This morning, I received a booklet with a color picture of Charles Richard “Dick” Waits’ headstone.  Recently, I sent a request (with payment) to the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) to place a floral spray at Dick’s headstone.  They placed the flowers on November 11, Veterans Day, and took the above picture.  Please visit my other blog posts for more information on Dick’s life and his military service.

Brian Davis – Christine Davis (Williams) – Ralph Scott Williams Jr. – Nellie Ruth Williams (Waits/sister of Charles Richard Waits)

Floyd Jacob Mast Obituary

Today’s obituary is of my first cousin, twice removed, Floyd Jacob Mast, and was featured in the 9/7/1989 edition of the Lancaster Eagle Gazette:

Floyd J. Mast, 77, of Fre Mar Road, died this morning in Lancaster-Fairfield Community Hospital.

He was a member of Lancaster United Brethren in Christ Church. He was an employee of Lancaster Glass Corporation and retired from Lancaster Meter Parts.

He is survived by his wife, Margaret M. Mast; a daughter, Susan Van Meter of Lancaster; two sons and daughters-in-law, David M. and Linda Mast of Lancaster, Jerry L. and Cheryl Mast of Bremen; grandchildren, Ronald, Rogar, Scott, Brian and Stacy Mast, Pamela Keese, Laura J. Amspaugh and Kelli S. Van Meter; five great-grandchildren; two nieces; and cousins.

The funeral service will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday in the chapel of Frank E. Smith Funeral Home, with the Rev. Glenn Williams officiating. Burial will follow in Tschopp Cemetery.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday and until the time of the service Friday at the funeral home.

Memorials may be given to Visiting Nurses Association.

This is the last in the Lancaster, Ohio obituary series.  Many thanks again to Charlotte Dittmar for taking the time to visit the Lancaster library, find the obituaries, copy and mail them.  I hope to make many more family connections with the information from these obituaries.

Brian Davis – Christine Davis (Williams) – Ralph Scott Williams Jr. – Ralph Scott Williams Sr. (uncle of Floyd Jacob Mast)

Raymond J. Mast Obituary

Today’s obituary is of my first cousin, twice removed, Raymond J. Mast, and was featured in the 7/8/1944 edition of the Lancaster Eagle Gazette:

Raymond J. Mast, 36, died Friday, 11:30 p.m., in his home, 347 East Mulberry-st, following a ten months’ illness. Mast worked for 15 years for Thomas Corbin Plumbing company and one year for himself before becoming ill.

He leaves the widow, Mary; two daughters, Jean Rose Mast, Lancaster, and Patricia Ruth Mast, of the home; his mother, Mrs. Essie Mast, of north of Lancaster; and one brother, Floyd Mast, of north of Lancaster.

Funeral services will be held Monday, 4 p.m., at Olive church, north of Lancaster, with the Rev. James Hough of Baltimore, and the Rev. Walter P. Castoe officiating. Burial is to be made in Tschopp cemetery, by Frank E. Smith.

Friends may call at the funeral home after Sunday noon.

Brian Davis – Christine Davis (Williams) – Ralph Scott Williams Jr. – Ralph Scott Williams Sr. (uncle of Raymond J. Mast)

Charles Richard "Dick" Waits Headstone

I received this picture from the American Battle Momuments Commission (ABMC).  They also included a very nice color lithograph (too big to scan) of the Lorraine American Cemetery in St. Avold, France, where Dick is buried.

Brian Davis – Christine Davis (Williams) – Ralph Scott Williams Jr. – Nellie Ruth Williams (Waits/sister of Charles Richard Waits)

Essie Mast (Williams) Obituary

Today’s obituary is of my great grand aunt, Essie Mast (Williams), and was featured in the 1/24/1968 edition of the Lancaster Eagle Gazette:

Mrs. Essa [Essie] M. Mast, 78, Rt. 1 Lancaster, died at 4:25 a.m. today in Crestview Nursing Home.  She was the widow of John W. Mast and member of Mills Memorial EUB Church.

Survivors include one son, Floyd Mast, Rt. 1 Lancaster; one brother, Ralph S. Williams, Columbus; several grandchildren.

