FUNERAL CARD FRIDAY ~ Gordon Charles Hall (1917-1966)

 

This is the front of the funeral card for Gordon

As I continue to go through my office after our move to Montana, I keep running across ancestor items I haven’t seen before.  That’s a good thing because now I can save them and hopefully pass them down to descendants.

My recent finds were 2 funeral cards from Ron’s side of the family. 

Today I will share his father’s card.

I can never bring myself to share a funeral card or other death record without sharing something about the person who died.

Here is a short biography:

Gordon Charles Hall was born 29 Jul 1917 in San Diego, San Diego Co., California.  He was the youngest of 3 children born to Charles Schuyler Hall and Daisy Fern Bright.  He was also the only child born in California.  His older siblings, Dorothy Louise Hall, born 1905 and Robert Walton Hall, born 1907, were both born in Pennsylvania.  In 1913 Charles moved with his wife and 2 children to San Diego. Gordon came along four years later. 

Gordon attended San Diego High School and San Diego State College. As a young man Gordon worked at a gas station.  This would have been in the 1940’s when they still pumped our gas.

In May 1945 Gordon enlisted in the Army and was honorably discharged in Nov 1946. 

On 22 Aug 1948 he married Dorothy Beatrice Fink in Lynwood, Los Angeles, California.  By 1950, according to the census Gordon was working as a Field Representative for Pacific Finance Corp. and living at 4339 35^th St. in San Diego, with his wife and infant son.

Gordon was very proud of his son, an only child. He participated in his son’s school and extracurricular activities. 

Sadly, on 12 Jan 1966, Gordon died suddenly while at work.  The cause of death was listed as a massive heart attack. He was only 48 yrs. old.

This left his wife, Dorothy a widow with a 15 yr old son. They managed with the help of family and friends. Dorothy worked at the old Sears on Cleveland Ave. in San Diego, at the candy counter.

Gordon is fondly remembered by his son and many other family members.

Here are some other posts I’ve written about this family that may be of interest:

WEDDING WEDNESDAY ~ Gordon Hall & Dorothy Fink Brown

ANCESTORS IN THE NEWS ~ Gordon Charles Hall – my father-in-law, makes news in high school – San Diego, CA-1935

If you are related to or connected to anyone in this blog post, please get in touch.  Let’s exchange information.

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2024   Diane Gould Hall
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

 

FUNERAL CARD FRIDAY–The very sad story of Brian Rankhorn and his young children-25 years ago

 
This is a post about a tragedy that happened 25 years ago to my sister, Norlaine’s son, Brian, and his two young children.
 
Backstory – My Dad was married once before he married my mother.  He had two daughters during that first marriage.  I never met my half sisters until 1980.  We were all grown up and they had children of their own.  Since they lived in Detroit and Ohio and I lived in California, I only met my sisters one time.  My sisters names were Norlaine and Virginia.  Sadly, they are both deceased.
 
Norlaine was the oldest of the two sisters.  She married and had two children.  A son, Brian and a daughter (still living).  I never got to meet Brian. 
 
Brian got married and had a son, Brian Keith Rankhorn, II born 14 Oct 1985.  Then he and his wife had a daughter, Tabitha Dawn Rankhorn born 5 Jun 1987.
 
On January 4, 1990 in Mt. Gilead, Morrow, Ohio, Brian and his two young children died in a fire, in their home.  Brian Sr. was 25, Brian Jr. was 4 and Tabitha was 2. 

Here are photos of Brian Sr., Brian Jr. and Tabitha.

    
These photos are courtesy of The Columbus Dispatch

Here is the newspaper article from The Columbus Dispatch on 6 Jan 1990.

(CLICK ON ANY IMAGE TO ENLARGE IT)

 





























My sister Norlaine talked about this incident every time we spoke, up until her death in 2001.

There are memorials for this family on Find A Grave.  You can visit their memorials by clicking on these links:
Brian Rankhorn, Sr.    Brian Rankhorn, Jr.     Tabitha Rankhorn

I don’t know what has become of the little Brian & Tabitha’s mother.  I hope she has gone one with her life and that she is happy.

As we all know, family history is not always about happy stories.  Our ancestor’s lives were just like ours, some happy times and some very sad times.  I try to remember that as I review their stories.

OTHER POSTS THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST
FUNERAL CARD FRIDAY - BESSIE LINDSAY HOCKSTER
FUNERAL CARD FRIDAY - EVERETT PIERRE ROE

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

 

Copyright ©  2010-2015   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION