materially changed." She alleges that she is employed as a teacher, that she is a member of a church, attends the church regularly, is living a good Christian life and is fully capable of giving her children the care, supervision and affection necessary to their proper development. Her petition then sets out certain changes in the circumstances of her husband since their divorce which will be alluded to hereinafter by relating some of the evidence adduced during the hearing.
Both parties agree that the welfare of the children is the paramount and controlling factor in resolving this contest for the custody of their children. As cogently stated in Harmon v. Utterback, 144 W. Va. 419, 108 S. E. 2d 521, " in a contest involving the custody of an infant the welfare of the child is of paramount and controlling importance and is the polar star by which the discretion of .the court will be guided." See also Lucyk v. Brawner, 144 W. Va. 690, 110 S. E. 2d 739; Stout v. Massie, 140 W. Va. 731, 88 S. E. 2d 51; Smith v. Smith, 138 W. Va. 388, 76 S. E. 2d 253; Pugh v. Pugh, 133 W. Va. 501, 56 S. E. 2d 901, 15 A. L. R. 2d 424; Pukas v. Pukas, 129 W. Va. 765, 42 S. E. 2d 11; Boos v. Boos, 93 W. Va. 727, 117 S. E. 616; 6 M. J., Divorce and Alimony, Section 58; Phelps, Divorce and Alimony in Virginia and West Virginia, 2nd Ed., Section 23-8; 39 Am. Jur., Parent and Child, Section 20.
As heretofore noted, the petition alleged, in support of her request for the custody of her children, that "the circumstances of the parties hereto have materially changed." Change in the circumstances of the parties alone is not enough. It must be shown that such change would materially promote the welfare of the children. Pugh v. Pugh, 133 W. Va. 501, 56 S. E. 2d 901, 15 A. L. R. 2d 424; State ex rel. Lipscomb v. Joplin, 131 W. Va. 302, 47 S. E. 2d 221; Cunningham v. Barnes, 37 W. Va. 746, 17 S. E. 308. In the last cited case the petitioner willingly relinquished and transferred the custody of his child, upon the death of his wife, the child's mother, to the respondents, the maternal grandparents. Some years later the petitioner sought custody of his child. Refusing his prayer the Court said in Syllabus No. 3, "When a parent has transferred to another the custody of his infant child by fair agreement, which has been acted on by such other person to the manifest interest and welfare of the child, the parent will not be permitted to reclaim the custody of the child, unless he can show that a change of custody will materially promote his child's welfare moral and physical."
In the instant case the petitioner acquired custody of her children when she obtained a divorce from the respondent. However, by reason of certain indiscretions on her part, she had such custody taken from her. Now she asks that such custody be reinstated. As in the Cunningham case, it must be shown that the requested change of custody will materially promote the children's physical and moral welfare. The burden is on the petitioner to show that a change of the existing custody will be beneficial to the children. Pugh v. Pugh, 133 W. Va. 501, 56 S. E. 2d 901, 15 A. L. R. 2d 424. It is necessary, therefore, to examine the evidence to determine whether or not the petitioner has adequately borne that burden.
The uncontradicted evidence reveals that the Holstein children, Robert and Renee, have a comfortable and happy home in the custody of their father. This is not only un-contradicted but is reflected positively in the finding of the trial court. The learned judge said: " the Court will commend Mr. Holstein for doing a good job and giving good care to the two children and from that point of view, I don't have any quarrel with Mr. Holstein at all. I think that all the evidence here is that his wife is a good woman and that they have a happy family life and are giving the children adequate care."
Let us consider the present circumstances of these children as revealed by the evidence. Their father, the defendant in this proceeding, some time after his divorce from the plaintiff married Maisie Cook. His present wife had three children by her former husband and one child was bom of this marriage. Together with Robert and Renee there are six children. The home in which this family lives consists of eight rooms, a sun room and basement. As related by several witnesses, there are four bedrooms and ample space for all.