Funeral services are tentatively schedules for Friday at 1:30 p.m. in Frank E. Smith Funeral Home; Rev. Roger Bishop officiating; burial, Tschopp Cemetery.  Friends may call at the funeral home after 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Brian Davis – Christine Davis (Williams) – Ralph Scott Williams Jr. – Ralph Scott Williams Sr. (brother of Essie Williams)

Marvin Foster Williams Obituary

Today’s obituary is of my great grand uncle, Marvin Foster Williams, and was featured in the 2/27/1910 edition of the Lancaster Daily Gazette:

Young Man Succumbs to Appendicitis – Death of Foster Williams

Foster Williams, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Williams, died Sunday, February 27th, at his home on East Main street.  Young Williamson was born in April, 1898, and had lived in Lancaster all his life.  He is well known about town and his hosts of friends will sorrow to hear of his death.  About three weeks ago the young man was taken ill with appendicitis and on February 12th was operated upon at his home but the shock was too much for him and his death was the result.

The deceased leaves a mother and father, three brothers and one sister: Grant of Nelsonville, Otis and Ralph of Lancaster, and Mrs. John Mast of Lancaster.

The funeral services will be held Tuesday at the home of his parents at two o’clock, Rev. Hugh Leith and Rev M. M. Rader officiating.  Interment at Elmwood cemetery.

Brian Davis – Christine Davis (Williams) – Ralph Scott Williams Jr. – Ralph Scott Williams Sr. (brother of Marvin Foster Williams)

Ralph Scott Williams Jr. Dog Tag

This dog tag was given to me by my mother, Christine Davis (Williams), around the time I started doing genealogical research in 2001.  It belonged to my grandfather, Ralph Scott Williams Jr.  The following information is on the dog tag:

Name: Ralph S. Williams; Service Number: 570-06-78; Tetanus Toxoid (Vaccination) Received 5/1944; Blood Type O; United States Naval Reserve; Religion: Protestant 

I am currently doing a lot of research on World War II service in my family.  Look for the launch of another website dedicated to this topic sometime next spring.

If you have any family treasures you’d like to contribute, please take a picture of the item and email it to me.

Brian Davis – Christine Davis (Williams) – Ralph Scott Williams Jr.

Catharine Milligan (Woodring) Obituary

Today’s obituary is of my 3rd great grandmother, Catharine Milligan (Woodring), and was featured in the 7/28/1915 edition of the Lancaster Daily Eagle:

75 Years Old: Mrs. George Milligan, Well Known in This City, Dies in Oakland.

Mrs. George Milligan, aged 75, died Monday evening at 4 o’clock of urasitic poisoning, at her home in Oakland, Ohio.

She is survived by two sons and three daughters and a sister, Mrs. William Rogers, of this city.

The funeral will be held Wednesday morning at Oakland church and burial will take place in the Stoutsville cemetery. She had visited in Lancaster and was well known here.

Brian Davis – Christine Davis (Williams) – Ralph Scott Williams Jr. – Nellie Ruth Williams (Waits) – Mellie Waits (Milligan) – Catharine Milligan (Woodring)

Mike and Allan Davis Portrait

My father, James Michael “Mike” Davis, and his brother (my uncle), Kenneth Allan Davis.  Many thanks to Margie Richardson (Hargrave) for sending the picture.

Brian Davis – James Michael Davis (brother of Kenneth Allan Davis)

Today’s obituary is of my great grand aunt, May Waits, and was featured in the 8/14/1948 edition of the Lancaster Eagle Gazette:

Attack Fatal: Chief Operator of Bell Telephone Dies Unexpectedly

Miss May Waits, 45, chief operator at the Lancaster office of the Ohio Bell Telephone Co., died unexpectedly Friday, 10 p. m. of a heart attack in her home, 712 N. Mt. Pleasant-av.

Miss Waits, widely known in Central Ohio telephone circles, had been with the Ohio Bell here for 28 years. She was a member of the N. C. Kingsbury Chapter of the Telephone Pioneers of American and the Auxillary to Fairfield Post No. 11, American Legion.

Surviving Miss Waits are her mother, Mrs. Mellie Waits of the home, and two sisters: Mrs. Ralph Williams, Columbus, and Mrs. Ernest Miller, Muskegon, Mich.

Her father, Harmon Waits, died last September and an only brother, T-3 Cpl. Charles Waits, serving with a tank corps in World War II, was killed in action in Germany on April 6, 1945.

Funeral services will be held Monday, 2 p. m. at the Ray Wise funeral home with the Rev. Geo. W. Herd, First Methodist Church officiating. Burial is to be made in Maple Grove [Hill] cemetery, Stoutsville. Friends will be received at the funeral home after 7 p. m. today.

Brian Davis – Christine Davis (Williams) – Ralph Scott Williams Jr. – Nellie Ruth Williams (sister of May Waits)