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

FUNERAL CARD FRIDAY–BESSIE LINDSAY HOCKSTER

   

Bessie was a colorful lady.  Certainly the documents we have concerning her marriages and the births of her children give evidence of her not being your traditional grandma.

But, it’s the more colorful members of our families that it’s fun to hear about.

(Click on any image to enlarge it)

The William & Elizabeth Lindsay family - children are left to right, Ellen, William "Bill", Marie (my grandmother) and Bessie

Relationship to me:  Grandaunt – my paternal grandmother, Marie’s sister.
Born: 11 Nov 1892 in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan to William Wallace Lindsay and Elizabeth “Bessie” Fitzcharles.  She had two sisters, Ellen & Marie and one brother, William.
Married first to William Bryant Curry on 11 Sep 1911 in Windsor, Essex, Ontario, Canada.  They divorced 14 Oct 1915.  William Bryant Curry died at Camp Taylor in Kentucky while serving during World War I.  He was a victim of the 1918 influenza.

Marriage record for William B. Curry and Bessie Lindsay, 11 Sep 1911

Married second to Stewart Frances Hockster on 19 Jul 1913 in Windsor, Essex, Ontario, Canada.  

Marriage record for Stewart Hockster & Bessie Lindsay, 19 Jul 1913

Yes, the marriage to Stewart Hockster took place before the divorce from William B. Curry.  Also of note, is that Bessie is listed as a "spinster" meaning never been married.  We know that's not exactly true because she was married to William B. Curry in 1911.  Interesting what we find out when we do our research.

Children born to Bessie:

• A son, Everett William Hockster born 21 Sep 1910 in Michigan, died 9 May 1985 in Farmington Hills, Michigan.  He married Mary Sophie Ortell.
• A son, Oliver G. who was adopted by a family named Cline.  Oliver was born 23 Jun 1912 and died 10 Aug 1977 in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
• A daughter, Ellen Marie born 14 Nov 1914 in Michigan, died 9 Jun 1990 in Los Angeles, California.  She married Robert Boice McConnell.
• A son, Stewart Hockster, Jr. who was born 1 Jan 1917 in Michigan and died just 10 days later on 11 Jan 1917 in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan.

Stewart Hockster & Bessie - the young man standing is her son, Everett and the little girl is their daughter, Ellen.

Bessie & her family lived in Detroit, Michigan.  

Stewart Hockster and Bessie were divorced in 1935.  Bessie never remarried.  

Stories from her granddaughters say that she was very social and enjoyed dating and having a good time.

Bessie had 9 grandchildren and lived to be 78 years old.  She died on 28 Oct 1971 from “pulmonary embolus.”

Bessie is buried at Grand Lawn Cemetery in Detroit, Michigan.  When one of her granddaughters went to the cemetery in recent years, she found there was no headstone for Bessie.  Her granddaughter ordered one and it is now placed on the site.  She is buried with her sisters, Marie & Ellen and several other family members.  



I wish I would have gotten to know my grand aunt Bessie.  I know I met her when I was young, but I don’t remember her.  Fortunately, I have reconnected with her granddaughters and am very close to one of them.  I’m thankful for that.

Tell me about some colorful characters in your family.  Either by leaving a comment or writing about it in your blog.

OTHER POSTS THAT MAY ALSO BE OF INTEREST


BREAKING DOWN BRICK WALLS - FINDING ELIZABETH FITZCHARLES LINDSAY'S PARENTS

LOTS OF NEW LINDSAY INFORMATION

LEGACY 8 SEARCH FUNCTION - WHAT CAN YOU FIND? FEATURING RICHARD LINDSAY

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2014   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

FUNERAL CARD FRIDAY– Everett Pierre Roe

 

I have to be honest.  I haven’t written anything for this particular topic because I don’t have many funeral cards.  However, much to my surprise I actually had more than the two or three I thought.  

I’m going to start today and go through the list over the next few Fridays.  I will talk about who this person was to me and about their history and family.





Relationship to me:  Husband of my Grand Aunt
Born 12 Aug 1893 in Cornwall on the Hudson, New York to William & Matilda (Kempton) Roe
Married Irene “Peggy” Marie Milne on 19 Jun 1926 in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan
One child born to this couple, a daughter, who is still living
Died 14 May 1959 in Mt. Carmel Mercy Hospital, Detroit, Wayne, Michigan
Burial at Woodlawn Cemetery, Detroit, Wayne, Michigan

Everett Pierre Roe was married to my maternal grandfather’s sister.  Sadly, I never knew either Everett or his wife, Irene.  We moved away from Detroit, Michigan when I was only 7 years old.  Most of the rest of my family, grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles etc., all stayed in Detroit.  And many are still there.  

Here is a picture of Everett wearing his Navy hat, I’m told this was about 1919.  And one of his wife, Irene, the year not known.

(Click on any image to enlarge it)
    
The one daughter born to Everett & Irene is a first cousin to my mother.  I do remember meeting her when I was a little girl.  Fortunately, after decades, I was able to locate her in Michigan and got to meet and talk with her on my visits in 2007 and 2010.  I’ve even spent time with her oldest daughter.  It was during one of those visits that I was able to get copies of photos and documents.

NOTE:  I took my digital camera with me during the visit.  I photographed documents and took pictures of photos.  Doing this allowed me to capture these items, without asking Everett’s elderly daughter to part with them while I took them some place to scan them.  This was before the days of wand scanners and Flip Pal.  Always be prepared when you visit with family.  

Everett served in the Navy during World War I.  He enlisted on 21 Apr 1917 and was discharged on 15 Jul 1919.  Here is the military service card, recording his service.



Everett’s obituary states that he was associated with the R. L. Pope Furniture Company at 14751 Seven Mile Rd. West from 1946 to the time of his death.  He lived in Detroit for 36 years.   
 
Everett was 65 years old when he died and he and Irene had been married for 32 years.  I don’t have a cause of death for him or a death certificate.  I do know he is interred at Woodlawn Cemetery in Detroit.  I have personally photographed his headstone.  His wife, Irene, is also buried with him. Here is a link to the findagrave memorial I created for him: 
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=49427451



It seems to me that I could learn more about Everett’s life.  There should be more records I can obtain.  I can also talk to his daughter and granddaughter and learn more about him.  It’s when we begin to write a story about one of our ancestors that we truly have a picture of their lives.  If all we have are names and dates, then we have missed so much.  For many, that is all we will ever have.  But, for Everett, I know I can do better.  It seems I better make a phone call or two.

HAVE YOU READ THESE POSTS?
FAMILY RECIPE FRIDAY - HOW TO KEEP HAIR CURLED BACK IN 1906 

CEMETERY RECORDS - WHAT CAN THEY TELL YOU? HOW DO YOU USE THEM?

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2014   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION