Purple Heart Hall of Honor Letter

Last week, I received the following letter from the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor regarding the enrollment of my great grand uncle, Charles Richard “Dick” Waits:

Re: Charles R. Waits

Thank you for sending us information for enrollment in the Roll of Honor at the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor. We truly appreciate your interest and support in helping us further our goal to collect, preserve and share the record of all Purple Heart recipients.

We are pleased and honored to let you know that the enrollment process is completed. The profile will be on both versions of the Roll of Honor. There is an on-line version and a more complete version here in the Hall of Honor. The on-line version will be available on our website within the next few weeks. Please visit our website at www.thepurpleheart.com and search the Roll of Honor database to view the profile. That version is a single page commemoration for each recipient, and includes a photo, (if you have sent one) and basic information about the recipient.

The version viewable here at the Hall of Honor is more comprehensive. It can include additional pictures you have sent, as well as narrative information and a more complete story of the recipient’s experiences. If you would like to send additional material, we will include that in the Hall based Roll of Honor. We can include a maximum of six images or pages in the Hall itself. Please send copies, as we cannot return materials that have been sent to us.

So far, more than 149,000 recipients have been enrolled. While this is a significant number, it is small compared to the estimated 1.7 million Purple Hearts that have been awarded since 1932, so your efforts are all the more appreciated. Again, thank you for helping us honor all Purple Heart recipients.

Sincerely,

Mary C. Presutti
The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor
Enrollment Staff

The on-line version of Dick’s enrollment is available on their website.  I greatly appreciate the efforts of this organization in honoring Purple Heart recipients.

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

Bertha Williams (Rowland) and Children Picture

The Williams Family (Left to Right): my great grandfather, Donald Edwin Williams, my great grand uncle, Rowland A. “Bus” Williams, my 2nd great grandmother, Bertha L. Williams (Rowland), and my great grand aunt, Evalyn R. Williams (Gahm). Photo taken approx. 1905 in Jackson, Ohio.

Brian Davis – Christine Davis (Williams) – Madrith Jean Williams (Williams) – Donald Edwin Williams – Bertha Williams (Rowland)

This obituary is of my great grand uncle, Rowland A. “Bus” Williams, and was featured in the 6/22/1981 edition of the Jackson, Ohio Journal-Herald:

Funeral services were held today (Monday) at the Sperry Funeral Home for Rowland A. “Bus” Williams, age 77, of Locust Street, Jackson who died 11:15 p.m. Friday at his home following several years of failing health.

Born in Jackson, he was a lifetime resident of the community and was a retired salesman for Stiffler’s Stores. He also operated the shoe store at the South Street Clinic for many years and was a member of the Jackson Christian Church.

Son of the late William and Bertha Rowland Williams; he is survived by his wife, Lorelle Fite Williams; one son, Dr. Robert Williams of Jackson; one daughter, Mrs. Judy Williams Suarez of Syracuse, New York; brother, Donald of Minford; sister, Mrs. Theodore (Evelyn) Gahm of Jackson; and three grandchildren.

Rev. James Gleaves officiated the last rites. Burial was made in Fairmount Cemetery.

Brian Davis – Christine Davis (Williams) – Madrith Jean Williams (Williams) – Donald Edwin Williams (brother of Rowland Williams)

Through the research of Mike Deaterla, CG, a Jackson, Ohio resident, I have recently received copies of obituaries for my great grand uncle, Rowland “Bus” Williams, and his wife, Lorelle.

This obituary is of my great grand aunt, Lorelle Williams (Fite), and was featured in the 8/14/1991 edition of the Jackson, Ohio Journal-Herald:

Lorelle Williams, 86, a former resident of Locust Street, Jackson, died at the home of her son in Jackson on Tuesday.

Born November 20, 1904, in Jackson County, she was a member of the First Baptist Church, in Jackson.

She was predeceased by her parents, William D. and Fannie Baggers Fite; her husband, Rowland (Bus) Williams; one daughter, Judy Suarez; one sister, Fannie Wilcox; two brothers, Bill Fite and Loren Fite.

Surviving are one son, Dr. Robert A. Williams of Jackson; one brother, Dick Fite of Jackson; three sisters, Edna Tackett of Columbus, Margaret Shelton, Peggy Fite, both of Jackson; and three grandchildren.

Friends may call at the Mayhew Funeral Home on Thursday, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Funeral services will be conducted 1 p.m. Friday at the funeral home with Reverend Lee Morris officiating.

Burial will be in the Fairmount Cemetery.

Brian Davis – Christine Davis (Williams) – Madrith Jean Williams (Williams) – Donald Edwin Williams (brother-in-law of Lorelle Williams)

My family and I recently returned from a trip to the Walt Disney World Resort outside of Orlando, Florida. Although the weather was a bit chilly, we had a great time. Among the highlights: visiting with 39 Disney characters, celebrating Jack’s birthday at the Whispering Canyon Cafe, and riding Soarin’ with Kaylyn. Click here to view the picture set.

Brian Davis

The Works of Charles Dickens Volume I

This collection of stories from the late English novelist, Charles Dickens, sits on desk in my parents’ home.  The volume contains some wonderful illustrations and the following stories: Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, Our Mutual Friend, Great Expectations, Little Dorrit, and Martin Chuzzlewit.

After careful inspection, I found the book was published by P.F. Collier in 1880, and was most likely purchased by my maternal grandparents in Ashland, Kentucky during the years 1955-1957.  It’s had its share of wear-and-tear throughout the years.  Click here to view the picture set.

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