The defendant, Kenneth Holstein, is a coal miner and earns from such employment a take home pay of from $116.00 to $140.00 a week. In addition to this, his wife receives approximately $344.00 a month from Social Security and the Veteran's Administration. Both the defendant and his wife testified that their income is adequate to properly raise and educate their family of six children. The defendant's wife, Maisie, testified that she loves Robert and Renee and treats them the same as her own. This was supported by the testimony of Robert Holstein and other witnesses. Furthermore, the children regularly attend and do well in school. Considering all of the evidence it appears that the trial court's finding that these children presently have a good home and a happy family life is correct and remains uncontradicted.
What does the petitioner's evidence reveal in support of her contention that a change of custody to her would be beneficial to her children? Two witnesses testified in support of the petition, the petitioner, Dolores Holstein Price, and Vance Price her husband. For the purpose of clarification, it should be noted that this proceeding was instituted by the petitioner prior to her marriage to Vance Price; that such marriage occurred on June 9,1967; and that the hearing resulting in the award of custody of children to the petitioner was held on June 17, 1967. The petitioner by her testimony obviously seeks to show that the children would have a better home with her if the court were to grant her request. She testified that she is employed as a school teacher by the Logan County Board of Education and that her husband of eight or nine days at the time of the hearing was the chief engineer for Amherst Coal Company. She stated that she intended to establish a home at Man, West Virginia, although at that time she acknowledged that no such home had been found. She was then living in a four room apartment in the Town of Madison. Her husband, Vance Price, has two children by a former marriage, which was ended by divorce, who live with their mother in Orlando, Florida. He pays the sum of $200 a month for their support. She further testified that her children when visiting her seemed to be happy and that she is sure they would rather be with her. In relation to this testimony Robert stated unequivocally that he would rather stay with his father. He testified that he loved his father and his mother but stated, as to Vance Price, "It's just that we don't hit it off . It seems to me like he doesn't take too much of an interest in me."
The petitioner's present husband, Vance Price, testified that he thinks Robert and Renee are fine children, that he likes them very much and that he would treat them as he did his own children. He testified that he earns approximately $14,000.00 a year and that although he pays $200.00 a month support for his children by his former marriage, he feels that his financial condition would permit him to properly raise and educate these children. Mr. Price stated that he enjoyed good health, although he admitted that he had been under the care of doctors for a considerable period of time due to nervous tension. This condition was attributed by him to marital difficulties which he experienced during his former marriage which ended in divorce.
As herein noted, Robert Holstein, age 12 years, testified. In addition to relating that he would rather remain with his father, Robert said that his stepmother treated him and his sister as well as she did her own children; that she loved and cared for them; that he got along well with his stepbrothers and stepsisters; and that he enjoyed a good home and family life with his father and stepmother. The probative value of this witness's testimony was questioned by counsel for the plaintiff. It is well established that in controversies relating to custody of children, the child, if he is of the age of discretion, should be consulted, and due weight should be given to his desires. Hurley v. Hurley, 71 W. Va. 269, 76 S. E. 438; Green v. Campbell, 35 W. Va. 698, 14 S. E. 212, 29 Am. St. Rep. 843; Rust v. Vanvacter, 9 W. Va. 600. Robert was interrogated by the judge who determined that he was a good student and was qualified to testify. Of course, the child's testimony as to his desires is not controlling, but it is entitled to some weight and his desires should be considered.
Several other witnesses appeared on behalf of the defendant. We do not deem it necessary to relate the testimony of these witnesses but will note that such testimony supports the defendant's contention, as found by the court, that the children enjoy a good and happy home in the custody of their father.
As hereinbefore noted, the plaintiff asserts that the custody of her children should be restored to her. Her reason for this assertion is that there has been a change in the circumstances of the parties since the award of such custody to her former husband. It appears that she is attempting to show that her situation has improved since the court took the custody from her and that since that time the circumstances of the children has deteriorated.
While the plaintiff, Dolores Holstein Price, has expressed a desire to have custody of her children and has evidenced a feeling that she can give them a better home than they presently enjoy, the evidence wholly fails to support her allegations. At the time of the hearing the plaintiff had been married to Vance Price for eight or nine days. Admittedly, they did not have a home for the children which could be evaluated by the court. Robert Holstein testified that, though he loved his mother, he and Vance Price just "don't hit it off", and that he would rather live in Madison with his father. According to the testimony of Mr. Price, he and the plaintiff had dated for about six months before they were married. It is apparent that the children had little opportunity to become acquainted with him prior to their marriage. Furthermore, the evidence reveals that Vance Price had suffered a nervous disorder which required medication in the form of tranquilizers for a period in excess of three years and that the use thereof had been terminated some six months prior to his marriage to the plaintiff.
The plaintiff appears to rely heavily on the fact that she and her present husband are college graduates. She infers that by reason thereof the children will necessarily have a better home with them. Higher education is doubtless an asset and one who acquires a college degree is to be commended. However, that fact alone does not relieve this plaintiff of the burden of proving that the circumstances, in relation to the welfare of the children, has so materially changed as to warrant a shift of custody back to her. We are firmly of the opinion that the plaintiff has failed to prove, as presently situated, that she can offer a home which would be more beneficial to the physical and moral welfare of these children.
Acknowledged by all who testified, and concurred in by the learned trial judge, is the fact that these children now enjoy a good and happy home life. They should not be taken from this home unless the proposed home would offer, not only material betterment, but moral inprovement and a better chance for a fuller life. In the circumstances of this case no showing has been made that the requested change of custody would result in such improvement. A change of custody at this time must necessarily be based on speculation.
Since the plaintiff and her husband had no home in which to bring the children on June 17, 1967, the time of the hearing, the court delayed the effect of his order until August 15, 1967. This ostensibly was for the purpose of allowing additional time to establish a home. What sort of home would these children have? What would be the relationship between these children and their stepfather? Upon the present state of the evidence, how can it be justly determined that these children will have a better future and a fuller life with the plaintiff? We believe that these determinations cannot be fairly made at this time.
The court has continuing jurisdiction over the matter of the custody of children. It should not, however, upon the hope that all will be well, change the custody unless there is valid evidence that such change is warranted. Stability and a feeling of permanence in his home life is essential to the well being of a child. He should not be passed from one parent to the other and back again unless such move is warranted by the evidence. There must be a showing in this case that Kenneth Holstein is no longer able or suited to retain custody or that the conditions or circumstances surrounding the children have so changed that their welfare would, be enhanced by awarding such custody to the plaintiff. Under the evidence in this case there was no such material change in the circumstances surrounding the children as to affect adversely their welfare; nor was there any such change in circumstances generally as would warrant a change of custody. Had some time passed prior to the institution of this proceeding, giving the plaintiff and her present husband sufficient time to establish a home as a base for a family unit, the award of custody made in this case may have been warranted. If a proper showing is made in the future, the court, under its continuing jurisdiction, could grant the custody of these children to the plaintiff. However, as noted, no such showing was made.
We are cognizant of the well established principle that the exercise of discretion by the trial court in awarding the custody of minor children will not be disturbed on appeal unless it clearly appears that such discretion has been abused. Lucyk v. Brawner, 144 W. Va. 690, 110 S. E. 2d 739; Smith v. Smith, 138 W. Va. 388, 76 S. E. 2d 253; Pukas v. Pukas, 129 W. Va. 765, 42 S. E. 2d 11; Gates v. Gates, 87 W. Va. 603, 105 S. E. 815. Necessarily implicit, however, in the foregoing principle is the tenet that the trial court's findings should be disturbed on appeal if it clearly is not supported by the evidence. This was succinctly expressed by our Court in Pugh v. Pugh, 133 W. Va. 501, 56 S. E. 2d 901, 15 A.L.R. 2d 424, in the following language: "To entitle the petitioner to the custody of the child it was incumbent upon her, in this proceeding, to show that a change of the existing custody of the child by the respondent would materially promote the welfare of the child. See State ex rel. Lipscomb v. Joplin, 131 W. Va. 302, 47 S. E. 2d 221. The evidence indicates clearly that she 'has failed to satisfy that requirement; and, under the evidence, the court should not have disturbed the existing custody of the child by the respondent."
While the facts of the Pugh case are not similar to those of the instant proceeding, it is implicit therein that this Court should take a meaningful look at the evidence and if the judgment is not supported by such evidence it should be reversed. We have carefully considered the evidence in this case and are of the opinion that the plaintiff has failed to satisfy the requirements necessary to warrant the requested change of custody.
The judgment of the circuit court is therefore reversed and the proceeding is remanded with directions that it be dismissed.
Reversed and remanded with directions.